Plumber salary in Massachusetts
Median $45.14 an hour for 13,460 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
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, pipefitters and steamfitters work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $25.01 – $29.74 | $52,010 – $61,860 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.74 – $52.13 | $61,860 – $108,430 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $52.13 – $64.94 | $108,430 – $135,080 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Plumber pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $25.13 | $46.52 | $69.21 | 9,200 | 3% above |
| Springfield | $25.37 | $44.27 | $57.13 | 670 | 2% below |
| Worcester | $23.49 | $39.55 | $57.68 | 1,370 | 12% below |
| Pittsfield | $23.05 | $39.41 | $58.21 | 230 | 13% below |
| Providence | $23.84 | $38.37 | $53.26 | 3,000 | 15% below |
| Amherst | $23.44 | $37.77 | $52.57 | 190 | 16% below |
| Barnstable | $22.60 | $36.67 | $51.64 | 640 | 19% below |
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.
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 2026-09-28. 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.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | 873 | $124,727 | $2,399 |
| Norfolk County | 5,011 | $115,749 | $2,226 |
| Plymouth County | 3,249 | $111,529 | $2,145 |
| Middlesex County | 9,174 | $105,830 | $2,035 |
| Essex County | 3,027 | $97,880 | $1,882 |
| Worcester County | 3,128 | $94,351 | $1,814 |
| Hampden County | 1,586 | $93,316 | $1,795 |
| Bristol County | 2,282 | $87,318 | $1,679 |
| Berkshire County | 564 | $82,964 | $1,595 |
| Barnstable County | 1,516 | $81,810 | $1,573 |
Keep comparing
Plumber pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in 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, pipefitters and steamfitters in Massachusetts in May 2025, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.24; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Massachusetts and metro areas, SOC 47-2152.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.