Plumber salary in New Jersey
Median $37.61 an hour for 8,750 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Plumber pay in New Jersey: the full range
New Jersey ranks 11th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 18th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.57). 8,750 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.42 – $29.72 | $48,720 – $61,810 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.72 – $51.36 | $61,810 – $106,830 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $51.36 – $65.73 | $106,830 – $136,710 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Plumber pay by metro in New Jersey
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $23.02 | $37.79 | $69.94 | 21,040 | about the same as |
| Vineland | $22.82 | $37.05 | $63.97 | 270 | 1% below |
| Trenton | $24.25 | $36.71 | $61.20 | 280 | 2% below |
| Philadelphia | $23.27 | $35.99 | $68.37 | 7,150 | 4% below |
| Allentown | $22.34 | $31.22 | $66.36 | 730 | 17% below |
| Atlantic City | $21.65 | $30.87 | $53.74 | 530 | 18% below |
Plumber wages in New Jersey over time
Table
| Year | New Jersey $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $19.79 | $38.24 | $17.41 | 8,630 |
| 2000 | $22.09 | $41.30 | $18.19 | 9,610 |
| 2001 | $22.91 | $41.65 | $18.61 | 9,390 |
| 2002 | $23.76 | $42.52 | $19.31 | 11,340 |
| 2003 | $24.07 | $42.12 | $19.69 | 12,110 |
| 2004 | $25.78 | $43.94 | $19.85 | 9,830 |
| 2005 | $26.22 | $43.22 | $20.27 | 10,440 |
| 2006 | $25.61 | $40.90 | $20.56 | 11,530 |
| 2007 | $26.14 | $40.59 | $21.20 | 10,030 |
| 2008 | $26.59 | $39.76 | $21.94 | 9,630 |
| 2009 | $27.39 | $41.10 | $22.27 | 8,780 |
| 2010 | $27.81 | $41.06 | $22.43 | 7,850 |
| 2011 | $28.33 | $40.55 | $22.96 | 8,200 |
| 2012 | $28.96 | $40.61 | $23.62 | 8,180 |
| 2013 | $29.35 | $40.56 | $24.13 | 8,490 |
| 2014 | $29.72 | $40.42 | $24.36 | 8,400 |
| 2015 | $30.02 | $40.78 | $24.34 | 7,360 |
| 2016 | $29.66 | $39.79 | $24.74 | 8,150 |
| 2017 | $29.90 | $39.27 | $25.28 | 9,070 |
| 2018 | $30.63 | $39.27 | $25.92 | 9,330 |
| 2019 | $32.61 | $41.07 | $26.52 | 8,780 |
| 2020 | $32.85 | $40.86 | $27.08 | 8,290 |
| 2021 | $36.98 | $43.94 | $28.79 | 9,740 |
| 2022 | $36.32 | $39.95 | $28.89 | 8,760 |
| 2023 | $37.72 | $39.85 | $29.59 | 9,560 |
| 2024 | $37.10 | $38.08 | $30.27 | 9,840 |
| 2025 | $37.61 | $37.61 | $30.67 | 8,750 |
In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in New Jersey changed by -7.8% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in New Jersey
On federally funded construction in New Jersey, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 21 of the 21 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $107.06 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $37.61.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen | Union PLUM0024-001 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260026 |
| Essex | Union PLUM0024-014 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260031 |
| Hudson | Union PLUM0024-001 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260033 |
| Morris | Union PLUM0024-001 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260038 |
| Passaic | Union PLUM0024-001 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260040 |
| Sussex | Union PLUM0024-001 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260043 |
| Union | Union PLUM0024-014 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260044 |
| Warren | Union PLUM0024-001 2025-05-01 | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | NJ20260045 |
| Atlantic | Union PLUM0322-009 2025-05-01 | $56.30 | $50.76 | $107.06 | NJ20260025 |
| Camden | Union PLUM0322-009 2025-05-01 | $56.30 | $50.76 | $107.06 | NJ20260028 |
| Cape May | Union PLUM0322-009 2025-05-01 | $56.30 | $50.76 | $107.06 | NJ20260029 |
| Cumberland | Union PLUM0322-009 2025-05-01 | $56.30 | $50.76 | $107.06 | NJ20260030 |
| Gloucester | Union PLUM0322-009 2025-05-01 | $56.30 | $50.76 | $107.06 | NJ20260032 |
| Salem | Union PLUM0322-009 2025-05-01 | $56.30 | $50.76 | $107.06 | NJ20260041 |
| Hunterdon | Union PLUM0009-019 2025-07-01 | $59.57 | $46.45 | $106.02 | NJ20260034 |
| Somerset | Union PLUM0009-020 2025-07-01 | $59.57 | $46.45 | $106.02 | NJ20260042 |
| Burlington | Union PLUM0009-015 2025-07-01 | $46.23 | $29.23 | $75.46 | NJ20260027 |
| Mercer | Union PLUM0009-016 2025-07-01 | $46.23 | $29.23 | $75.46 | NJ20260035 |
| Middlesex | Union PLUM0009-021 2025-07-01 | $46.23 | $29.23 | $75.46 | NJ20260036 |
| Monmouth | Union PLUM0009-017 2025-07-01 | $46.23 | $29.23 | $75.46 | NJ20260037 |
| Ocean | Union PLUM0009-018 2025-07-01 | $46.23 | $29.23 | $75.46 | NJ20260039 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Jersey prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Jersey?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson County | 924 | $110,130 | $2,118 |
| Gloucester County | 1,460 | $96,534 | $1,856 |
| Middlesex County | 2,806 | $95,567 | $1,838 |
| Somerset County | 1,143 | $95,362 | $1,834 |
| Union County | 1,760 | $95,332 | $1,833 |
| Cumberland County | 934 | $92,743 | $1,784 |
| Essex County | 1,545 | $92,442 | $1,778 |
| Morris County | 2,412 | $92,107 | $1,771 |
| Monmouth County | 3,960 | $91,453 | $1,759 |
| Passaic County | 1,327 | $88,845 | $1,709 |
| Bergen County | 2,944 | $87,600 | $1,685 |
| Camden County | 2,136 | $87,076 | $1,675 |
| Warren County | 185 | $82,215 | $1,581 |
| Sussex County | 456 | $81,799 | $1,573 |
| Mercer County | 619 | $81,457 | $1,566 |
| Hunterdon County | 544 | $80,747 | $1,553 |
| Burlington County | 1,220 | $78,478 | $1,509 |
| Atlantic County | 952 | $77,864 | $1,497 |
| Ocean County | 2,084 | $74,172 | $1,426 |
| Salem County | 329 | $73,935 | $1,422 |
| Cape May County | 542 | $62,879 | $1,209 |
Keep comparing
Plumber pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Jersey
Questions this page answers
How much do plumbers make in New Jersey?
The median plumber in New Jersey earned $37.61 an hour ($78,240 a year) in May 2025, 23% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $29.72–$51.36; the top 10% earn more than $65.73.
Where does New Jersey rank for plumber pay?
New Jersey ranks 11th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $37.61 an hour, and 18th after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (BEA price parity 108.8, US = 100).
What is the union plumber rate in New Jersey?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 21 counties, with a typical package of $107.06 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many plumbers work in New Jersey?
BLS counted 8,750 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in New Jersey in May 2025, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.68; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Jersey 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.