Plumber salary in Massachusetts
Median $45.14 an hour for 13,460 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Plumber pay in Massachusetts: the full range
Massachusetts ranks 6th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $42.67). 13,460 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $25.01 – $29.74 | $52,010 – $61,860 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.74 – $52.13 | $61,860 – $108,430 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $52.13 – $64.94 | $108,430 – $135,080 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Plumber pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $25.13 | $46.52 | $42.95 | $69.21 | 9,200 | 3% above |
| Springfield | $25.37 | $44.27 | $46.07 | $57.13 | 670 | 2% below |
| Worcester | $23.49 | $39.55 | $38.59 | $57.68 | 1,370 | 12% below |
| Pittsfield | $23.05 | $39.41 | $41.44 | $58.21 | 230 | 13% below |
| Providence | $23.84 | $38.37 | $37.69 | $53.26 | 3,000 | 15% below |
| Amherst | $23.44 | $37.77 | $37.69 | $52.57 | 190 | 16% below |
| Barnstable | $22.60 | $36.67 | $37.27 | $51.64 | 640 | 19% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Plumber wages in Massachusetts over time
Table
| Year | Massachusetts $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $20.42 | $39.46 | $17.41 | 6,490 |
| 2000 | $21.62 | $40.42 | $18.19 | 7,570 |
| 2001 | $20.51 | $37.28 | $18.61 | 10,340 |
| 2002 | $22.62 | $40.48 | $19.31 | 10,950 |
| 2003 | $23.52 | $41.15 | $19.69 | 12,750 |
| 2004 | $24.15 | $41.16 | $19.85 | 11,830 |
| 2005 | $24.96 | $41.15 | $20.27 | 10,920 |
| 2006 | $25.68 | $41.01 | $20.56 | 10,570 |
| 2007 | $26.91 | $41.78 | $21.20 | 10,030 |
| 2008 | $27.57 | $41.23 | $21.94 | 10,250 |
| 2009 | $28.73 | $43.11 | $22.27 | 9,800 |
| 2010 | $27.84 | $41.10 | $22.43 | 9,010 |
| 2011 | $29.94 | $42.85 | $22.96 | 8,740 |
| 2012 | $30.19 | $42.33 | $23.62 | 8,140 |
| 2013 | $31.10 | $42.98 | $24.13 | 8,900 |
| 2014 | $31.48 | $42.81 | $24.36 | 9,650 |
| 2015 | $30.44 | $41.35 | $24.34 | 11,070 |
| 2016 | $30.50 | $40.91 | $24.74 | 10,990 |
| 2017 | $29.77 | $39.10 | $25.28 | 12,380 |
| 2018 | $30.91 | $39.63 | $25.92 | 13,250 |
| 2019 | $32.78 | $41.28 | $26.52 | 12,970 |
| 2020 | $36.34 | $45.20 | $27.08 | 11,750 |
| 2021 | $37.60 | $44.67 | $28.79 | 12,920 |
| 2022 | $38.38 | $42.22 | $28.89 | 14,500 |
| 2023 | $43.93 | $46.42 | $29.59 | 15,710 |
| 2024 | $40.03 | $41.08 | $30.27 | 15,670 |
| 2025 | $45.14 | $45.14 | $30.67 | 13,460 |
In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Massachusetts changed by +9.2% over the last ten years of data and by +9.4% since 2019.
Are there more plumber jobs in Massachusetts?
Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Massachusetts has changed by +107.4%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +3.8%.
Table
| Year | Massachusetts jobs | Massachusetts index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 6,490 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 7,570 | 117 | 106 |
| 2001 | 10,340 | 159 | 106 |
| 2002 | 10,950 | 169 | 106 |
| 2003 | 12,750 | 196 | 105 |
| 2004 | 11,830 | 182 | 103 |
| 2005 | 10,920 | 168 | 102 |
| 2006 | 10,570 | 163 | 106 |
| 2007 | 10,030 | 154 | 105 |
| 2008 | 10,250 | 158 | 106 |
| 2009 | 9,800 | 151 | 97 |
| 2010 | 9,010 | 139 | 87 |
| 2011 | 8,740 | 135 | 84 |
| 2012 | 8,140 | 125 | 82 |
| 2013 | 8,900 | 137 | 85 |
| 2014 | 9,650 | 149 | 90 |
| 2015 | 11,070 | 171 | 95 |
| 2016 | 10,990 | 169 | 100 |
| 2017 | 12,380 | 191 | 104 |
| 2018 | 13,250 | 204 | 106 |
| 2019 | 12,970 | 200 | 107 |
| 2020 | 11,750 | 181 | 101 |
| 2021 | 12,920 | 199 | 101 |
| 2022 | 14,500 | 223 | 104 |
| 2023 | 15,710 | 242 | 106 |
| 2024 | 15,670 | 241 | 110 |
| 2025 | 13,460 | 207 | 113 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for plumbers in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +6.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 16,650 to 17,730, with about 1,500 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 13,460 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Massachusetts
On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 14 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $106.27 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $45.14.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Bristol | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Dukes | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Essex | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Middlesex | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Nantucket | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Norfolk | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Suffolk | Union PLUM0012-005 2025-03-02 | $69.84 | $36.43 | $106.27 | MA20260001 |
| Worcester | Union PLUM0004-004 2025-09-01 | $55.00 | $31.57 | $86.57 | MA20260013 |
| Plymouth | Union PLUM0051-001 2024-08-26 | $52.49 | $33.60 | $86.09 | MA20260012 |
| Berkshire | Union PLUM0104-009 2025-09-17 | $52.26 | $31.05 | $83.31 | MA20260003 |
| Franklin | Union PLUM0104-009 2025-09-17 | $52.26 | $31.05 | $83.31 | MA20260003 |
| Hampden | Union PLUM0104-009 2025-09-17 | $52.26 | $31.05 | $83.31 | MA20260003 |
| Hampshire | Union PLUM0104-009 2025-09-17 | $52.26 | $31.05 | $83.31 | MA20260003 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Massachusetts prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just plumbers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 14 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 92,697 in 2015 to 113,325 in 2025, +22.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | 106 | 873 | $124,727 | $2,399 |
| Norfolk County | 344 | 5,011 | $115,749 | $2,226 |
| Plymouth County | 331 | 3,249 | $111,529 | $2,145 |
| Middlesex County | 766 | 9,174 | $105,830 | $2,035 |
| Essex County | 316 | 3,027 | $97,880 | $1,882 |
| Worcester County | 345 | 3,128 | $94,351 | $1,814 |
| Hampden County | 129 | 1,586 | $93,316 | $1,795 |
| Bristol County | 238 | 2,282 | $87,318 | $1,679 |
| Berkshire County | 65 | 564 | $82,964 | $1,595 |
| Barnstable County | 208 | 1,516 | $81,810 | $1,573 |
Keep comparing
Plumber pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Massachusetts
More on Massachusetts
Questions this page answers
How much do plumbers make in Massachusetts?
The median plumber in Massachusetts earned $45.14 an hour ($93,880 a year) in May 2025, 47% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $29.74–$52.13; the top 10% earn more than $64.94.
Where does Massachusetts rank for plumber pay?
Massachusetts ranks 6th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $45.14 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
What is the union plumber rate in Massachusetts?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 14 counties, with a typical package of $106.27 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many plumbers work in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 13,460 plumbers in Massachusetts in May 2025, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.24; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is plumber work growing in Massachusetts?
The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Massachusetts went from 11,070 in 2015 to 13,460 in 2025, +21.6%, and +3.8% since 2019. Massachusetts's labor market agency projects +6.5% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 16,650 to 17,730 jobs.
How many plumber openings a year are there in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts projects about 1,500 openings a year for plumbers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 42,000 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Massachusetts and metro areas, SOC 47-2152. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.