Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Nebraska

Median $29.31 an hour for 4,110 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.31/hrMedian hourly wageNebraska, May data
$60,970/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.59 – $47.1310th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,110Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Plumber pay in Nebraska: the full range

Wage percentiles, NebraskaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNebraska: 10th $20.59 · 25th $23.21 · median $29.31 · 75th $39.38 · 90th $47.13Nebraska$29.31$20.59$47.13United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Nebraska vs United States, May 2025.

Nebraska ranks 37th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 25th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.53). 4,110 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$20.59 – $23.21$42,830 – $48,280roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.21 – $39.38$48,280 – $81,900the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$39.38 – $47.13$81,900 – $98,030the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Nebraska

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrOmaha: $30.48Omaha$30.48Sioux City: $29.28Sioux City$29.28Lincoln: $29.17Lincoln$29.17Grand Island: $26.85Grand Island$26.85
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Nebraska, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Omaha$22.46$30.48$33.17$47.382,4304% above
Sioux City$21.92$29.28$33.85$46.83240about the same as
Lincoln$19.53$29.17$31.84$42.15650about the same as
Grand Island$18.98$26.85$30.97$38.911508% below

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

Plumber wages in Nebraska over time

Nebraska, 1999-2025NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$29.31Nebraska
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Nebraska vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNebraska $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.47$35.69$17.412,750
2000$16.83$31.47$18.192,740
2001$16.87$30.67$18.612,520
2002$17.92$32.07$19.312,260
2003$17.62$30.83$19.692,430
2004$20.89$35.60$19.852,190
2005$21.27$35.06$20.272,360
2006$22.70$36.25$20.562,410
2007$22.96$35.65$21.202,320
2008$24.76$37.02$21.942,930
2009$25.44$38.18$22.273,620
2010$25.95$38.31$22.434,020
2011$25.68$36.75$22.963,580
2012$24.05$33.72$23.623,220
2013$23.97$33.13$24.133,100
2014$23.45$31.89$24.362,780
2015$25.36$34.45$24.342,880
2016$24.53$32.90$24.743,340
2017$24.75$32.51$25.283,900
2018$26.35$33.78$25.923,860
2019$28.71$36.15$26.523,440
2020$30.57$38.03$27.082,920
2021$24.16$28.70$28.793,450
2022$27.36$30.10$28.893,220
2023$29.24$30.89$29.593,460
2024$30.23$31.03$30.274,240
2025$29.31$29.31$30.674,110

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Nebraska changed by -14.9% over the last ten years of data and by -18.9% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Nebraska?

+19.5%Jobs since 20193,440 then, 4,110 in 2025
+42.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 6th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Nebraska has changed by +49.5%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +19.5%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Nebraska vs United States, 1999 = 100NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025150Nebraska113United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Nebraska vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNebraska jobsNebraska indexUS index
19992,750100100
20002,740100106
20012,52092106
20022,26082106
20032,43088105
20042,19080103
20052,36086102
20062,41088106
20072,32084105
20082,930106106
20093,62013297
20104,02014687
20113,58013084
20123,22011782
20133,10011385
20142,78010190
20152,88010595
20163,340122100
20173,900142104
20183,860140106
20193,440125107
20202,920106101
20213,450126101
20223,220117104
20233,460126106
20244,240154110
20254,110150113

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 Nebraska

+8.9%Projected growth in Nebraska2024–2034, state agency
480Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,090Jobs in 20245,540 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Nebraska's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +8.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,090 to 5,540, with about 480 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,110 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Nebraska

On federally funded construction in Nebraska, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 88 of the 93 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $61.16 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $30.34). 5 of the 93 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Lancaster County at $28.93). The market median for the state is $29.31.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NEAdams: $61.16 (union)Antelope: $61.16 (union)Arthur: $61.16 (union)Banner: $61.16 (union)Blaine: $61.16 (union)Boone: $61.16 (union)Box Butte: $61.16 (union)Boyd: $61.16 (union)Brown: $61.16 (union)Buffalo: $61.16 (union)Burt: $61.16 (union)Butler: $67.35 (union)Cass: $61.16 (union)Cedar: $61.16 (union)Chase: $61.16 (union)Cherry: $61.16 (union)Cheyenne: $61.16 (union)Clay: $61.16 (union)Colfax: $61.16 (union)Cuming: $61.16 (union)Custer: $61.16 (union)Dakota: $66.45 (union)Dawes: $61.16 (union)Dawson: $61.16 (union)Deuel: $61.16 (union)Dixon: $66.45 (union)Dodge: $61.16 (union)Douglas: $61.16 (union)Dundy: $61.16 (union)Fillmore: $67.35 (union)Franklin: $61.16 (union)Frontier: $61.16 (union)Furnas: $61.16 (union)Gage: $67.35 (union)Garden: $61.16 (union)Garfield: $61.16 (union)Gosper: $61.16 (union)Grant: $61.16 (union)Greeley: $61.16 (union)Hall: $61.16 (union)Hamilton: $61.16 (union)Harlan: $61.16 (union)Hayes: $61.16 (union)Hitchcock: $61.16 (union)Holt: $61.16 (union)Hooker: $61.16 (union)Howard: $61.16 (union)Jefferson: $67.35 (union)Johnson: $67.35 (union)Kearney: $61.16 (union)Keith: $61.16 (union)Keya Paha: $61.16 (union)Kimball: $61.16 (union)Knox: $61.16 (union)Lancaster: $28.93 (survey)Lincoln: $61.16 (union)Logan: $61.16 (union)Loup: $61.16 (union)McPherson: $61.16 (union)Madison: $61.16 (union)Merrick: $61.16 (union)Morrill: $61.16 (union)Nance: $61.16 (union)Nemaha: $67.35 (union)Nuckolls: $61.16 (union)Otoe: $35.42 (survey)Pawnee: $35.42 (survey)Perkins: $61.16 (union)Phelps: $61.16 (union)Pierce: $61.16 (union)Platte: $61.16 (union)Polk: $67.35 (union)Red Willow: $61.16 (union)Richardson: $67.35 (union)Rock: $61.16 (union)Saline: $67.35 (union)Sarpy: $61.16 (union)Saunders: $30.34 (survey)Scotts Bluff: $61.16 (union)Seward: $28.92 (survey)Sheridan: $61.16 (union)Sherman: $61.16 (union)Sioux: $61.16 (union)Stanton: $61.16 (union)Thayer: $67.35 (union)Thomas: $61.16 (union)Thurston: $61.16 (union)Valley: $61.16 (union)Washington: $61.16 (union)Wayne: $61.16 (union)Webster: $61.16 (union)Wheeler: $61.16 (union)York: $61.16 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$61.16survey 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 (union)Prevailing (survey)$20$40$60$80/hrDakota (Sioux City): market median $29.28, prevailing (union) $66.45, gap +$37.17Dakota (Sioux City)+$37.17Hall (Grand Island): market median $26.85, prevailing (union) $61.16, gap +$34.31Hall (Grand Island)+$34.31Cass (Omaha): market median $30.48, prevailing (union) $61.16, gap +$30.68Cass (Omaha)+$30.68Lancaster (Lincoln): market median $29.17, prevailing (survey) $28.93, gap −$0.24Lancaster (Lincoln)−$0.24
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Nebraska.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ButlerUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
FillmoreUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
GageUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
JeffersonUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
JohnsonUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
NemahaUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
PolkUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
RichardsonUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
SalineUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
ThayerUnion PLUM0464-009 2025-06-01$46.25$21.10$67.35NE20260081
DakotaUnion PLUM0033-009 2024-06-01$43.20$23.25$66.45NE20260063
DixonUnion PLUM0033-009 2024-06-01$43.20$23.25$66.45NE20260063
AdamsUnion PLUM0016-009 2025-05-25$44.26$16.90$61.16NE20260064
AntelopeUnion PLUM0016-003 2025-05-25$44.26$16.90$61.16NE20260078
ArthurUnion PLUM0016-010 2025-05-25$44.26$16.90$61.16NE20260079

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

Is construction work growing in Nebraska?

70.4kConstruction jobsNebraska, 2026-09
+7.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202570kSep 2026
Construction employment in Nebraska (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 58 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 30,915 in 2015 to 40,806 in 2025, +32.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Douglas County2063,857$81,935$1,576
Sarpy County1022,548$81,435$1,566
Hall County36313$73,187$1,407
Washington County941$70,753$1,361
Lancaster County1201,580$66,194$1,273
Dodge County17231$65,485$1,259
Buffalo County35296$63,508$1,221
Cedar County539$62,668$1,205
Pierce County522$62,147$1,195
Madison County20149$61,808$1,189
Adams County16224$60,890$1,171
Lincoln County19268$60,014$1,154

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Nebraska

More on Nebraska

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Nebraska?

The median plumber in Nebraska earned $29.31 an hour ($60,970 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $23.21–$39.38; the top 10% earn more than $47.13.

Where does Nebraska rank for plumber pay?

Nebraska ranks 37th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $29.31 an hour, and 25th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Nebraska?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 88 counties, with a typical package of $61.16 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Nebraska?

BLS counted 4,110 plumbers in Nebraska in May 2025, 4.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.34; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Nebraska?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Nebraska went from 2,880 in 2015 to 4,110 in 2025, +42.7%, and +19.5% since 2019. Nebraska's labor market agency projects +8.9% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 5,090 to 5,540 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Nebraska?

Nebraska projects about 480 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, Nebraska 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: Nebraska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.