Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Pennsylvania

Median $32.73 an hour for 13,620 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$32.73/hrMedian hourly wagePennsylvania, May data
$68,080/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.49 – $64.4810th to 90th percentilehourly range
13,620Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Plumber pay in Pennsylvania: the full range

Wage percentiles, PennsylvaniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrPennsylvania: 10th $22.49 · 25th $27.83 · median $32.73 · 75th $44.15 · 90th $64.48Pennsylvania$32.73$22.49$64.48United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters: Pennsylvania vs United States, May 2025.

Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 23rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.53). 13,620 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$22.49 – $27.83$46,770 – $57,880roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$27.83 – $44.15$57,880 – $91,820the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$44.15 – $64.48$91,820 – $134,110the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Pennsylvania

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrPhiladelphia: $35.99Philadelphia$35.99Harrisburg: $35.36Harrisburg$35.36Pittsburgh: $33.70Pittsburgh$33.70York: $33.70York$33.70Erie: $31.93Erie$31.93Allentown: $31.22Allentown$31.22Lebanon: $30.13Lebanon$30.13Reading: $29.99Reading$29.99Lancaster: $29.78Lancaster$29.78Gettysburg: $29.63Gettysburg$29.63Altoona: $29.53Altoona$29.53Scranton: $29.40Scranton$29.40
Median hourly wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Philadelphia$23.27$35.99$68.377,15010% above
Harrisburg$23.11$35.36$50.309508% above
Pittsburgh$22.55$33.70$51.862,9103% above
York$22.78$33.70$70.824203% above
Erie$20.51$31.93$46.782802% below
Allentown$22.34$31.22$66.367305% below
Lebanon$20.34$30.13$46.391008% below
Reading$22.31$29.99$48.923608% below
Lancaster$22.22$29.78$47.478209% below
Gettysburg$17.87$29.63$40.44509% below
Altoona$19.28$29.53$38.808010% below
Scranton$21.00$29.40$47.1945010% below
Chambersburg$18.06$28.94$41.0914012% below
Johnstown$20.34$28.83$42.489012% below
Williamsport$18.96$28.24$37.7412014% below
State College$21.43$27.67$45.4413015% below

Plumber wages in Pennsylvania over time

Pennsylvania, 1999-2025PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$32.73Pennsylvania$30.67United States
Median hourly wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearPennsylvania $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.76$36.25$17.4118,850
2000$19.05$35.62$18.1920,020
2001$19.72$35.85$18.6119,980
2002$20.18$36.11$19.3117,360
2003$20.32$35.55$19.6916,640
2004$20.80$35.45$19.8514,320
2005$22.15$36.51$20.2713,900
2006$22.63$36.14$20.5615,030
2007$24.45$37.96$21.2014,770
2008$24.41$36.50$21.9413,800
2009$25.88$38.84$22.2713,640
2010$23.37$34.50$22.4313,610
2011$23.69$33.91$22.9615,240
2012$23.10$32.39$23.6216,260
2013$24.22$33.47$24.1316,010
2014$24.51$33.33$24.3615,280
2015$25.04$34.01$24.3415,120
2016$25.33$33.98$24.7414,010
2017$24.96$32.78$25.2814,960
2018$26.15$33.53$25.9214,590
2019$25.80$32.49$26.5215,540
2020$27.01$33.60$27.0813,650
2021$29.02$34.48$28.7912,840
2022$29.65$32.62$28.8914,840
2023$30.37$32.09$29.5913,540
2024$32.04$32.88$30.2713,990
2025$32.73$32.73$30.6713,620

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Pennsylvania changed by -3.8% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Pennsylvania

On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 52 of the 67 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $72.45 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $48.73). 15 of the 67 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Berks County at $59.03). The market median for the state is $32.73.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, PAAdams: $70.81 (union)Allegheny: $74.12 (union)Armstrong: $74.12 (union)Beaver: $74.12 (union)Bedford: $66.57 (union)Berks: $59.03 (survey)Blair: $74.30 (union)Bradford: $48.43 (survey)Bucks: $113.59 (union)Butler: $74.12 (union)Cambria: $74.30 (union)Cameron: $66.57 (union)Carbon: $91.79 (union)Centre: $74.30 (union)Chester: $109.34 (union)Clarion: $48.73 (survey)Clearfield: $66.57 (union)Clinton: $50.43 (survey)Columbia: $70.81 (union)Crawford: $72.45 (union)Cumberland: $70.81 (union)Dauphin: $70.81 (union)Delaware: $109.34 (union)Elk: $66.57 (union)Erie: $72.45 (union)Fayette: $66.57 (union)Forest: $48.73 (survey)Franklin: $70.81 (union)Fulton: $46.48 (survey)Greene: $74.12 (union)Huntingdon: $66.57 (union)Indiana: $66.57 (union)Jefferson: $66.57 (union)Juniata: $70.81 (union)Lackawanna: $78.76 (union)Lancaster: $70.81 (union)Lawrence: $48.73 (survey)Lebanon: $70.81 (union)Lehigh: $91.79 (union)Luzerne: $78.76 (union)Lycoming: $70.81 (union)McKean: $47.13 (survey)Mercer: $72.45 (union)Mifflin: $70.81 (union)Monroe: $78.76 (union)Montgomery: $109.34 (union)Montour: $78.76 (union)Northampton: $91.79 (union)Northumberland: $42.73 (survey)Perry: $72.91 (union)Philadelphia: $109.34 (union)Pike: $78.76 (union)Potter: $66.57 (union)Schuylkill: $78.76 (union)Snyder: $70.81 (union)Somerset: $66.57 (union)Sullivan: $49.87 (survey)Susquehanna: $49.87 (survey)Tioga: $46.91 (survey)Union: $70.81 (union)Venango: $72.45 (union)Warren: $48.73 (survey)Washington: $74.12 (union)Wayne: $49.87 (survey)Westmoreland: $66.57 (union)Wyoming: $78.76 (union)York: $42.21 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$52.15$70.81$72.45$78.76survey 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$25$50$75$100$125/hrBucks (Philadelphia): market median $35.99, prevailing (union) $113.59, gap +$77.60Bucks (Philadelphia)+$77.60Carbon (Allentown): market median $31.22, prevailing (union) $91.79, gap +$60.57Carbon (Allentown)+$60.57Lackawanna (Scranton): market median $29.40, prevailing (union) $78.76, gap +$49.36Lackawanna (Scranton)+$49.36Centre (State College): market median $27.67, prevailing (union) $74.30, gap +$46.63Centre (State College)+$46.63Cambria (Johnstown): market median $28.83, prevailing (union) $74.30, gap +$45.47Cambria (Johnstown)+$45.47Blair (Altoona): market median $29.53, prevailing (union) $74.30, gap +$44.77Blair (Altoona)+$44.77Lycoming (Williamsport): market median $28.24, prevailing (union) $70.81, gap +$42.57Lycoming (Williamsport)+$42.57Franklin (Chambersburg): market median $28.94, prevailing (union) $70.81, gap +$41.87Franklin (Chambersburg)+$41.87Adams (Gettysburg): market median $29.63, prevailing (union) $70.81, gap +$41.18Adams (Gettysburg)+$41.18Lancaster (Lancaster): market median $29.78, prevailing (union) $70.81, gap +$41.03Lancaster (Lancaster)+$41.03Lebanon (Lebanon): market median $30.13, prevailing (union) $70.81, gap +$40.68Lebanon (Lebanon)+$40.68Erie (Erie): market median $31.93, prevailing (union) $72.45, gap +$40.52Erie (Erie)+$40.52Allegheny (Pittsburgh): market median $33.70, prevailing (union) $74.12, gap +$40.42Allegheny (Pittsburgh)+$40.42Perry (Harrisburg): market median $35.36, prevailing (union) $72.91, gap +$37.55Perry (Harrisburg)+$37.55Berks (Reading): market median $29.99, prevailing (survey) $59.03, gap +$29.04Berks (Reading)+$29.04York (York): market median $33.70, prevailing (survey) $42.21, gap +$8.51York (York)+$8.51
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Pennsylvania.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BucksUnion PLUM0690-011 2026-05-01$73.73$39.86$113.59PA20260078
ChesterUnion PLUM0690-011 2025-05-01$70.53$38.81$109.34PA20260083
DelawareUnion PLUM0690-011 2025-05-01$70.53$38.81$109.34PA20260087
MontgomeryUnion PLUM0690-011 2025-05-01$70.53$38.81$109.34PA20260099
PhiladelphiaUnion PLUM0690-002 2025-05-01$70.53$38.81$109.34PA20260003
CarbonUnion PLUM0690-012 2025-05-01$56.28$35.51$91.79PA20260081
LehighUnion PLUM0690-012 2025-05-01$56.28$35.51$91.79PA20260094
NorthamptonUnion PLUM0690-012 2025-05-01$56.28$35.51$91.79PA20260101
LackawannaUnion PLUM0524-011 2025-12-01$51.69$27.07$78.76PA20260091
LuzerneUnion PLUM0524-011 2025-12-01$51.69$27.07$78.76PA20260095
MonroeUnion PLUM0524-011 2025-12-01$51.69$27.07$78.76PA20260098
MontourUnion PLUM0524-011 2025-12-01$51.69$27.07$78.76PA20260100
PikeUnion PLUM0524-011 2025-12-01$51.69$27.07$78.76PA20260103
SchuylkillUnion PLUM0524-010 2025-12-01$51.69$27.07$78.76PA20260063
WyomingUnion PLUM0524-011 2025-12-01$51.69$27.07$78.76PA20260106

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Pennsylvania prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?

272.7kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-08
-0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025273kAug 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania (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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Philadelphia County2,622$116,311$2,237
Fulton County51$108,936$2,095
Montgomery County4,922$105,041$2,020
Bucks County3,753$101,416$1,950
Dauphin County1,660$94,957$1,826
Lehigh County1,544$92,500$1,779
Delaware County2,341$92,322$1,775
Berks County1,464$88,373$1,699
Chester County1,960$85,595$1,646
Allegheny County5,795$84,545$1,626
Union County173$83,326$1,602
Columbia County191$83,010$1,596

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Pennsylvania?

The median plumber in Pennsylvania earned $32.73 an hour ($68,080 a year) in May 2025, 7% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $27.83–$44.15; the top 10% earn more than $64.48.

Where does Pennsylvania rank for plumber pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $32.73 an hour, and 23rd after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Pennsylvania?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 52 counties, with a typical package of $72.45 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Pennsylvania?

BLS counted 13,620 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 2.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.75; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Pennsylvania 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.