Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Pennsylvania

Median $32.73 an hour for 13,620 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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 2026-11-06

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: 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 work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.49 – $27.83$46,770 – $57,880roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$27.83 – $44.15$57,880 – $91,820the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$44.15 – $64.48$91,820 – $134,110the 75th to 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 by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Philadelphia$23.27$35.99$35.08$68.377,15010% above
Harrisburg$23.11$35.36$35.83$50.309508% above
Pittsburgh$22.55$33.70$35.59$51.862,9103% above
York$22.78$33.70$35.10$70.824203% above
Erie$20.51$31.93$35.09$46.782802% below
Allentown$22.34$31.22$31.22$66.367305% below
Lebanon$20.34$30.13$32.33$46.391008% below
Reading$22.31$29.99$30.89$48.923608% below
Lancaster$22.22$29.78$30.30$47.478209% below
Gettysburg$17.87$29.63$31.06$40.44509% below
Altoona$19.28$29.53$32.99$38.808010% below
Scranton$21.00$29.40$31.41$47.1945010% below
Chambersburg$18.06$28.94$30.59$41.0914012% below
Johnstown$20.34$28.83$33.56$42.489012% below
Williamsport$18.96$28.24$30.60$37.7412014% below
State College$21.43$27.67$28.58$45.4413015% below

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

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, 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 and by +0.7% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Pennsylvania?

-12.4%Jobs since 201915,540 then, 13,620 in 2025
-9.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 48th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Pennsylvania has changed by -27.7%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -12.4%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999 = 100PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120200020052010201520202025113United States72Pennsylvania
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Pennsylvania vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearPennsylvania jobsPennsylvania indexUS index
199918,850100100
200020,020106106
200119,980106106
200217,36092106
200316,64088105
200414,32076103
200513,90074102
200615,03080106
200714,77078105
200813,80073106
200913,6407297
201013,6107287
201115,2408184
201216,2608682
201316,0108585
201415,2808190
201515,1208095
201614,01074100
201714,96079104
201814,59077106
201915,54082107
202013,65072101
202112,84068101
202214,84079104
202313,54072106
202413,99074110
202513,62072113

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 Pennsylvania

+3.1%Projected growth in Pennsylvania2024–2034, state agency
1,310Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
15,400Jobs in 202415,880 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +3.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 15,400 to 15,880, with about 1,310 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 13,620 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

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: $113.59 (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: $113.59 (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: $113.59 (union)Montour: $78.76 (union)Northampton: $91.79 (union)Northumberland: $42.73 (survey)Perry: $72.91 (union)Philadelphia: $113.59 (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 2026-05-01$73.73$39.86$113.59PA20260083
DelawareUnion PLUM0690-011 2026-05-01$73.73$39.86$113.59PA20260087
MontgomeryUnion PLUM0690-011 2026-05-01$73.73$39.86$113.59PA20260099
PhiladelphiaUnion PLUM0690-002 2026-05-01$73.73$39.86$113.59PA20260003
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 2026-11-06. 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?

272.0kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-09
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025272kSep 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. Across the 64 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 139,301 in 2015 to 159,871 in 2025, +14.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Philadelphia County2142,622$116,311$2,237
Fulton County551$108,936$2,095
Montgomery County3304,922$105,041$2,020
Bucks County3863,753$101,416$1,950
Dauphin County651,660$94,957$1,826
Lehigh County841,544$92,500$1,779
Delaware County2422,341$92,322$1,775
Berks County1481,464$88,373$1,699
Chester County2071,960$85,595$1,646
Allegheny County4445,795$84,545$1,626
Union County12173$83,326$1,602
Columbia County17191$83,010$1,596

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

More on 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 in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 2.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.75; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Pennsylvania?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Pennsylvania went from 15,120 in 2015 to 13,620 in 2025, -9.9%, and -12.4% since 2019. Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +3.1% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 15,400 to 15,880 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania projects about 1,310 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.