Plumber Salary in 2026
How much do plumbers make? The national average is $59,000 per year — with top earners, especially master plumbers and business owners, clearing $100,000+. Here's the complete breakdown.
$59K/yr
National Average
$28/hr
Hourly Rate
+2%
Job Growth
21,000+
Total Employed
Plumbers are essential to every structure built in America, and the trade continues to offer exceptional earning potential and long-term job security. Whether you're a residential service plumber diagnosing drain clogs or a commercial pipefitter working on high-rise construction, plumbing is a career path that rewards skill, experience, and licensure with above-average pay. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is approximately $59,880, or about $28.79 per hour. But that national median masks enormous variation: apprentices in rural Southern states might start at $32,000, while union journeyman plumbers in New York or Illinois can earn $80,000–$100,000 or more in base wages alone. Master plumbers who run their own businesses frequently earn well into six figures. In this comprehensive salary guide, we break down plumber pay by experience level, state, specialty, and certification — plus an interactive calculator to estimate your earnings.
Plumber Salary by Experience Level
Experience is the single biggest driver of pay in the trades. Here's what you can expect at each stage.
Apprentice
$32,000–$45,000
Avg: $38,000/yr
Enrolled in or recently completed an apprenticeship program. Works under journeyman supervision on installations and repairs.
Journeyman
$50,000–$68,000
Avg: $58,000/yr
Licensed to work independently. Handles full residential and light commercial service calls, rough-in, and finish work.
Senior Plumber
$65,000–$85,000
Avg: $74,000/yr
Leads crews, manages commercial projects, and specializes in high-value work like medical gas or industrial piping.
Master Plumber
$80,000–$120,000+
Avg: $97,000/yr
Licensed to run a plumbing business and pull permits. Business owner-operators in this bracket earn the most in the trade.
| Experience Level | Years | Salary Range | Avg Annual | Avg Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | 0–2 years | $32,000–$45,000 | $38,000 | $18/hr |
| Journeyman | 3–7 years | $50,000–$68,000 | $58,000 | $28/hr |
| Senior Plumber | 8–15 years | $65,000–$85,000 | $74,000 | $36/hr |
| Master Plumber | 15+ years | $80,000–$120,000+ | $97,000 | $47/hr |
Plumber Salary Calculator
Estimate your salary based on years of experience and location.
Estimated Annual Salary
$58,000/year
≈ $28/hour · 5 yrs experience · National Average
* Estimate based on BLS data + regional adjustments. Actual salary varies by employer, certifications, and local market.
Plumber Salary by State (2026)
Where you work matters — salaries can vary by $30,000+ depending on your state. Here are the highest and lowest-paying states.
Top Paying States
| State | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $80,000 | $38/hr |
| New York | $79,000 | $38/hr |
| Alaska | $77,000 | $37/hr |
| Massachusetts | $76,000 | $37/hr |
| New Jersey | $75,000 | $36/hr |
| Hawaii | $74,000 | $36/hr |
| California | $73,000 | $35/hr |
| Washington | $72,000 | $35/hr |
| Nevada | $71,000 | $34/hr |
| Connecticut | $70,000 | $34/hr |
| Minnesota | $69,000 | $33/hr |
| Oregon | $67,000 | $32/hr |
| Maryland | $66,000 | $32/hr |
| Colorado | $65,000 | $31/hr |
| Pennsylvania | $64,000 | $31/hr |
Lower Paying States
| State | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $47,000 | $23/hr |
| West Virginia | $46,000 | $22/hr |
| Tennessee | $47,000 | $23/hr |
| South Carolina | $45,000 | $22/hr |
| Alabama | $44,000 | $21/hr |
| Arkansas | $43,000 | $21/hr |
| Mississippi | $41,000 | $20/hr |
Salary by Specialization
Your specialty matters. Industrial and commercial work typically pays significantly more than residential service.
Residential Plumbing
$54K$45,000–$65,000
Service, repair, and installation for single-family homes and small multi-family units. High volume of calls, steady year-round demand.
Commercial Plumbing
$71K$60,000–$85,000
Works on office buildings, hotels, retail, and commercial construction. Larger project scope and typically higher pay than residential.
Pipefitter / Industrial
$78K$65,000–$95,000
Installs and maintains high-pressure piping systems in industrial plants, refineries, and power generation facilities.
Steamfitter
$82K$68,000–$100,000
Specializes in steam and high-pressure piping. Common in hospitals, universities, and industrial facilities. Often unionized.
Medical Gas
$81K$70,000–$95,000
Installs and certifies medical gas systems (oxygen, nitrogen, vacuum) in healthcare facilities. Requires specialized certification (ASSE 6010/6030).
Drain & Sewer
$58K$48,000–$70,000
Focuses on drain cleaning, sewer repair, hydrojetting, and pipe lining. Steady service-call demand with strong add-on revenue opportunities.
Certifications That Increase Pay
Investing in certifications pays off. Many certified tradespeople earn 10–25% more than their uncertified peers.
| Certification | Full Name | Salary Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman | State Journeyman Plumber License | +$8,000–$15,000/yr |
| Master Plumber | Master Plumber License | +$15,000–$40,000/yr |
| ASSE 6010 | Medical Gas Installer Certification | +$10,000–$20,000/yr |
| Backflow | Backflow Prevention Tester/Installer | +$3,000–$8,000/yr |
| OSHA 30 | OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety | +$2,000–$5,000/yr |
Plumber vs Other Trades
How does Plumber pay compare to other skilled trades?
| Trade | Avg Annual | Hourly | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlumberYou | $59,000 | $28/hr | +2% |
| HVAC Technician | $52,000 | $25/hr | +6% |
| Electrician | $61,000 | $29/hr | +11% |
| Pipefitter | $62,000 | $30/hr | +4% |
| Welder | $47,000 | $23/hr | +3% |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $54,000 | $26/hr | +0% |
| Elevator Installer | $97,000 | $47/hr | +4% |
Job Outlook & Growth Projections
+2%
Projected Growth
2022–2032
21,000+
New Jobs Expected
estimated new positions
Yes
Faster Than Average
compared to all occupations
Plumbing employment is expected to grow steadily through the early 2030s. The BLS projects around 21,000 new plumber jobs over the next decade, fueled by residential construction activity, aging municipal water and sewer infrastructure, and the retrofitting of older buildings to meet current plumbing codes. The ongoing shortage of licensed tradespeople is actually a significant salary driver — in many markets, licensed plumbers can name their price. Specializations like medical gas, sewer rehabilitation, and water treatment are seeing particularly strong demand as healthcare construction booms and aging water infrastructure requires upgrades. For plumbers considering the business owner path, the economics are compelling: a two- or three-truck plumbing company in a mid-size metro can generate $500K–$1.5M in annual revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Plumber salaries, answered.
The national average plumber salary in 2026 is approximately $59,000 per year. Apprentice plumbers start around $32,000–$45,000, while experienced journeymen earn $55,000–$80,000. Master plumbers and business owners frequently earn $100,000+.
The national average hourly wage for plumbers is approximately $28 per hour. Entry-level plumbers earn around $16–$20/hr, journeymen earn $25–$38/hr, and master plumbers can charge $50–$100+/hr as business owners.
The highest-paying states for plumbers are Illinois ($80,000), New York ($79,000), Alaska ($77,000), Massachusetts ($76,000), and New Jersey ($75,000). States with strong union presence and high costs of living tend to pay the most.
Yes, most states require plumbers to be licensed at the journeyman level to work independently. Licensing requirements vary by state — most require 4–5 years of apprenticeship plus passing a written exam.
Master plumbers typically earn $80,000–$120,000 as employees, and significantly more as business owners. The master plumber license is required to run a plumbing company in most states.
Yes — plumbing offers strong job security, above-average pay, and clear career advancement from apprentice to journeyman to master plumber and business owner. The trade cannot be outsourced, and skilled plumbers are in short supply in most U.S. markets.
Plumbers primarily work on potable water, drainage, and gas systems in residential and commercial buildings. Pipefitters specialize in high-pressure industrial piping systems. Pipefitters typically earn slightly more due to the complexity and hazard premium of industrial work.
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