Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Washington

Median $38.96 an hour for 12,470 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$38.96/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$81,030/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.79 – $68.2010th to 90th percentilehourly range
12,470Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Plumber pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrWashington: 10th $23.79 · 25th $28.86 · median $38.96 · 75th $51.64 · 90th $68.20Washington$38.96$23.79$68.20United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 8th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.41). 12,470 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$23.79 – $28.86$49,490 – $60,030roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.86 – $51.64$60,030 – $107,420the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$51.64 – $68.20$107,420 – $141,860the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrBellingham: $49.40Bellingham$49.40Portland: $48.56Portland$48.56Kennewick: $46.70Kennewick$46.70Seattle: $45.78Seattle$45.78Bremerton: $39.89Bremerton$39.89Longview: $38.80Longview$38.80Olympia: $38.48Olympia$38.48Mount Vernon: $37.28Mount Vernon$37.28Wenatchee: $35.67Wenatchee$35.67Spokane: $35.00Spokane$35.00Walla Walla: $33.84Walla Walla$33.84Yakima: $29.28Yakima$29.28
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Bellingham$23.86$49.40$47.82$69.4954027% above
Portland$27.71$48.56$46.07$70.724,60025% above
Kennewick$22.94$46.70$46.65$70.1384020% above
Seattle$24.97$45.78$41.21$73.806,35018% above
Bremerton$27.77$39.89$37.77$49.181,0402% above
Longview$26.04$38.80$39.79$62.11200about the same as
Olympia$22.79$38.48$37.11$63.233101% below
Mount Vernon$23.47$37.28$36.41$57.262304% below
Wenatchee$22.56$35.67$34.33$47.861808% below
Spokane$23.00$35.00$34.90$50.9581010% below
Walla Walla$21.51$33.84$34.36$59.138013% below
Yakima$22.11$29.28$30.66$48.7424025% below
Lewiston$18.46$26.56$29.12$52.617032% below

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

Plumber wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$38.96Washington$30.67United States
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.01$40.60$17.418,660
2000$22.82$42.66$18.198,850
2001$23.83$43.32$18.618,200
2002$24.37$43.61$19.318,060
2003$25.32$44.30$19.698,600
2004$24.22$41.28$19.858,190
2005$24.83$40.93$20.279,200
2006$24.88$39.73$20.569,320
2007$24.25$37.65$21.2010,260
2008$25.36$37.92$21.9411,980
2009$26.42$39.65$22.2710,630
2010$28.10$41.49$22.438,920
2011$28.53$40.83$22.967,290
2012$28.55$40.03$23.626,760
2013$29.57$40.87$24.137,560
2014$29.12$39.60$24.368,080
2015$29.27$39.76$24.349,470
2016$28.50$38.23$24.7410,210
2017$29.40$38.61$25.2810,200
2018$30.28$38.82$25.929,380
2019$33.00$41.56$26.529,810
2020$34.29$42.65$27.089,130
2021$35.51$42.19$28.7911,260
2022$35.02$38.52$28.8911,430
2023$36.62$38.69$29.5910,860
2024$38.02$39.02$30.2712,210
2025$38.96$38.96$30.6712,470

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Washington changed by -2.0% over the last ten years of data and by -6.2% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Washington?

+27.1%Jobs since 20199,810 then, 12,470 in 2025
+31.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 21st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Washington has changed by +44.0%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +27.1%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Washington vs United States, 1999 = 100WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140160200020052010201520202025144Washington113United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Washington vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWashington jobsWashington indexUS index
19998,660100100
20008,850102106
20018,20095106
20028,06093106
20038,60099105
20048,19095103
20059,200106102
20069,320108106
200710,260118105
200811,980138106
200910,63012397
20108,92010387
20117,2908484
20126,7607882
20137,5608785
20148,0809390
20159,47010995
201610,210118100
201710,200118104
20189,380108106
20199,810113107
20209,130105101
202111,260130101
202211,430132104
202310,860125106
202412,210141110
202512,470144113

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 Washington

+5.8%Projected growth in Washington2024–2034, state agency
1,110Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
11,680Jobs in 202412,360 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Washington's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +5.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 11,680 to 12,360, with about 1,110 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 12,470 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 17 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $94.87 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $35.00). 18 of the 39 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Adams County at $35.00). The market median for the state is $38.96.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $35.00 (survey)Asotin: $74.35 (union)Benton: $74.35 (union)Chelan: $94.87 (union)Clallam: $35.00 (survey)Clark: $61.64 (survey)Columbia: $74.35 (union)Cowlitz: $76.26 (survey)Douglas: $94.87 (union)Ferry: $35.00 (survey)Franklin: $74.35 (union)Garfield: $35.00 (survey)Grant: $35.00 (survey)Grays Harbor: $35.00 (survey)Island: $35.00 (survey)Jefferson: $35.00 (survey)King: $109.09 (union)Kitsap: $94.87 (union)Kittitas: $35.00 (survey)Klickitat: $35.00 (survey)Lewis: $35.00 (survey)Lincoln: $35.00 (survey)Mason: $35.00 (survey)Okanogan: $35.00 (survey)Pacific: $35.00 (survey)Pend Oreille: $74.35 (union)Pierce: $94.87 (union)San Juan: $35.00 (survey)Skagit: $94.87 (union)Skamania: $61.64 (survey)Snohomish: $109.09 (union)Spokane: $74.35 (union)Stevens: $74.35 (union)Thurston: $94.87 (union)Wahkiakum: $35.00 (survey)Walla Walla: $74.35 (union)Whatcom: $94.87 (union)Whitman: $35.00 (survey)Yakima: $76.26 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$74.35$94.87survey 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/hrKing (Seattle): market median $45.78, prevailing (union) $109.09, gap +$63.31King (Seattle)+$63.31Chelan (Wenatchee): market median $35.67, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$59.20Chelan (Wenatchee)+$59.20Skagit (Mount Vernon): market median $37.28, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$57.59Skagit (Mount Vernon)+$57.59Thurston (Olympia): market median $38.48, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$56.39Thurston (Olympia)+$56.39Kitsap (Bremerton): market median $39.89, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$54.98Kitsap (Bremerton)+$54.98Asotin (Lewiston): market median $26.56, prevailing (union) $74.35, gap +$47.79Asotin (Lewiston)+$47.79Yakima (Yakima): market median $29.28, prevailing (survey) $76.26, gap +$46.98Yakima (Yakima)+$46.98Whatcom (Bellingham): market median $49.40, prevailing (union) $94.87, gap +$45.47Whatcom (Bellingham)+$45.47Walla Walla (Walla Walla): market median $33.84, prevailing (union) $74.35, gap +$40.51Walla Walla (Walla Walla)+$40.51Spokane (Spokane): market median $35.00, prevailing (union) $74.35, gap +$39.35Spokane (Spokane)+$39.35Cowlitz (Longview): market median $38.80, prevailing (survey) $76.26, gap +$37.46Cowlitz (Longview)+$37.46Benton (Kennewick): market median $46.70, prevailing (union) $74.35, gap +$27.65Benton (Kennewick)+$27.65Clark (Portland): market median $48.56, prevailing (survey) $61.64, gap +$13.08Clark (Portland)+$13.08
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
KingUnion PLUM0032-005 2025-06-01$75.21$33.88$109.09WA20260108
SnohomishUnion PLUM0032-005 2025-06-01$75.21$33.88$109.09WA20260113
ChelanUnion PLUM0026-018 2025-06-01$60.72$34.15$94.87WA20260103
DouglasUnion PLUM0026-018 2025-06-01$60.72$34.15$94.87WA20260106
KitsapUnion PLUM0026-018 2025-06-01$60.72$34.15$94.87WA20260109
PierceUnion PLUM0026-018 2025-06-01$60.72$34.15$94.87WA20260111
SkagitUnion PLUM0026-018 2025-06-01$60.72$34.15$94.87WA20260112
ThurstonUnion PLUM0026-018 2025-06-01$60.72$34.15$94.87WA20260116
WhatcomUnion PLUM0026-018 2025-06-01$60.72$34.15$94.87WA20260118
CowlitzSurvey SUWA2018-005 2024-03-01$47.74$28.52$76.26WA20260105
YakimaSurvey SUWA2018-019 2024-03-01$47.74$28.52$76.26WA20260119
AsotinUnion PLUM0044-003 2025-06-01$47.15$27.20$74.35WA20260003
BentonUnion PLUM0044-003 2025-06-01$47.15$27.20$74.35WA20260102
ColumbiaUnion PLUM0044-003 2025-06-01$47.15$27.20$74.35WA20260104
FranklinUnion PLUM0044-003 2025-06-01$47.15$27.20$74.35WA20260107

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

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.9kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-09
+0.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kSep 2026
Construction employment in Washington (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 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
King County46410,873$118,575$2,280
Benton County711,664$103,533$1,991
Whatcom County731,099$102,968$1,980
Snohomish County3032,791$93,120$1,791
Pierce County2863,366$89,763$1,726
Thurston County80939$88,497$1,702
Kitsap County81650$83,865$1,613
Clark County2222,802$83,386$1,604
Skagit County39382$75,084$1,444
Walla Walla County20227$74,979$1,442
Kittitas County1285$74,104$1,425
Spokane County1911,952$74,072$1,424

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

More on Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Washington?

The median plumber in Washington earned $38.96 an hour ($81,030 a year) in May 2025, 27% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $28.86–$51.64; the top 10% earn more than $68.20.

Where does Washington rank for plumber pay?

Washington ranks 8th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $38.96 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 17 counties, with a typical package of $94.87 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Washington?

BLS counted 12,470 plumbers in Washington in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Washington?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Washington went from 9,470 in 2015 to 12,470 in 2025, +31.7%, and +27.1% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects +5.8% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 11,680 to 12,360 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Washington?

Washington projects about 1,110 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.