Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in New York

Median $37.26 an hour for 23,210 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$37.26/hrMedian hourly wageNew York, May data
$77,490/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.18 – $62.7010th to 90th percentilehourly range
23,210Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Plumber pay in New York: the full range

Wage percentiles, New YorkMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrNew York: 10th $22.18 · 25th $28.83 · median $37.26 · 75th $48.67 · 90th $62.70New York$37.26$22.18$62.70United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: New York vs United States, May 2025.

New York ranks 13th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.53). 23,210 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.18 – $28.83$46,130 – $59,960roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.83 – $48.67$59,960 – $101,230the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$48.67 – $62.70$101,230 – $130,420the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in New York

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrBinghamton: $42.30Binghamton$42.30Glens Falls: $39.34Glens Falls$39.34New York City: $37.79New York City$37.79Albany: $37.24Albany$37.24Rochester: $35.38Rochester$35.38Utica: $35.00Utica$35.00Buffalo: $34.73Buffalo$34.73Kingston: $33.75Kingston$33.75Syracuse: $32.23Syracuse$32.23Poughkeepsie: $31.25Poughkeepsie$31.25Elmira: $31.10Elmira$31.10Ithaca: $30.99Ithaca$30.99
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in New York, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Binghamton$22.03$42.30$45.53$58.1328014% above
Glens Falls$21.09$39.34$41.45$60.091106% above
New York City$23.02$37.79$33.56$69.9421,0401% above
Albany$22.62$37.24$37.39$56.041,470about the same as
Rochester$20.95$35.38$36.47$48.141,4605% below
Utica$22.04$35.00$37.76$50.881406% below
Buffalo$19.38$34.73$36.25$50.021,4307% below
Kingston$21.10$33.75$33.52$62.891809% below
Syracuse$21.50$32.23$33.68$47.8184013% below
Poughkeepsie$18.22$31.25$28.56$56.6778016% below
Elmira$21.68$31.10$32.94$57.2914017% below
Ithaca$21.03$30.99$30.00$57.047017% below
Watertown$18.86$29.56$33.71$68.1810021% below

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

Plumber wages in New York over time

New York, 1999-2025New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$37.26New York$30.67United States
Median hourly wage for plumbers, New York vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNew York $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.50$41.55$17.4122,420
2000$22.40$41.88$18.1923,520
2001$20.22$36.76$18.6124,850
2002$23.27$41.64$19.31—
2003$25.01$43.76$19.6928,260
2004$24.69$42.08$19.8529,080
2005$27.14$44.74$20.2725,790
2006$25.47$40.67$20.5625,250
2007$26.42$41.02$21.2023,330
2008$25.92$38.76$21.9425,080
2009$26.78$40.19$22.2724,830
2010$26.99$39.85$22.4321,850
2011$30.65$43.87$22.9622,130
2012$31.66$44.39$23.6221,580
2013$32.13$44.40$24.1322,220
2014$32.15$43.72$24.3624,980
2015$31.30$42.52$24.3427,550
2016$33.12$44.43$24.7428,320
2017$34.44$45.23$25.2827,410
2018$32.27$41.37$25.9229,120
2019$31.72$39.94$26.5229,630
2020$31.39$39.05$27.0826,310
2021$36.93$43.88$28.7925,800
2022$36.88$40.57$28.8926,670
2023$37.60$39.73$29.5924,440
2024$37.72$38.71$30.2722,630
2025$37.26$37.26$30.6723,210

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in New York changed by -12.4% over the last ten years of data and by -6.7% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in New York?

-21.7%Jobs since 201929,630 then, 23,210 in 2025
-15.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 47th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in New York has changed by +3.5%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -21.7%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in New York vs United States, 1999 = 100New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140200020052010201520202025113United States104New York
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, New York vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNew York jobsNew York indexUS index
199922,420100100
200023,520105106
200124,850111106
200328,260126105
200429,080130103
200525,790115102
200625,250113106
200723,330104105
200825,080112106
200924,83011197
201021,8509887
201122,1309984
201221,5809682
201322,2209985
201424,98011190
201527,55012395
201628,320126100
201727,410122104
201829,120130106
201929,630132107
202026,310117101
202125,800115101
202226,670119104
202324,440109106
202422,630101110
202523,210104113

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 New York

-1.3%Projected growth in New York2024–2034, state agency
1,990Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
25,110Jobs in 202424,790 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

New York's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by -1.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 25,110 to 24,790, with about 1,990 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 23,210 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in New York

On federally funded construction in New York, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 44 of the 62 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $72.00 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $65.08). 2 of the 62 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Jefferson County at $49.75). The market median for the state is $37.26.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NYAlbany: $63.10 (union)Allegany: $72.00 (union)Bronx: $124.60 (union)Broome: $78.22 (union)Cattaraugus: $72.00 (union)Cayuga: $65.08 (survey)Chautauqua: $72.00 (union)Chemung: $60.08 (union)Chenango: $65.08 (survey)Clinton: $65.08 (survey)Columbia: $65.08 (survey)Cortland: $65.08 (survey)Delaware: $65.08 (survey)Dutchess: $99.77 (union)Erie: $72.00 (union)Essex: $65.08 (survey)Franklin: $65.08 (survey)Fulton: $65.08 (survey)Genesee: $72.00 (union)Greene: $65.08 (survey)Hamilton: $65.08 (survey)Herkimer: $79.70 (union)Jefferson: $49.75 (survey)Kings: $124.60 (union)Lewis: $65.08 (survey)Livingston: $70.56 (union)Madison: $60.08 (union)Monroe: $70.56 (union)Montgomery: $65.08 (survey)Nassau: $124.60 (union)New York: $124.60 (union)Niagara: $72.00 (union)Oneida: $79.70 (union)Onondaga: $60.08 (union)Ontario: $70.56 (union)Orange: $99.77 (union)Orleans: $70.56 (union)Oswego: $60.08 (union)Otsego: $65.08 (survey)Putnam: $110.42 (union)Queens: $124.60 (union)Rensselaer: $63.10 (union)Richmond: $124.60 (union)Rockland: $79.37 (union)St. Lawrence: $65.08 (survey)Saratoga: $63.10 (union)Schenectady: $63.10 (union)Schoharie: $63.10 (union)Schuyler: $72.00 (union)Seneca: $72.00 (union)Steuben: $72.00 (union)Suffolk: $124.60 (union)Sullivan: $65.08 (survey)Tioga: $78.22 (union)Tompkins: $60.08 (union)Ulster: $99.77 (union)Warren: $78.48 (union)Washington: $63.10 (union)Wayne: $70.56 (union)Westchester: $110.42 (union)Wyoming: $72.00 (union)Yates: $39.62 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$63.50$65.08$72.00$79.70survey 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)$0$50$100$150/hrBronx (New York City): market median $37.79, prevailing (union) $124.60, gap +$86.81Bronx (New York City)+$86.81Dutchess (Poughkeepsie): market median $31.25, prevailing (union) $99.77, gap +$68.52Dutchess (Poughkeepsie)+$68.52Ulster (Kingston): market median $33.75, prevailing (union) $99.77, gap +$66.02Ulster (Kingston)+$66.02Herkimer (Utica): market median $35.00, prevailing (union) $79.70, gap +$44.70Herkimer (Utica)+$44.70Warren (Glens Falls): market median $39.34, prevailing (union) $78.48, gap +$39.14Warren (Glens Falls)+$39.14Erie (Buffalo): market median $34.73, prevailing (union) $72.00, gap +$37.27Erie (Buffalo)+$37.27Broome (Binghamton): market median $42.30, prevailing (union) $78.22, gap +$35.92Broome (Binghamton)+$35.92Livingston (Rochester): market median $35.38, prevailing (union) $70.56, gap +$35.18Livingston (Rochester)+$35.18Tompkins (Ithaca): market median $30.99, prevailing (union) $60.08, gap +$29.09Tompkins (Ithaca)+$29.09Chemung (Elmira): market median $31.10, prevailing (union) $60.08, gap +$28.98Chemung (Elmira)+$28.98Madison (Syracuse): market median $32.23, prevailing (union) $60.08, gap +$27.85Madison (Syracuse)+$27.85Albany (Albany): market median $37.24, prevailing (union) $63.10, gap +$25.86Albany (Albany)+$25.86Jefferson (Watertown): market median $29.56, prevailing (survey) $49.75, gap +$20.19Jefferson (Watertown)+$20.19
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in New York.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BronxUnion PLUM0638-001 2026-01-01$70.36$54.24$124.60NY20260003
KingsUnion PLUM0638-001 2026-01-01$70.36$54.24$124.60NY20260003
NassauUnion PLUM0638-001 2026-01-01$70.36$54.24$124.60NY20260012
New YorkUnion PLUM0638-001 2026-01-01$70.36$54.24$124.60NY20260003
QueensUnion PLUM0638-001 2026-01-01$70.36$54.24$124.60NY20260003
RichmondUnion PLUM0638-001 2026-01-01$70.36$54.24$124.60NY20260003
SuffolkUnion PLUM0638-001 2026-01-01$70.36$54.24$124.60NY20260012
PutnamUnion PLUM0021-001 2025-05-01$65.07$45.35$110.42NY20260025
WestchesterUnion PLUM0021-003 2025-05-01$65.07$45.35$110.42NY20260017
DutchessUnion PLUM0373-002 2025-05-01$53.20$46.57$99.77NY20260007
OrangeUnion PLUM0373-002 2025-05-01$53.20$46.57$99.77NY20260007
UlsterUnion PLUM0373-002 2025-05-01$53.20$46.57$99.77NY20260007
HerkimerUnion PLUM0112-003 2025-05-01$45.93$33.77$79.70NY20260031
OneidaUnion PLUM0112-005 2025-05-01$45.93$33.77$79.70NY20260013
RocklandUnion PLUM0373-001 2025-05-01$41.99$37.38$79.37NY20260020

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New York prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in New York?

396.1kConstruction jobsNew York, 2026-09
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k200k300k400k500k19901995200020052010201520202025396kSep 2026
Construction employment in New York (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 59 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 230,604 in 2015 to 242,213 in 2025, +5.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
New York County2413,359$107,414$2,066
Albany County901,938$103,719$1,995
Saratoga County57883$98,334$1,891
Nassau County6956,816$97,430$1,874
Queens County9048,832$95,571$1,838
Erie County2503,822$94,923$1,825
Westchester County5014,006$93,445$1,797
Onondaga County1322,080$93,044$1,789
Putnam County99641$91,645$1,762
Bronx County2612,664$91,381$1,757
Suffolk County1,0457,881$87,720$1,687
Ulster County84617$85,785$1,650

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in New York

More on New York

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in New York?

The median plumber in New York earned $37.26 an hour ($77,490 a year) in May 2025, 21% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $28.83–$48.67; the top 10% earn more than $62.70.

Where does New York rank for plumber pay?

New York ranks 13th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $37.26 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for New York's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.9, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in New York?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 44 counties, with a typical package of $72.00 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in New York?

BLS counted 23,210 plumbers in New York in May 2025, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.80; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in New York?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in New York went from 27,550 in 2015 to 23,210 in 2025, -15.8%, and -21.7% since 2019. New York's labor market agency projects -1.3% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 25,110 to 24,790 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in New York?

New York projects about 1,990 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, New York 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 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: New York labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.