Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Virginia

Median $29.07 an hour for 13,780 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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, pipefitters and steamfitters: 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, pipefitters and steamfitters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$21.14 – $23.72$43,970 – $49,350roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$23.72 – $34.51$49,350 – $71,780the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$34.51 – $37.52$71,780 – $78,050the 75th–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, pipefitters and steamfitters by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$22.83$34.55$55.009,42019% above
Virginia Beach$21.98$29.75$36.255,1002% above
Richmond$21.36$29.56$37.262,3402% above
Kingsport$18.37$28.54$37.202902% below
Winchester$19.28$27.77$35.541604% below
Lynchburg$18.81$27.51$35.063305% below
Charlottesville$20.30$27.17$35.872407% below
Blacksburg$20.35$25.64$38.53—12% below
Harrisonburg$19.09$25.14$38.5224014% below
Roanoke$18.40$24.86$34.5656014% below
Staunton$19.10$24.64$34.8411015% below

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, pipefitters and steamfitters, 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.

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. 34 of the 102 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). 68 of the 102 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: —Bristol: —Buena Vista: —Charlottesville: —Chesapeake: $55.17 (union)Colonial Heights: —Covington: —Danville: —Emporia: —Fairfax: —Falls Church: —Franklin: —Fredericksburg: —Galax: —Hampton: $55.17 (union)Harrisonburg: —Hopewell: —Lexington: —Lynchburg: —Manassas: —Manassas Park: —Martinsville: —Newport News: $55.17 (union)Norfolk: $55.17 (union)Norton: —Petersburg: —Poquoson: —Portsmouth: $55.17 (union)Radford: —Richmond: —Roanoke: —Salem: —Staunton: —Suffolk: $55.17 (union)Virginia Beach: $55.17 (union)Waynesboro: —Williamsburg: —Winchester: —Union / prevailing package, $/hr$25.07$27.19$54.68n/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
GloucesterUnion PLUM0110-008 2025-11-01$36.92$18.25$55.17VA20260176
Isle of WightUnion PLUM0110-008 2025-11-01$36.92$18.25$55.17VA20260156
James CityUnion PLUM0110-008 2025-11-01$36.92$18.25$55.17VA20260157
MathewsUnion PLUM0110-008 2025-11-01$36.92$18.25$55.17VA20260176
YorkUnion PLUM0110-008 2025-11-01$36.92$18.25$55.17VA20260169
ChesapeakeUnion PLUM0110-008 2025-11-01$36.92$18.25$55.17VA20260016

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. 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?

231.3kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-08
-1.4%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kAug 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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Arlington County105$159,113$3,060
Manassas City388$118,692$2,283
Loudoun County3,600$107,623$2,070
Alexandria City340$100,711$1,937
Falls Church City118$86,056$1,655
Fairfax County3,273$84,525$1,625
Augusta County735$83,701$1,610
Fredericksburg City229$83,470$1,605
Prince William County2,607$83,251$1,601
Hanover County1,313$80,197$1,542
Norfolk City648$79,984$1,538
Fairfax City58$79,643$1,532

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in 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 34 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, pipefitters and steamfitters in Virginia in May 2025, 3.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.12; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

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