Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Minnesota

Median $45.39 an hour for 10,720 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$45.39/hrMedian hourly wageMinnesota, May data
$94,410/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.42 – $58.2010th to 90th percentilehourly range
10,720Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Plumber pay in Minnesota: the full range

Wage percentiles, MinnesotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrMinnesota: 10th $23.42 · 25th $29.40 · median $45.39 · 75th $52.29 · 90th $58.20Minnesota$45.39$23.42$58.20United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Minnesota vs United States, May 2025.

Minnesota ranks 4th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 2nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $46.03). 10,720 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$23.42 – $29.40$48,720 – $61,150roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$29.40 – $52.29$61,150 – $108,750the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$52.29 – $58.20$108,750 – $121,050the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Minnesota

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrMinneapolis: $48.86Minneapolis$48.86St. Cloud: $43.38St. Cloud$43.38Duluth: $40.89Duluth$40.89Rochester: $40.81Rochester$40.81La Crosse: $39.72La Crosse$39.72Mankato: $35.79Mankato$35.79Fargo: $30.46Fargo$30.46Grand Forks: $30.26Grand Forks$30.26Sioux Falls: $26.44Sioux Falls$26.44
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Minnesota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Minneapolis$24.70$48.86$46.62$58.526,7308% above
St. Cloud$24.41$43.38$49.52$56.188304% below
Duluth$22.26$40.89$46.05$52.5742010% below
Rochester$23.44$40.81$44.94$51.3049010% below
La Crosse$23.93$39.72$43.27$50.7728012% below
Mankato$23.50$35.79$39.33$55.2413021% below
Fargo$21.86$30.46$33.51$39.8267033% below
Grand Forks$22.04$30.26$34.90$40.3024033% below
Sioux Falls$19.36$26.44$29.18$36.7781042% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Plumber wages in Minnesota over time

Minnesota, 1999-2025MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$45.39Minnesota$30.67United States
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Minnesota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMinnesota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$22.40$43.29$17.416,700
2000$23.03$43.06$18.1910,130
2001$24.73$44.96$18.6110,540
2002$25.43$45.51$19.3110,170
2003$25.73$45.02$19.6910,090
2004$27.93$47.60$19.858,520
2005$26.53$43.73$20.279,590
2006$27.94$44.62$20.569,150
2007$28.50$44.25$21.209,070
2008$29.78$44.53$21.948,060
2009$29.15$43.74$22.276,890
2010$29.58$43.67$22.436,280
2011$30.36$43.45$22.966,460
2012$29.73$41.69$23.627,210
2013$31.62$43.70$24.137,720
2014$32.77$44.56$24.368,740
2015$32.78$44.53$24.348,630
2016$33.44$44.86$24.748,570
2017$33.19$43.59$25.288,660
2018$35.25$45.19$25.928,700
2019$35.69$44.94$26.529,950
2020$37.89$47.13$27.0810,480
2021$37.82$44.93$28.798,450
2022$36.51$40.16$28.899,430
2023$38.43$40.60$29.5910,100
2024$40.04$41.09$30.278,520
2025$45.39$45.39$30.6710,720

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Minnesota changed by +1.9% over the last ten years of data and by +1.0% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Minnesota?

+7.7%Jobs since 20199,950 then, 10,720 in 2025
+24.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 15th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Minnesota has changed by +60.0%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +7.7%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Minnesota vs United States, 1999 = 100MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025160Minnesota113United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Minnesota vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMinnesota jobsMinnesota indexUS index
19996,700100100
200010,130151106
200110,540157106
200210,170152106
200310,090151105
20048,520127103
20059,590143102
20069,150137106
20079,070135105
20088,060120106
20096,89010397
20106,2809487
20116,4609684
20127,21010882
20137,72011585
20148,74013090
20158,63012995
20168,570128100
20178,660129104
20188,700130106
20199,950148107
202010,480156101
20218,450126101
20229,430141104
202310,100151106
20248,520127110
202510,720160113

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 Minnesota

+7.4%Projected growth in Minnesota2024–2034, state agency
850Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,300Jobs in 20249,990 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Minnesota's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +7.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,300 to 9,990, with about 850 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 10,720 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Minnesota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Minnesota

On federally funded construction in Minnesota, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 87 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $71.29). The market median for the state is $45.39.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MNAitkin: $70.98 (survey)Anoka: $97.10 (survey)Becker: $70.98 (survey)Beltrami: $70.98 (survey)Benton: $89.12 (survey)Big Stone: $89.12 (survey)Blue Earth: $71.29 (survey)Brown: $71.29 (survey)Carlton: $83.15 (survey)Carver: $97.10 (survey)Cass: $80.20 (survey)Chippewa: $89.12 (survey)Chisago: $97.10 (survey)Clay: $70.98 (survey)Clearwater: $48.75 (survey)Cook: $83.15 (survey)Cottonwood: $57.31 (survey)Crow Wing: $70.98 (survey)Dakota: $97.10 (survey)Dodge: $88.49 (survey)Douglas: $70.98 (survey)Faribault: $88.49 (survey)Fillmore: $63.61 (survey)Freeborn: $88.49 (survey)Goodhue: $97.10 (survey)Grant: $70.98 (survey)Hennepin: $97.10 (survey)Houston: $88.49 (survey)Hubbard: $70.98 (survey)Isanti: $97.10 (survey)Itasca: $80.20 (survey)Jackson: $71.29 (survey)Kanabec: $83.15 (survey)Kandiyohi: $89.12 (survey)Kittson: $45.26 (survey)Koochiching: $70.84 (survey)Lac qui Parle: $39.72 (survey)Lake: $80.20 (survey)Lake of the Woods: $70.98 (survey)Le Sueur: $71.29 (survey)Lincoln: $71.29 (survey)Lyon: $71.29 (survey)McLeod: $97.10 (survey)Mahnomen: $70.98 (survey)Marshall: $70.98 (survey)Martin: $71.29 (survey)Meeker: $89.12 (survey)Mille Lacs: $97.10 (survey)Morrison: $89.12 (survey)Mower: $88.49 (survey)Murray: $50.54 (survey)Nicollet: $71.29 (survey)Nobles: $43.48 (survey)Norman: $70.98 (survey)Olmsted: $88.49 (survey)Otter Tail: $70.98 (survey)Pennington: $45.26 (survey)Pine: $83.15 (survey)Pipestone: $71.29 (survey)Polk: $70.98 (survey)Pope: $89.12 (survey)Ramsey: $97.10 (survey)Red Lake: $70.98 (survey)Redwood: $71.29 (survey)Renville: $71.29 (survey)Rice: $88.49 (survey)Rock: $71.29 (survey)Roseau: $45.26 (survey)St. Louis: $83.15 (survey)Scott: $97.10 (survey)Sherburne: $97.10 (survey)Sibley: $71.29 (survey)Stearns: $89.12 (survey)Steele: $88.49 (survey)Stevens: $89.12 (survey)Swift: $89.12 (survey)Todd: $89.12 (survey)Traverse: $70.98 (survey)Wabasha: $63.61 (survey)Wadena: $70.98 (survey)Waseca: $88.49 (survey)Washington: $97.10 (survey)Watonwan: $71.29 (survey)Wilkin: $70.98 (survey)Winona: $63.61 (survey)Wright: $97.10 (survey)Yellow Medicine: $71.29 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$70.98$71.29$83.15$89.12survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for plumbers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (survey)$0$25$50$75$100$125/hrHouston (La Crosse): market median $39.72, prevailing (survey) $88.49, gap +$48.77Houston (La Crosse)+$48.77Anoka (Minneapolis): market median $48.86, prevailing (survey) $97.10, gap +$48.24Anoka (Minneapolis)+$48.24Dodge (Rochester): market median $40.81, prevailing (survey) $88.49, gap +$47.68Dodge (Rochester)+$47.68Benton (St. Cloud): market median $43.38, prevailing (survey) $89.12, gap +$45.74Benton (St. Cloud)+$45.74Rock (Sioux Falls): market median $26.44, prevailing (survey) $71.29, gap +$44.85Rock (Sioux Falls)+$44.85Carlton (Duluth): market median $40.89, prevailing (survey) $83.15, gap +$42.26Carlton (Duluth)+$42.26Polk (Grand Forks): market median $30.26, prevailing (survey) $70.98, gap +$40.72Polk (Grand Forks)+$40.72Clay (Fargo): market median $30.46, prevailing (survey) $70.98, gap +$40.52Clay (Fargo)+$40.52Blue Earth (Mankato): market median $35.79, prevailing (survey) $71.29, gap +$35.50Blue Earth (Mankato)+$35.50
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Minnesota.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
Anokastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260028
Carverstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260036
Chisagostate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$62.78$34.32$97.10MN20260039
Dakotastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$62.78$34.32$97.10MN20260045
Goodhuestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$62.78$34.32$97.10MN20260051
Hennepinstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260053
Isantistate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260056
McLeodstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260072
Mille Lacsstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260074
Ramseystate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$62.78$34.32$97.10MN20260088
Scottstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260095
Sherburnestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260096
Washingtonstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$62.78$34.32$97.10MN20260108
Wrightstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$63.84$33.26$97.10MN20260112
Bentonstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$56.91$32.21$89.12MN20260031

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Minnesota prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Minnesota?

161.1kConstruction jobsMinnesota, 2026-09
+5.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025161kSep 2026
Construction employment in Minnesota (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

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 78 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 70,177 in 2015 to 87,254 in 2025, +24.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Washington County69797$132,763$2,553
Ramsey County963,001$108,630$2,089
Hennepin County2325,935$104,030$2,001
Scott County49619$95,075$1,828
Itasca County18192$92,110$1,771
Dakota County1021,360$90,068$1,732
Houston County558$87,827$1,689
Benton County221,214$87,803$1,689
Chisago County18130$87,553$1,684
Olmsted County40964$84,715$1,629
Stearns County55694$82,442$1,585
Anoka County1241,058$81,822$1,574

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Minnesota

More on Minnesota

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Minnesota?

The median plumber in Minnesota earned $45.39 an hour ($94,410 a year) in May 2025, 48% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $29.40–$52.29; the top 10% earn more than $58.20.

Where does Minnesota rank for plumber pay?

Minnesota ranks 4th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $45.39 an hour, and 2nd after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.6, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Minnesota?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a plumber classification for most Minnesota counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many plumbers work in Minnesota?

BLS counted 10,720 plumbers in Minnesota in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.21; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Minnesota?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Minnesota went from 8,630 in 2015 to 10,720 in 2025, +24.2%, and +7.7% since 2019. Minnesota's labor market agency projects +7.4% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 9,300 to 9,990 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Minnesota?

Minnesota projects about 850 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, Minnesota 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: Minnesota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.