How much do plumbers make in 2026?
Plumbers earned a national median of $63,800 a year ($30.67/hr) in the latest federal wage data available (BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates). BLS counts about 465,840 people employed in this occupation in the U.S.
Annual and hourly wages, all U.S. industries. Occupation used: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What the percentiles mean
The median is the middle: half of plumbers earned more and half earned less. The 25th–75th percentile range ($50,190–$85,110) is what the middle half of workers earned. Newer workers and apprentices tend to be near the low end, and experienced, licensed or specialized workers near the high end. BLS does not publish pay by years of experience, so treat any experience-based number as an estimate.
Plumbers pay by state
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. "Not published" means BLS did not release that estimate (too few survey responses, or not enough workers to publish).
| State | Median / yr | Median / hr | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,670 | $28.21 | $37,720 | $76,690 | 6,950 |
| Alaska | $93,920 | $45.15 | $53,730 | $122,660 | 1,200 |
| Arizona | $62,070 | $29.84 | $45,640 | $100,120 | 11,810 |
| Arkansas | $48,660 | $23.39 | $33,410 | $68,870 | 3,370 |
| California | $72,830 | $35.01 | $47,350 | $131,100 | 47,660 |
| Colorado | $63,240 | $30.40 | $47,770 | $100,240 | 10,080 |
| Connecticut | $77,280 | $37.16 | $45,670 | $102,990 | 5,410 |
| Delaware | $64,720 | $31.11 | $40,990 | $95,520 | 1,590 |
| District of Columbia | $101,020 | $48.57 | $52,310 | $117,180 | 1,010 |
| Florida | $52,910 | $25.44 | $38,940 | $73,610 | 29,260 |
| Georgia | $57,200 | $27.50 | $37,680 | $80,740 | 8,930 |
| Hawaii | $78,060 | $37.53 | $47,750 | $113,300 | 2,500 |
| Idaho | $52,380 | $25.18 | $39,430 | $82,620 | 3,090 |
| Illinois | $99,950 | $48.05 | $50,250 | $126,430 | 16,750 |
| Indiana | $76,320 | $36.69 | $46,890 | $102,520 | 11,280 |
| Iowa | $63,890 | $30.72 | $45,510 | $97,500 | 5,730 |
| Kansas | $65,220 | $31.36 | $39,130 | $109,290 | 4,590 |
| Kentucky | $64,160 | $30.84 | $44,860 | $94,710 | 6,360 |
| Louisiana | $63,680 | $30.62 | $38,120 | $79,540 | 8,360 |
| Maine | $64,000 | $30.77 | $48,120 | $80,760 | 2,710 |
| Maryland | $65,400 | $31.44 | $45,630 | $108,420 | 11,420 |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | $45.14 | $52,010 | $135,080 | 13,460 |
| Michigan | $80,190 | $38.56 | $46,560 | $103,430 | 14,120 |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | $45.39 | $48,720 | $121,050 | 10,720 |
| Mississippi | $55,480 | $26.67 | $35,830 | $75,470 | 3,360 |
| Missouri | $66,790 | $32.11 | $44,780 | $117,180 | 8,310 |
| Montana | $79,960 | $38.44 | $48,250 | $100,860 | 1,860 |
| Nebraska | $60,970 | $29.31 | $42,830 | $98,030 | 4,110 |
| Nevada | $61,610 | $29.62 | $42,210 | $118,430 | 5,370 |
| New Hampshire | $66,810 | $32.12 | $44,850 | $87,730 | 1,950 |
| New Jersey | $78,240 | $37.61 | $48,720 | $136,710 | 8,750 |
| New Mexico | $61,440 | $29.54 | $36,160 | $87,700 | 2,830 |
| New York | $77,490 | $37.26 | $46,130 | $130,420 | 23,210 |
| North Carolina | $57,080 | $27.44 | $38,860 | $75,850 | 14,510 |
| North Dakota | $63,560 | $30.56 | $45,520 | $83,560 | 1,620 |
| Ohio | $63,330 | $30.45 | $45,470 | $101,410 | 16,390 |
| Oklahoma | $57,970 | $27.87 | $37,990 | $82,560 | 6,050 |
| Oregon | $97,050 | $46.66 | $58,230 | $147,100 | 5,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,080 | $32.73 | $46,770 | $134,110 | 13,620 |
| Rhode Island | $76,470 | $36.77 | $49,680 | $110,360 | 1,820 |
| South Carolina | $53,940 | $25.93 | $37,660 | $75,780 | 5,770 |
| South Dakota | $51,620 | $24.82 | $39,230 | $74,480 | 1,760 |
| Tennessee | $58,600 | $28.17 | $38,520 | $82,020 | 9,270 |
| Texas | $59,840 | $28.77 | $38,270 | $81,890 | 44,090 |
| Utah | $61,900 | $29.76 | $43,860 | $83,120 | 7,030 |
| Vermont | $62,170 | $29.89 | $48,800 | $91,940 | 980 |
| Virginia | $60,470 | $29.07 | $43,970 | $78,050 | 13,780 |
| Washington | $81,030 | $38.96 | $49,490 | $141,860 | 12,470 |
| West Virginia | $56,980 | $27.39 | $36,010 | $83,160 | 1,830 |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | $39.04 | $50,020 | $120,070 | 10,210 |
| Wyoming | $62,410 | $30.01 | $43,770 | $80,030 | 1,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,620 | $15.20 | $24,530 | $47,630 | 940 |
How to earn more as a plumber
- Finish your apprenticeship and earn your state journeyman plumber license. Most states require one.
- Work toward a master plumber license so you can pull permits, supervise or run your own shop.
- Add medical gas, backflow testing, gas fitting or pipefitting and steamfitting work.
- Service and emergency calls often pay more than new construction, especially after hours.
- Look at union (UA) pipe trades and industrial or commercial contractors as well as residential service.
Find plumber work
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FAQ
How much do plumbers make an hour?
The national median wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) was $30.67 an hour, or $63,800 a year, in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. Half earned more and half earned less.
What do the highest-paid plumbers earn?
The top 10% earned at least $108,420 a year ($52.13/hr). The bottom 10% earned less than $44,150 ($21.22/hr).
Which states pay plumbers the most?
By median annual wage in the BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates: District of Columbia ($101,020); Illinois ($99,950); Oregon ($97,050). Living costs differ by state, too.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2152 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters). They cover wage and salary workers in all industries, not the self-employed, and are not broken out by experience.
Source and method
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Files oesm25nat and oesm25st from bls.gov, downloaded Nov 8, 2026. Occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), cross-industry, all ownerships. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay: they include commissions, production bonuses, tips and on-call pay, and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Annual wages are generally the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. "Not published" = estimate not released by BLS. BLS occupation profile · All pay guides