How Much Do Plumbers Make? Plumber Salary & Hourly Pay Calculator
BLS plumber pay an hour and a year by percentile and state, apprentice to master, with overtime and take-home after 2026 tax
By the Monthly Income Booster editorial team · Updated · How we research and fact-check
On this topic
How Much Do Plumbers Make? Plumber Salary & Hourly Pay Calculator
Printed 2026-10-27 from billorganizingapp.com/income/calculators/plumber-salary/ — an estimate for planning, not financial or tax advice.
United States plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters: median $30.67/hr, 10th–90th percentile $21.22–$52.13 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Your rate is in the between the median and the 75th percentile.
Estimate for 2026: federal income tax (standard deduction), Social Security and Medicare, a flat state rate you enter, and the overtime deduction on the half-time premium when your overtime is legally required. No credits or itemised deductions. Starting wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, which excludes overtime and shift differentials.
Keep your budget and bills on track month to month in the free Bill Organizer app.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earned a median of $63,800 a year in May 2025 — $30.67 an hour — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' count of 465,840 on employers' payrolls. The 10th percentile, $21.22 an hour, is where apprentices tend to start; the top tenth earned over $52.13. Self-employed plumbers and plumbing business owners aren't in these figures.
Plumbers: pay at every level
This is the BLS line for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) on an employer's payroll. Self-employed plumbers who run their own business are not in the survey. Take-home assumes a single filer with 2026 federal tax and FICA and no state tax.
| Pay level | Hourly | Annual | Monthly | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.22 | $44,150 | $3,679 | $37,655 |
| 25th percentile | $24.13 | $50,190 | $4,183 | $42,508 |
| Median | $30.67 | $63,800 | $5,317 | $53,443 |
| 75th percentile | $40.92 | $85,110 | $7,093 | $68,705 |
| 90th percentile | $52.13 | $108,420 | $9,035 | $85,103 |
Plumber pay by state
The best-paid plumbers work in Washington, D.C. ($48.57 an hour), Illinois ($48.05) and Oregon ($46.66) — roughly double Arkansas's $23.39. California and Texas employ the most plumbers, at $35.01 and $28.77.
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48.57 | $101,020 | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $48.05 | $99,950 | 16,750 |
| Oregon | $46.66 | $97,050 | 5,370 |
| Minnesota | $45.39 | $94,410 | 10,720 |
| Alaska | $45.15 | $93,920 | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | $45.14 | $93,880 | 13,460 |
| Wisconsin | $39.04 | $81,210 | 10,210 |
| Washington | $38.96 | $81,030 | 12,470 |
| Michigan | $38.56 | $80,190 | 14,120 |
| Montana | $38.44 | $79,960 | 1,860 |
| New Jersey | $37.61 | $78,240 | 8,750 |
| Hawaii | $37.53 | $78,060 | 2,500 |
| New York | $37.26 | $77,490 | 23,210 |
| Connecticut | $37.16 | $77,280 | 5,410 |
| Rhode Island | $36.77 | $76,470 | 1,820 |
| Indiana | $36.69 | $76,320 | 11,280 |
| California | $35.01 | $72,830 | 47,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 | $68,080 | 13,620 |
| New Hampshire | $32.12 | $66,810 | 1,950 |
| Missouri | $32.11 | $66,790 | 8,310 |
| Maryland | $31.44 | $65,400 | 11,420 |
| Kansas | $31.36 | $65,220 | 4,590 |
| Delaware | $31.11 | $64,720 | 1,590 |
| Kentucky | $30.84 | $64,160 | 6,360 |
| Maine | $30.77 | $64,000 | 2,710 |
| Iowa | $30.72 | $63,890 | 5,730 |
| Louisiana | $30.62 | $63,680 | 8,360 |
| North Dakota | $30.56 | $63,560 | 1,620 |
| Ohio | $30.45 | $63,330 | 16,390 |
| Colorado | $30.40 | $63,240 | 10,080 |
| Wyoming | $30.01 | $62,410 | 1,140 |
| Vermont | $29.89 | $62,170 | 980 |
| Arizona | $29.84 | $62,070 | 11,810 |
| Utah | $29.76 | $61,900 | 7,030 |
| Nevada | $29.62 | $61,610 | 5,370 |
| New Mexico | $29.54 | $61,440 | 2,830 |
| Nebraska | $29.31 | $60,970 | 4,110 |
| Virginia | $29.07 | $60,470 | 13,780 |
| Texas | $28.77 | $59,840 | 44,090 |
| Alabama | $28.21 | $58,670 | 6,950 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 | $58,600 | 9,270 |
| Oklahoma | $27.87 | $57,970 | 6,050 |
| Georgia | $27.50 | $57,200 | 8,930 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 | $57,080 | 14,510 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $56,980 | 1,830 |
| Mississippi | $26.67 | $55,480 | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $25.93 | $53,940 | 5,770 |
| Florida | $25.44 | $52,910 | 29,260 |
| Idaho | $25.18 | $52,380 | 3,090 |
| South Dakota | $24.82 | $51,620 | 1,760 |
| Arkansas | $23.39 | $48,660 | 3,370 |
Which employers pay plumbers most
Government plumbers have the highest median, $71,660. Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors, which employ 65% of plumbers, pay $63,010 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | $71,660 |
| Manufacturing | $65,770 |
| Heavy and civil engineering construction | $63,270 |
| Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors | $63,010 |
A plumber's schedule
Most plumbers work full time, including nights and weekends, and are often on call for emergencies; self-employed plumbers may set their own schedules (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). Emergency call-outs are often paid at premium rates, but BLS's wage figures exclude overtime and on-call pay, so a plumber who takes evening calls earns more than the tables show.
Overtime for plumbers
Plumbers on an hourly wage are non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act: time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek (U.S. Department of Labor). Union agreements commonly set their own overtime and double-time rules; use the calculator's multiplier for yours.
Training, licenses and pay
Most plumbers learn through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year plus classroom instruction, then pass a licensing exam to become journey-level. Most states and some localities require a license, typically after 2 to 5 years of experience, and plumbers with several more years who pass another exam earn master status, which some states require for a contractor's license. Apprentices earn less than fully trained plumbers, and their pay rises as they learn (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). BLS doesn't publish apprentice or master wages separately; the 10th percentile is the closest official guide to starting pay and the 75th–90th to experienced and master-level pay.
Related tools and guides
More ways to work with your plumber pay:
Official sources
Tax rules, limits and pay data change. Check the current figures with the primary source before acting on them.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS May 2025: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) wage estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- U.S. Department of Labor: Overtime pay
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS FAQ: how wages are defined (overtime and shift differentials excluded)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do plumbers make a year?+
$63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour) at the BLS median for May 2025. The middle half earned $50,190 to $85,110.
Which state pays plumbers the most?+
District of Columbia ($48.57 an hour, $101,020 a year), then Illinois and Oregon; Arkansas pays least among the 51 states where BLS released a figure (BLS, May 2025).
How much do apprentice plumbers make?+
BLS doesn't publish an apprentice wage. It says apprentices earn less than fully trained plumbers and their pay rises as they progress. The 10th percentile — the pay below which the lowest-paid tenth of plumbers fall — is the nearest official guide to starting pay.
How long does it take to become a licensed plumber?+
Most plumbers complete a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, and states that license plumbers typically require 2 to 5 years of experience and an exam; master status takes several more years and another exam (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Related Guides
How Much Do Electricians Make? Electrician Salary & Hourly Calculator
BLS electrician pay a year and an hour by percentile and state, apprentice to journey-level, with overtime and take-home after 2026 tax
How Much Do Handymen Make? Rates and Getting Booked
Minimum call-out fees, what to charge per hour, which jobs to take, and the licensing line you can't cross
No Tax on Overtime Calculator: Your 2025–2028 Deduction
Estimate the federal overtime deduction for 2025–2028 and the income tax it saves, from your hourly rate, overtime hours and filing status
Hourly Pay by Job: What 48 Common Jobs Pay an Hour and a Year (BLS)
Official BLS median, low and high pay for nurses, CRNAs, therapists, techs, lawyers, accountants, actuaries, pilots, police, corrections, mail carriers, mechanics, the trades and more, each with its own pay calculator
How Much Do Nurses Make an Hour? RN Pay Calculator (2026)
BLS median, percentile and state-by-state RN pay, with overtime, shift differentials and take-home after 2026 tax
How Much Do Linemen Make a Year? Lineman Salary Calculator
BLS pay for electrical power-line installers by percentile, state and employer, with storm overtime and take-home after 2026 tax
Browse the whole site
Build Your Personalized Income Plan
Get an AI-generated plan covering all 20 income types in 60 seconds.