Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Texas

Median $28.77 an hour for 44,090 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.77/hrMedian hourly wageTexas, May data
$59,840/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.40 – $39.3710th to 90th percentilehourly range
44,090Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Plumber pay in Texas: the full range

Wage percentiles, TexasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrTexas: 10th $18.40 · 25th $22.78 · median $28.77 · 75th $35.63 · 90th $39.37Texas$28.77$18.40$39.37United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Texas vs United States, May 2025.

Texas ranks 39th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 41st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.63). 44,090 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.40 – $22.78$38,270 – $47,380roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.78 – $35.63$47,380 – $74,100the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$35.63 – $39.37$74,100 – $81,890the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Texas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrAustin: $30.20Austin$30.20Beaumont: $29.92Beaumont$29.92Odessa: $29.74Odessa$29.74Houston: $29.47Houston$29.47Dallas-Fort Worth: $29.45Dallas-Fort Worth$29.45Midland: $29.18Midland$29.18Victoria: $29.00Victoria$29.00Corpus Christi: $28.56Corpus Christi$28.56San Antonio: $27.97San Antonio$27.97Waco: $27.67Waco$27.67Killeen: $27.22Killeen$27.22Amarillo: $26.91Amarillo$26.91
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Texas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Austin$19.62$30.20$30.78$38.905,2605% above
Beaumont$21.94$29.92$33.24$41.051,2504% above
Odessa$18.97$29.74$31.67$37.602903% above
Houston$19.19$29.47$29.89$41.1910,9802% above
Dallas-Fort Worth$18.92$29.45$28.56$39.5311,9802% above
Midland$19.99$29.18$30.46$38.835101% above
Victoria$18.07$29.00$32.29$36.111201% above
Corpus Christi$18.21$28.56$30.81$35.991,1601% below
San Antonio$17.91$27.97$29.54$37.763,1903% below
Waco$18.04$27.67$29.91$36.564904% below
Killeen$17.30$27.22$29.88$36.033405% below
Amarillo$16.84$26.91$29.31$35.784406% below
Longview$17.83$26.11$29.17$36.714209% below
Sherman$17.06$26.11$27.84$36.932009% below
El Paso$17.12$25.75$28.64$42.4964010% below
Abilene$17.00$24.90$27.54$36.6632013% below
College Station$17.19$23.93$26.30$36.7240017% below
Wichita Falls$17.54$23.66$26.44$35.0813018% below
Tyler$17.07$23.59$25.59$34.6628018% below
Lubbock$17.50$23.54$25.78$38.5155018% below
Texarkana$16.41$23.31$27.75$36.3515019% below
San Angelo$17.16$23.10$24.97$32.9316020% below
Brownsville$15.71$22.53$26.20$30.6825022% below
Laredo$15.67$22.28$25.61$33.5312023% below
McAllen$14.60$22.17$25.81$29.8736023% below

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

Plumber wages in Texas over time

Texas, 1999-2025TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$28.77Texas
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Texas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTexas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.57$30.09$17.4134,950
2000$16.20$30.29$18.1937,110
2001$16.28$29.59$18.6134,990
2002$16.87$30.19$19.3134,930
2003$16.63$29.10$19.6932,200
2004$16.86$28.73$19.8526,850
2005$16.80$27.69$20.2725,220
2006$17.73$28.31$20.5626,870
2007$19.08$29.63$21.2028,950
2008$19.95$29.83$21.9431,120
2009$20.35$30.54$22.2730,130
2010$20.05$29.60$22.4329,590
2011$20.79$29.76$22.9629,980
2012$21.57$30.25$23.6231,570
2013$22.34$30.87$24.1331,740
2014$21.14$28.75$24.3634,460
2015$21.43$29.11$24.3435,300
2016$21.60$28.97$24.7440,530
2017$23.01$30.22$25.2842,050
2018$23.69$30.37$25.9243,490
2019$24.41$30.74$26.5243,240
2020$24.27$30.19$27.0839,810
2021$23.53$27.96$28.7936,920
2022$26.83$29.52$28.8937,980
2023$27.52$29.08$29.5941,890
2024$28.15$28.89$30.2742,290
2025$28.77$28.77$30.6744,090

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Texas changed by -1.2% over the last ten years of data and by -6.4% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Texas?

+2.0%Jobs since 201943,240 then, 44,090 in 2025
+24.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 33rd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Texas has changed by +26.2%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +2.0%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Texas vs United States, 1999 = 100TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140200020052010201520202025126Texas113United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Texas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTexas jobsTexas indexUS index
199934,950100100
200037,110106106
200134,990100106
200234,930100106
200332,20092105
200426,85077103
200525,22072102
200626,87077106
200728,95083105
200831,12089106
200930,1308697
201029,5908587
201129,9808684
201231,5709082
201331,7409185
201434,4609990
201535,30010195
201640,530116100
201742,050120104
201843,490124106
201943,240124107
202039,810114101
202136,920106101
202237,980109104
202341,890120106
202442,290121110
202544,090126113

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 Texas

+8.9%Projected growth in Texas2024–2034, state agency
4,220Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
45,260Jobs in 202449,280 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Texas's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +8.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 45,260 to 49,280, with about 4,220 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 44,090 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Texas

On federally funded construction in Texas, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 174 of the 251 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $39.29 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $25.12). 77 of the 251 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Aransas County at $33.80). The market median for the state is $28.77.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TXUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$25.90$39.29$50.45n/asurvey 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$60/hrHidalgo (McAllen): market median $22.17, prevailing (union) $56.09, gap +$33.92Hidalgo (McAllen)+$33.92Webb (Laredo): market median $22.28, prevailing (union) $56.09, gap +$33.81Webb (Laredo)+$33.81El Paso (El Paso): market median $25.75, prevailing (union) $56.09, gap +$30.34El Paso (El Paso)+$30.34Brazos (College Station): market median $23.93, prevailing (union) $51.59, gap +$27.66Brazos (College Station)+$27.66Martin (Midland): market median $29.18, prevailing (union) $56.09, gap +$26.91Martin (Midland)+$26.91Atascosa (San Antonio): market median $27.97, prevailing (union) $50.45, gap +$22.48Atascosa (San Antonio)+$22.48Austin (Houston): market median $29.47, prevailing (union) $51.59, gap +$22.12Austin (Houston)+$22.12Falls (Waco): market median $27.67, prevailing (union) $45.59, gap +$17.92Falls (Waco)+$17.92Hardin (Beaumont): market median $29.92, prevailing (union) $47.64, gap +$17.72Hardin (Beaumont)+$17.72Irion (San Angelo): market median $23.10, prevailing (union) $39.29, gap +$16.19Irion (San Angelo)+$16.19Cochran (Lubbock): market median $23.54, prevailing (union) $39.29, gap +$15.75Cochran (Lubbock)+$15.75Archer (Wichita Falls): market median $23.66, prevailing (union) $39.29, gap +$15.63Archer (Wichita Falls)+$15.63Callahan (Abilene): market median $24.90, prevailing (union) $39.29, gap +$14.39Callahan (Abilene)+$14.39Armstrong (Amarillo): market median $26.91, prevailing (union) $39.29, gap +$12.38Armstrong (Amarillo)+$12.38Ector (Odessa): market median $29.74, prevailing (union) $39.29, gap +$9.55Ector (Odessa)+$9.55Aransas (Corpus Christi): market median $28.56, prevailing (survey) $33.80, gap +$5.24Aransas (Corpus Christi)+$5.24Goliad (Victoria): market median $29.00, prevailing (survey) $33.80, gap +$4.80Goliad (Victoria)+$4.80Bell (Killeen): market median $27.22, prevailing (survey) $28.75, gap +$1.53Bell (Killeen)+$1.53Travis (Austin): market median $30.20, prevailing (survey) $29.94, gap −$0.26Travis (Austin)−$0.26Dallas (Dallas-Fort Worth): market median $29.45, prevailing (survey) $28.35, gap −$1.10Dallas (Dallas-Fort Worth)−$1.10
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Texas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
El PasoUnion PLUM0412-001 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260245
HidalgoUnion PLUM0412-004 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260255
HudspethUnion PLUM0412-008 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260157
Jeff DavisUnion PLUM0412-009 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260208
MartinUnion PLUM0412-009 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260208
PecosUnion PLUM0412-008 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260173
ReevesUnion PLUM0412-009 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260208
TerrellUnion PLUM0412-008 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260183
WebbUnion PLUM0412-004 2024-01-02$40.74$15.35$56.09TX20260273
AndersonUnion PLUM0286-004 2025-09-01$37.15$16.92$54.07TX20260114
BurnetUnion PLUM0286-007 2025-09-01$37.15$16.92$54.07TX20260123
LlanoUnion PLUM0286-005 2025-09-01$37.15$16.92$54.07TX20260215
McCullochUnion PLUM0286-005 2025-09-01$37.15$16.92$54.07TX20260215
MasonUnion PLUM0286-005 2025-09-01$37.15$16.92$54.07TX20260215
RunnelsUnion PLUM0286-005 2025-09-01$37.15$16.92$54.07TX20260215

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

Is construction work growing in Texas?

924.5kConstruction jobsTexas, 2026-09
+1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k19901995200020052010201520202025924kSep 2026
Construction employment in Texas (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 173 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 374,938 in 2015 to 475,675 in 2025, +26.9%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Chambers County583$122,401$2,354
Titus County10129$108,908$2,094
Lavaca County12117$92,860$1,786
Travis County3988,443$91,900$1,767
Dallas County74716,575$91,160$1,753
Harris County1,20821,140$88,659$1,705
Tarrant County63610,762$87,155$1,676
Bastrop County52950$86,222$1,658
Guadalupe County65670$86,044$1,655
Denton County2262,823$84,591$1,627
Fort Bend County1952,309$83,369$1,603
Midland County75771$80,694$1,552

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Texas

More on Texas

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Texas?

The median plumber in Texas earned $28.77 an hour ($59,840 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $22.78–$35.63; the top 10% earn more than $39.37.

Where does Texas rank for plumber pay?

Texas ranks 39th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $28.77 an hour, and 41st after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Texas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 174 counties, with a typical package of $39.29 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Texas?

BLS counted 44,090 plumbers in Texas in May 2025, 3.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.05; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Texas?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Texas went from 35,300 in 2015 to 44,090 in 2025, +24.9%, and +2.0% since 2019. Texas's labor market agency projects +8.9% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 45,260 to 49,280 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Texas?

Texas projects about 4,220 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, Texas 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: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.