Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Tennessee

Median $28.17 an hour for 9,270 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$28.17/hrMedian hourly wageTennessee, May data
$58,600/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.52 – $39.4310th to 90th percentilehourly range
9,270Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Plumber pay in Tennessee: the full range

Wage percentiles, TennesseeMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrTennessee: 10th $18.52 · 25th $22.72 · median $28.17 · 75th $35.32 · 90th $39.43Tennessee$28.17$18.52$39.43United 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: Tennessee vs United States, May 2025.

Tennessee ranks 41st of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 35th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.65). 9,270 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.52 – $22.72$38,520 – $47,260roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$22.72 – $35.32$47,260 – $73,460the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$35.32 – $39.43$73,460 – $82,020the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Tennessee

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrNashville: $28.90Nashville$28.90Knoxville: $28.78Knoxville$28.78Kingsport: $28.54Kingsport$28.54Clarksville: $28.33Clarksville$28.33Chattanooga: $28.23Chattanooga$28.23Memphis: $28.22Memphis$28.22Cleveland: $26.51Cleveland$26.51Morristown: $25.86Morristown$25.86Jackson: $25.30Jackson$25.30Johnson City: $23.31Johnson City$23.31
Median hourly wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters by metro area in Tennessee, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Nashville$20.51$28.90$40.232,7603% above
Knoxville$18.72$28.78$38.251,7002% above
Kingsport$18.37$28.54$37.202901% above
Clarksville$18.26$28.33$53.202801% above
Chattanooga$18.11$28.23$37.92860about the same as
Memphis$18.05$28.22$39.431,920about the same as
Cleveland$17.71$26.51$35.34806% below
Morristown$17.47$25.86$35.55708% below
Jackson$18.01$25.30$36.7726010% below
Johnson City$17.32$23.31$34.5821017% below

Plumber wages in Tennessee over time

Tennessee, 1999-2025TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$28.17Tennessee
Median hourly wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, Tennessee vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTennessee $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.48$29.91$17.417,150
2000$16.48$30.81$18.198,510
2001$17.02$30.94$18.618,170
2002$17.08$30.57$19.318,730
2003$16.95$29.66$19.698,210
2004$17.07$29.09$19.856,670
2005$16.71$27.55$20.276,260
2006$17.38$27.75$20.567,860
2007$17.48$27.14$21.207,680
2008$17.26$25.81$21.947,950
2009$17.67$26.52$22.276,630
2010$17.10$25.25$22.436,800
2011$17.72$25.36$22.966,570
2012$18.22$25.55$23.626,560
2013$20.34$28.11$24.135,900
2014$22.05$29.99$24.365,970
2015$22.14$30.07$24.346,070
2016$22.36$29.99$24.746,650
2017$22.56$29.63$25.286,380
2018$22.68$29.08$25.926,520
2019$23.07$29.05$26.526,390
2020$22.43$27.90$27.087,290
2021$23.36$27.75$28.797,750
2022$24.35$26.79$28.896,860
2023$24.48$25.87$29.598,920
2024$27.76$28.49$30.278,810
2025$28.17$28.17$30.679,270

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Tennessee changed by -6.3% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Tennessee

On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 15 of the 95 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $65.65 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $21.81). The market median for the state is $28.17.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TNAnderson: $28.79 (survey)Bedford: $21.81 (survey)Benton: $21.81 (survey)Bledsoe: $18.96 (survey)Blount: $28.79 (survey)Bradley: $37.26 (survey)Campbell: $28.79 (survey)Cannon: $65.65 (union)Carroll: $21.81 (survey)Carter: $28.79 (survey)Cheatham: $65.65 (union)Chester: $37.26 (survey)Claiborne: $18.96 (survey)Clay: $18.96 (survey)Cocke: $18.96 (survey)Coffee: $21.81 (survey)Crockett: $37.26 (survey)Cumberland: $18.96 (survey)Davidson: $65.65 (union)Decatur: $21.81 (survey)DeKalb: $18.96 (survey)Dickson: $65.65 (union)Dyer: $21.81 (survey)Fayette: $37.26 (survey)Fentress: $18.96 (survey)Franklin: $21.81 (survey)Gibson: $21.81 (survey)Giles: $21.81 (survey)Grainger: $28.79 (survey)Greene: $18.96 (survey)Grundy: $21.81 (survey)Hamblen: $28.79 (survey)Hamilton: $37.26 (survey)Hancock: $18.96 (survey)Hardeman: $21.81 (survey)Hardin: $21.81 (survey)Hawkins: $28.79 (survey)Haywood: $21.81 (survey)Henderson: $21.81 (survey)Henry: $21.81 (survey)Hickman: $65.65 (union)Houston: $21.81 (survey)Humphreys: $21.81 (survey)Jackson: $18.96 (survey)Jefferson: $28.79 (survey)Johnson: $18.96 (survey)Knox: $28.79 (survey)Lake: $21.81 (survey)Lauderdale: $21.81 (survey)Lawrence: $21.81 (survey)Lewis: $21.81 (survey)Lincoln: $21.81 (survey)Loudon: $28.79 (survey)McMinn: $18.96 (survey)McNairy: $21.81 (survey)Macon: $65.65 (union)Madison: $37.26 (survey)Marion: $37.26 (survey)Marshall: $21.81 (survey)Maury: $65.65 (union)Meigs: $18.96 (survey)Monroe: $18.96 (survey)Montgomery: $65.65 (union)Moore: $21.81 (survey)Morgan: $28.79 (survey)Obion: $21.81 (survey)Overton: $18.96 (survey)Perry: $21.81 (survey)Pickett: $18.96 (survey)Polk: $37.26 (survey)Putnam: $18.96 (survey)Rhea: $18.96 (survey)Roane: $28.79 (survey)Robertson: $65.65 (union)Rutherford: $65.65 (union)Scott: $18.96 (survey)Sequatchie: $37.26 (survey)Sevier: $18.96 (survey)Shelby: $37.26 (survey)Smith: $65.65 (union)Stewart: $21.81 (survey)Sullivan: $28.79 (survey)Sumner: $65.65 (union)Tipton: $37.26 (survey)Trousdale: $65.65 (union)Unicoi: $28.79 (survey)Union: $28.79 (survey)Van Buren: $18.96 (survey)Warren: $18.96 (survey)Washington: $28.79 (survey)Wayne: $21.81 (survey)Weakley: $21.81 (survey)White: $18.96 (survey)Williamson: $65.65 (union)Wilson: $65.65 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$21.81$28.79$37.26survey 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)$0$20$40$60$80/hrMontgomery (Clarksville): market median $28.33, prevailing (union) $65.65, gap +$37.32Montgomery (Clarksville)+$37.32Cannon (Nashville): market median $28.90, prevailing (union) $65.65, gap +$36.75Cannon (Nashville)+$36.75Chester (Jackson): market median $25.30, prevailing (survey) $37.26, gap +$11.96Chester (Jackson)+$11.96Bradley (Cleveland): market median $26.51, prevailing (survey) $37.26, gap +$10.75Bradley (Cleveland)+$10.75Fayette (Memphis): market median $28.22, prevailing (survey) $37.26, gap +$9.04Fayette (Memphis)+$9.04Hamilton (Chattanooga): market median $28.23, prevailing (survey) $37.26, gap +$9.03Hamilton (Chattanooga)+$9.03Carter (Johnson City): market median $23.31, prevailing (survey) $28.79, gap +$5.48Carter (Johnson City)+$5.48Hamblen (Morristown): market median $25.86, prevailing (survey) $28.79, gap +$2.93Hamblen (Morristown)+$2.93Hawkins (Kingsport): market median $28.54, prevailing (survey) $28.79, gap +$0.25Hawkins (Kingsport)+$0.25Anderson (Knoxville): market median $28.78, prevailing (survey) $28.79, gap +$0.01Anderson (Knoxville)+$0.01
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Tennessee.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
CannonUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260196
CheathamUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260196
DavidsonUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260178
DicksonUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260199
HickmanUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260199
MaconUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260203
MauryUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260203
MontgomeryUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260185
RobertsonUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260204
RutherfordUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260187
SmithUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260204
SumnerUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260205
TrousdaleUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260205
WilliamsonUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260192
WilsonUnion PLUM0572-001 2025-05-01$46.02$19.63$65.65TN20260193

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

Is construction work growing in Tennessee?

168.5kConstruction jobsTennessee, 2026-08
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025168kAug 2026
Construction employment in Tennessee (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
Franklin County48$103,237$1,985
White County75$101,432$1,951
Roane County380$100,694$1,936
Davidson County6,042$91,416$1,758
Anderson County634$89,688$1,725
Williamson County2,100$89,570$1,722
Shelby County4,074$81,642$1,570
Rutherford County992$78,290$1,506
Hamilton County1,992$77,306$1,487
Cocke County42$76,788$1,477
Madison County631$76,592$1,473
Knox County3,146$76,431$1,470

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Tennessee

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Tennessee?

The median plumber in Tennessee earned $28.17 an hour ($58,600 a year) in May 2025, 8% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $22.72–$35.32; the top 10% earn more than $39.43.

Where does Tennessee rank for plumber pay?

Tennessee ranks 41st of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $28.17 an hour, and 35th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Tennessee?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 15 counties, with a typical package of $65.65 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Tennessee?

BLS counted 9,270 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Tennessee in May 2025, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.94; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

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