Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Virginia

Median $29.07 an hour for 13,780 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.07/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$60,470/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.14 – $37.5210th to 90th percentilehourly range
13,780Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Plumber pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrVirginia: 10th $21.14 · 25th $23.72 · median $29.07 · 75th $34.51 · 90th $37.52Virginia$29.07$21.14$37.52United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 38th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 45th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.75). 13,780 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.14 – $23.72$43,970 – $49,350roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.72 – $34.51$49,350 – $71,780the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$34.51 – $37.52$71,780 – $78,050the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $34.55Washington DC$34.55Virginia Beach: $29.75Virginia Beach$29.75Richmond: $29.56Richmond$29.56Kingsport: $28.54Kingsport$28.54Winchester: $27.77Winchester$27.77Lynchburg: $27.51Lynchburg$27.51Charlottesville: $27.17Charlottesville$27.17Blacksburg: $25.64Blacksburg$25.64Harrisonburg: $25.14Harrisonburg$25.14Roanoke: $24.86Roanoke$24.86Staunton: $24.64Staunton$24.64
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$22.83$34.55$31.73$55.009,42019% above
Virginia Beach$21.98$29.75$30.39$36.255,1002% above
Richmond$21.36$29.56$30.19$37.262,3402% above
Kingsport$18.37$28.54$33.03$37.202902% below
Winchester$19.28$27.77$28.78$35.541604% below
Lynchburg$18.81$27.51$30.77$35.063305% below
Charlottesville$20.30$27.17$27.42$35.872407% below
Blacksburg$20.35$25.64$27.66$38.53—12% below
Harrisonburg$19.09$25.14$26.49$38.5224014% below
Roanoke$18.40$24.86$26.56$34.5656014% below
Staunton$19.10$24.64$27.05$34.8411015% below

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

Plumber wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$29.07Virginia
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.01$29.01$17.4114,650
2000$15.98$29.88$18.1914,390
2001$16.05$29.18$18.6114,970
2002$16.56$29.64$19.3114,280
2003$16.74$29.29$19.6913,530
2004$16.80$28.63$19.8513,990
2005$17.59$29.00$20.2713,790
2006$18.08$28.87$20.5614,620
2007$18.84$29.25$21.2014,780
2008$19.50$29.16$21.9415,420
2009$19.70$29.56$22.2713,740
2010$20.12$29.71$22.4313,170
2011$20.29$29.04$22.9612,350
2012$20.55$28.82$23.6211,480
2013$20.93$28.92$24.1310,690
2014$21.03$28.60$24.3611,060
2015$21.24$28.85$24.3412,290
2016$21.36$28.65$24.7412,570
2017$22.73$29.85$25.2812,730
2018$24.02$30.80$25.9213,100
2019$24.73$31.14$26.5214,290
2020$25.26$31.42$27.0813,730
2021$23.32$27.71$28.7912,770
2022$24.28$26.71$28.8912,060
2023$27.75$29.32$29.5910,930
2024$28.64$29.39$30.2713,190
2025$29.07$29.07$30.6713,780

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Virginia changed by +0.8% over the last ten years of data and by -6.7% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Virginia?

-3.6%Jobs since 201914,290 then, 13,780 in 2025
+12.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 24th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Virginia has changed by -5.9%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -3.6%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120200020052010201520202025113United States94Virginia
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearVirginia jobsVirginia indexUS index
199914,650100100
200014,39098106
200114,970102106
200214,28098106
200313,53092105
200413,99096103
200513,79094102
200614,620100106
200714,780101105
200815,420105106
200913,7409497
201013,1709087
201112,3508484
201211,4807882
201310,6907385
201411,0607690
201512,2908495
201612,57086100
201712,73087104
201813,10089106
201914,29098107
202013,73094101
202112,77087101
202212,06082104
202310,93075106
202413,19090110
202513,78094113

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 Virginia

+5.5%Projected growth in Virginia2024–2034, state agency
1,160Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
12,520Jobs in 202413,210 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +5.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 12,520 to 13,210, with about 1,160 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 13,780 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 47 of the 131 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $55.17 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $25.07). 84 of the 131 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Accomack County at $27.19). The market median for the state is $29.07.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: $27.19 (survey)Albemarle: $23.63 (survey)Alleghany: $21.50 (survey)Amelia: $52.72 (union)Amherst: $25.07 (survey)Appomattox: $25.07 (survey)Arlington: $77.01 (union)Augusta: $27.77 (survey)Bath: $21.50 (survey)Bedford: $25.07 (survey)Bland: $21.50 (survey)Botetourt: $25.07 (survey)Brunswick: $27.19 (survey)Buchanan: $21.50 (survey)Buckingham: $23.63 (survey)Campbell: $25.07 (survey)Caroline: $52.72 (union)Carroll: $21.50 (survey)Charles City: $52.72 (union)Charlotte: $27.19 (survey)Chesterfield: $52.72 (union)Clarke: $26.77 (survey)Craig: $25.07 (survey)Culpeper: $77.01 (union)Cumberland: $27.19 (survey)Dickenson: $21.50 (survey)Dinwiddie: $52.72 (union)Essex: $27.19 (survey)Fairfax: $77.01 (union)Fauquier: $35.88 (survey)Floyd: $25.07 (survey)Fluvanna: $23.63 (survey)Franklin: $25.07 (survey)Frederick: $77.01 (union)Giles: $25.07 (survey)Gloucester: $55.17 (union)Goochland: $52.72 (union)Grayson: $21.50 (survey)Greene: $23.63 (survey)Greensville: $27.19 (survey)Halifax: $27.19 (survey)Hanover: $52.72 (union)Henrico: $52.72 (union)Henry: $21.50 (survey)Highland: $21.50 (survey)Isle of Wight: $55.17 (union)James City: $55.17 (union)King and Queen: $27.19 (survey)King George: $27.19 (survey)King William: $52.72 (union)Lancaster: $27.19 (survey)Lee: $21.50 (survey)Loudoun: $77.01 (union)Louisa: $21.50 (survey)Lunenburg: $27.19 (survey)Madison: $21.50 (survey)Mathews: $55.17 (union)Mecklenburg: $27.19 (survey)Middlesex: $27.19 (survey)Montgomery: $25.07 (survey)Nelson: $23.63 (survey)New Kent: $52.72 (union)Northampton: $27.19 (survey)Northumberland: $27.19 (survey)Nottoway: $27.19 (survey)Orange: $21.50 (survey)Page: $21.50 (survey)Patrick: $21.50 (survey)Pittsylvania: $27.19 (survey)Powhatan: $52.72 (union)Prince Edward: $27.19 (survey)Prince George: $52.72 (union)Prince William: $77.01 (union)Pulaski: $25.07 (survey)Rappahannock: $77.01 (union)Richmond: $27.19 (survey)Roanoke: $25.07 (survey)Rockbridge: $21.50 (survey)Rockingham: $26.46 (survey)Russell: $21.50 (survey)Scott: $25.07 (survey)Shenandoah: $21.50 (survey)Smyth: $21.50 (survey)Southampton: $27.19 (survey)Spotsylvania: $77.01 (union)Stafford: $77.01 (union)Surry: $27.19 (survey)Sussex: $52.72 (union)Tazewell: $21.50 (survey)Warren: $24.93 (survey)Washington: $25.07 (survey)Westmoreland: $27.19 (survey)Wise: $21.50 (survey)Wythe: $21.50 (survey)York: $55.17 (union)Alexandria: $77.01 (union)Bristol: $25.07 (survey)Buena Vista: $21.50 (survey)Charlottesville: $23.63 (survey)Chesapeake: $55.17 (union)Colonial Heights: $52.72 (union)Covington: n/aDanville: $27.19 (survey)Emporia: $27.19 (survey)Fairfax: $77.01 (union)Falls Church: $77.01 (union)Franklin: $27.19 (survey)Fredericksburg: $77.01 (union)Galax: $21.50 (survey)Hampton: $55.17 (union)Harrisonburg: $26.46 (survey)Hopewell: $52.72 (union)Lexington: n/aLynchburg: $25.07 (survey)Manassas: $77.01 (union)Manassas Park: $77.01 (union)Martinsville: $21.50 (survey)Newport News: $55.17 (union)Norfolk: $55.17 (union)Norton: $21.50 (survey)Petersburg: $52.72 (union)Poquoson: $55.17 (union)Portsmouth: $55.17 (union)Radford: $25.07 (survey)Richmond: $52.72 (union)Roanoke: $25.07 (survey)Salem: $25.07 (survey)Staunton: $27.77 (survey)Suffolk: $55.17 (union)Virginia Beach: $55.17 (union)Waynesboro: $27.77 (survey)Williamsburg: $55.17 (union)Winchester: $77.01 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$23.63$26.46$27.19$55.17n/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)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrFrederick (Winchester): market median $27.77, prevailing (union) $77.01, gap +$49.24Frederick (Winchester)+$49.24Arlington (Washington DC): market median $34.55, prevailing (union) $77.01, gap +$42.46Arlington (Washington DC)+$42.46Gloucester (Virginia Beach): market median $29.75, prevailing (union) $55.17, gap +$25.42Gloucester (Virginia Beach)+$25.42Amelia (Richmond): market median $29.56, prevailing (union) $52.72, gap +$23.16Amelia (Richmond)+$23.16Augusta (Staunton): market median $24.64, prevailing (survey) $27.77, gap +$3.13Augusta (Staunton)+$3.13Rockingham (Harrisonburg): market median $25.14, prevailing (survey) $26.46, gap +$1.32Rockingham (Harrisonburg)+$1.32Botetourt (Roanoke): market median $24.86, prevailing (survey) $25.07, gap +$0.21Botetourt (Roanoke)+$0.21Floyd (Blacksburg): market median $25.64, prevailing (survey) $25.07, gap −$0.57Floyd (Blacksburg)−$0.57Amherst (Lynchburg): market median $27.51, prevailing (survey) $25.07, gap −$2.44Amherst (Lynchburg)−$2.44Scott (Kingsport): market median $28.54, prevailing (survey) $25.07, gap −$3.47Scott (Kingsport)−$3.47Albemarle (Charlottesville): market median $27.17, prevailing (survey) $23.63, gap −$3.54Albemarle (Charlottesville)−$3.54
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ArlingtonUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260013
CulpeperUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260174
FairfaxUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260178
FrederickUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260021
LoudounUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260158
Prince WilliamUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260162
RappahannockUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260174
SpotsylvaniaUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260165
StaffordUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260174
AlexandriaUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260013
FairfaxUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260178
Falls ChurchUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260178
FredericksburgUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260165
ManassasUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260162
Manassas ParkUnion PLUM0005-014 2025-08-01$53.30$23.71$77.01VA20260162

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Virginia prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

230.8kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-09
-1.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kSep 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (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 117 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 111,128 in 2015 to 136,979 in 2025, +23.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Arlington County18105$159,113$3,060
Manassas city24388$118,692$2,283
Loudoun County1023,600$107,623$2,070
Alexandria city22340$100,711$1,937
Falls Church city6118$86,056$1,655
Fairfax County2493,273$84,525$1,625
Augusta County31735$83,701$1,610
Fredericksburg city9229$83,470$1,605
Prince William County1762,607$83,251$1,601
Hanover County921,313$80,197$1,542
Norfolk city58648$79,984$1,538
Fairfax city758$79,643$1,532

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

More on Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Virginia?

The median plumber in Virginia earned $29.07 an hour ($60,470 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $23.72–$34.51; the top 10% earn more than $37.52.

Where does Virginia rank for plumber pay?

Virginia ranks 38th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $29.07 an hour, and 45th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 47 counties, with a typical package of $55.17 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Virginia?

BLS counted 13,780 plumbers in Virginia in May 2025, 3.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.12; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Virginia went from 12,290 in 2015 to 13,780 in 2025, +12.1%, and -3.6% since 2019. Virginia's labor market agency projects +5.5% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 12,520 to 13,210 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Virginia?

Virginia projects about 1,160 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, Virginia 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: Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.