Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in North Carolina

Median $27.44 an hour for 14,510 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.44/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$57,080/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.69 – $36.4710th to 90th percentilehourly range
14,510Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Plumber pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $18.69 · 25th $22.38 · median $27.44 · 75th $30.43 · 90th $36.47North Carolina$27.44$18.69$36.47United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 44th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.10). 14,510 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.69 – $22.38$38,860 – $46,550roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.38 – $30.43$46,550 – $63,290the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$30.43 – $36.47$63,290 – $75,850the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrVirginia Beach: $29.75Virginia Beach$29.75Raleigh: $29.10Raleigh$29.10Durham: $28.90Durham$28.90Asheville: $28.46Asheville$28.46Charlotte: $28.22Charlotte$28.22Greensboro: $27.65Greensboro$27.65Greenville: $27.44Greenville$27.44Burlington: $27.35Burlington$27.35Wilmington: $27.11Wilmington$27.11Rocky Mount: $27.03Rocky Mount$27.03Jacksonville: $25.59Jacksonville$25.59Fayetteville: $24.87Fayetteville$24.87
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$21.98$29.75$30.39$36.255,1008% above
Raleigh$20.64$29.10$29.63$37.312,8106% above
Durham$21.07$28.90$29.61$36.766205% above
Asheville$19.02$28.46$29.49$35.464604% above
Charlotte$20.35$28.22$29.00$36.543,8403% above
Greensboro$19.02$27.65$29.76$35.511,1101% above
Greenville$19.32$27.44$31.04$35.83250about the same as
Burlington$18.62$27.35$29.35$35.60260about the same as
Wilmington$18.79$27.11$28.12$36.836901% below
Rocky Mount$17.93$27.03$30.72$35.651401% below
Jacksonville$18.19$25.59$27.79$37.852707% below
Fayetteville$18.00$24.87$27.03$35.843909% below
Hickory$17.97$24.68$27.89$33.2833010% below
Goldsboro$17.53$24.64$27.84$32.8716010% below
Winston-Salem$18.19$23.67$25.73$34.6986014% below
Pinehurst$18.60$23.29$26.38$29.5613015% below

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

Plumber wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$27.44North Carolina
Median hourly wage for plumbers, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.80$26.67$17.4111,460
2000$14.60$27.30$18.1913,680
2001$14.99$27.25$18.6111,550
2002$15.45$27.65$19.3110,960
2003$15.34$26.84$19.6910,160
2004$15.36$26.18$19.859,830
2005$15.85$26.13$20.2710,640
2006$16.07$25.66$20.5611,500
2007$16.75$26.01$21.2011,890
2008$17.36$25.96$21.9411,200
2009$17.48$26.23$22.279,420
2010$17.32$25.57$22.438,600
2011$18.05$25.83$22.968,360
2012$18.93$26.54$23.628,450
2013$18.87$26.08$24.138,240
2014$19.02$25.87$24.368,580
2015$19.04$25.86$24.349,340
2016$19.85$26.63$24.749,830
2017$20.29$26.65$25.2810,820
2018$20.74$26.59$25.9211,700
2019$21.24$26.75$26.5212,820
2020$21.29$26.48$27.0812,160
2021$22.86$27.16$28.7913,550
2022$22.70$24.97$28.8914,400
2023$24.24$25.61$29.5915,120
2024$24.52$25.17$30.2714,300
2025$27.44$27.44$30.6714,510

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in North Carolina changed by +6.1% over the last ten years of data and by +2.6% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in North Carolina?

+13.2%Jobs since 201912,820 then, 14,510 in 2025
+55.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 36th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in North Carolina has changed by +26.6%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +13.2%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in North Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140200020052010201520202025127North Carolina113United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Carolina jobsNorth Carolina indexUS index
199911,460100100
200013,680119106
200111,550101106
200210,96096106
200310,16089105
20049,83086103
200510,64093102
200611,500100106
200711,890104105
200811,20098106
20099,4208297
20108,6007587
20118,3607384
20128,4507482
20138,2407285
20148,5807590
20159,3408295
20169,83086100
201710,82094104
201811,700102106
201912,820112107
202012,160106101
202113,550118101
202214,400126104
202315,120132106
202414,300125110
202514,510127113

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 North Carolina

+5.6%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
1,390Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
15,620Jobs in 202416,500 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +5.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 15,620 to 16,500, with about 1,390 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 14,510 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $47.44 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $20.13). 53 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $19.84). The market median for the state is $27.44.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $30.26 (survey)Alexander: $47.44 (union)Alleghany: $19.84 (survey)Anson: $44.35 (union)Ashe: $19.84 (survey)Avery: $19.84 (survey)Beaufort: $20.13 (survey)Bertie: $20.13 (survey)Bladen: $19.71 (survey)Brunswick: $23.11 (survey)Buncombe: $35.05 (survey)Burke: $47.44 (union)Cabarrus: $27.77 (survey)Caldwell: $47.44 (union)Camden: $20.13 (survey)Carteret: $20.13 (survey)Caswell: $19.84 (survey)Catawba: $47.44 (union)Chatham: $30.26 (survey)Cherokee: $19.84 (survey)Chowan: $20.13 (survey)Clay: $19.84 (survey)Cleveland: $19.71 (survey)Columbus: $19.71 (survey)Craven: $23.11 (survey)Cumberland: $23.40 (survey)Currituck: $23.11 (survey)Dare: $20.13 (survey)Davidson: $21.75 (survey)Davie: $21.75 (survey)Duplin: $19.71 (survey)Durham: $30.26 (survey)Edgecombe: $30.26 (survey)Forsyth: $21.75 (survey)Franklin: $30.26 (survey)Gaston: $27.77 (survey)Gates: $23.11 (survey)Graham: $19.84 (survey)Granville: $19.84 (survey)Greene: $22.04 (survey)Guilford: $21.75 (survey)Halifax: $19.84 (survey)Harnett: $19.71 (survey)Haywood: $35.05 (survey)Henderson: $35.05 (survey)Hertford: $20.13 (survey)Hoke: $23.40 (survey)Hyde: $20.13 (survey)Iredell: $27.77 (survey)Jackson: $19.84 (survey)Johnston: $30.26 (survey)Jones: $23.11 (survey)Lee: $19.71 (survey)Lenoir: $19.71 (survey)Lincoln: $27.77 (survey)McDowell: $19.84 (survey)Macon: $19.84 (survey)Madison: $35.05 (survey)Martin: $20.13 (survey)Mecklenburg: $28.02 (survey)Mitchell: $19.84 (survey)Montgomery: $19.71 (survey)Moore: $19.71 (survey)Nash: $30.26 (survey)New Hanover: $23.11 (survey)Northampton: $19.84 (survey)Onslow: $23.11 (survey)Orange: $30.26 (survey)Pamlico: $23.11 (survey)Pasquotank: $20.13 (survey)Pender: $23.11 (survey)Perquimans: $20.13 (survey)Person: $30.26 (survey)Pitt: $30.26 (survey)Polk: $19.84 (survey)Randolph: $21.75 (survey)Richmond: $19.71 (survey)Robeson: $19.71 (survey)Rockingham: $21.75 (survey)Rowan: $27.77 (survey)Rutherford: $19.84 (survey)Sampson: $19.71 (survey)Scotland: $19.71 (survey)Stanly: $19.71 (survey)Stokes: $21.75 (survey)Surry: $19.84 (survey)Swain: $19.84 (survey)Transylvania: $19.84 (survey)Tyrrell: $20.13 (survey)Union: $27.77 (survey)Vance: $19.84 (survey)Wake: $30.26 (survey)Warren: $19.84 (survey)Washington: $20.13 (survey)Watauga: $19.84 (survey)Wayne: $30.26 (survey)Wilkes: $19.84 (survey)Wilson: $19.71 (survey)Yadkin: $21.75 (survey)Yancey: $19.84 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$19.84$20.13$21.87$30.26survey 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)$10$20$30$40$50/hrAlexander (Hickory): market median $24.68, prevailing (union) $47.44, gap +$22.76Alexander (Hickory)+$22.76Anson (Charlotte): market median $28.22, prevailing (union) $44.35, gap +$16.13Anson (Charlotte)+$16.13Buncombe (Asheville): market median $28.46, prevailing (survey) $35.05, gap +$6.59Buncombe (Asheville)+$6.59Wayne (Goldsboro): market median $24.64, prevailing (survey) $30.26, gap +$5.62Wayne (Goldsboro)+$5.62Edgecombe (Rocky Mount): market median $27.03, prevailing (survey) $30.26, gap +$3.23Edgecombe (Rocky Mount)+$3.23Alamance (Burlington): market median $27.35, prevailing (survey) $30.26, gap +$2.91Alamance (Burlington)+$2.91Pitt (Greenville): market median $27.44, prevailing (survey) $30.26, gap +$2.82Pitt (Greenville)+$2.82Chatham (Durham): market median $28.90, prevailing (survey) $30.26, gap +$1.36Chatham (Durham)+$1.36Franklin (Raleigh): market median $29.10, prevailing (survey) $30.26, gap +$1.16Franklin (Raleigh)+$1.16Cumberland (Fayetteville): market median $24.87, prevailing (survey) $23.40, gap −$1.47Cumberland (Fayetteville)−$1.47Davidson (Winston-Salem): market median $23.67, prevailing (survey) $21.75, gap −$1.92Davidson (Winston-Salem)−$1.92Onslow (Jacksonville): market median $25.59, prevailing (survey) $23.11, gap −$2.48Onslow (Jacksonville)−$2.48Moore (Pinehurst): market median $23.29, prevailing (survey) $19.71, gap −$3.58Moore (Pinehurst)−$3.58Brunswick (Wilmington): market median $27.11, prevailing (survey) $23.11, gap −$4.00Brunswick (Wilmington)−$4.00Guilford (Greensboro): market median $27.65, prevailing (survey) $21.75, gap −$5.90Guilford (Greensboro)−$5.90Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $29.75, prevailing (survey) $23.11, gap −$6.64Currituck (Virginia Beach)−$6.64
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlexanderUnion PLUM0421-007 2023-07-01$33.96$13.48$47.44NC20260014
BurkeUnion PLUM0421-007 2023-07-01$33.96$13.48$47.44NC20260014
CaldwellUnion PLUM0421-007 2023-07-01$33.96$13.48$47.44NC20260014
CatawbaUnion PLUM0421-007 2023-07-01$33.96$13.48$47.44NC20260002
AnsonUnion PLUM0421-002 2022-07-01$31.66$12.69$44.35NC20260021
BuncombeSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$27.50$7.55$35.05NC20260016
HaywoodSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$27.50$7.55$35.05NC20260016
HendersonSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$27.50$7.55$35.05NC20260016
MadisonSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$27.50$7.55$35.05NC20260016
AlamanceSurvey SUNC2018-013 2023-08-08$23.66$6.60$30.26NC20260013
ChathamSurvey SUNC2018-013 2023-08-08$23.66$6.60$30.26NC20260013
DurhamSurvey SUNC2018-003 2023-08-08$23.66$6.60$30.26NC20260003
EdgecombeSurvey SUNC2018-022 2023-08-08$23.66$6.60$30.26NC20260125
FranklinSurvey SUNC2018-023 2023-08-08$23.66$6.60$30.26NC20260126
JohnstonSurvey SUNC2018-023 2023-08-08$23.66$6.60$30.26NC20260126

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

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (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 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 116,615 in 2015 to 167,614 in 2025, +43.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Mecklenburg County3587,418$85,232$1,639
Union County1551,862$83,836$1,612
Wake County4938,000$80,701$1,552
Guilford County1953,270$77,077$1,482
Orange County52468$77,025$1,481
Durham County861,094$73,197$1,408
Alamance County83960$72,092$1,386
Henderson County82550$71,852$1,382
Cumberland County1091,168$71,491$1,375
Rowan County63850$71,237$1,370
Nash County40398$70,992$1,365
Iredell County96674$70,800$1,362

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in North Carolina?

The median plumber in North Carolina earned $27.44 an hour ($57,080 a year) in May 2025, 11% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $22.38–$30.43; the top 10% earn more than $36.47.

Where does North Carolina rank for plumber pay?

North Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $27.44 an hour, and 44th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in North Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 5 counties, with a typical package of $47.44 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 14,510 plumbers in North Carolina in May 2025, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.98; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in North Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in North Carolina went from 9,340 in 2015 to 14,510 in 2025, +55.4%, and +13.2% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +5.6% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 15,620 to 16,500 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects about 1,390 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, North Carolina 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: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.