Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Washington

Median $38.96 an hour for 12,470 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$23.79 – $28.86$49,490 – $60,030roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$28.86 – $51.64$60,030 – $107,420the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$51.64 – $68.20$107,420 – $141,860the 75th–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, pipefitters and steamfitters by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Bellingham$23.86$49.40$69.4954027% above
Portland$27.71$48.56$70.724,60025% above
Kennewick$22.94$46.70$70.1384020% above
Seattle$24.97$45.78$73.806,35018% above
Bremerton$27.77$39.89$49.181,0402% above
Longview$26.04$38.80$62.11200about the same as
Olympia$22.79$38.48$63.233101% below
Mount Vernon$23.47$37.28$57.262304% below
Wenatchee$22.56$35.67$47.861808% below
Spokane$23.00$35.00$50.9581010% below
Walla Walla$21.51$33.84$59.138013% below
Yakima$22.11$29.28$48.7424025% below
Lewiston$18.46$26.56$52.617032% below

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, pipefitters and steamfitters, 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.

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 2026-09-28. 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?

223.8kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-08
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kAug 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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
King County10,873$118,575$2,280
Benton County1,664$103,533$1,991
Whatcom County1,099$102,968$1,980
Snohomish County2,791$93,120$1,791
Pierce County3,366$89,763$1,726
Thurston County939$88,497$1,702
Kitsap County650$83,865$1,613
Clark County2,802$83,386$1,604
Skagit County382$75,084$1,444
Walla Walla County227$74,979$1,442
Kittitas County85$74,104$1,425
Spokane County1,952$74,072$1,424

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in 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, pipefitters and steamfitters in Washington in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

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