Best paying cities for plumbers, after cost of living
After cost of living, plumber pay goes furthest in Chicago (worth $99,788) and least far in Miami (worth $50,578).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $103,380 | 103.6 | $99,788 | +56% |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $107,560 | 110.4 | $97,428 | +53% |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $101,630 | 104.8 | $96,975 | +52% |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $101,010 | 105.4 | $95,835 | +50% |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $96,760 | 108.3 | $89,344 | +40% |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $86,370 | 100.3 | $86,112 | +35% |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $95,230 | 111.1 | $85,716 | +34% |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $77,000 | 95.1 | $80,967 | +27% |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $70,100 | 94.7 | $74,023 | +16% |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,860 | 102.6 | $72,963 | +14% |
| 11 | New York, NY | $78,610 | 112.6 | $69,813 | +9% |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $77,880 | 115.6 | $67,370 | +6% |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $71,860 | 108.9 | $65,987 | +3% |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $72,510 | 111.9 | $64,799 | +2% |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $62,810 | 98.1 | $64,027 | 0% |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $71,110 | 113.6 | $62,597 | −2% |
| 17 | Nashville, TN | $60,100 | 96.3 | $62,409 | −2% |
| 18 | Houston, TX | $61,300 | 98.6 | $62,170 | −3% |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,750 | 103.3 | $61,713 | −3% |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $58,180 | 94.7 | $61,436 | −4% |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $65,210 | 106.7 | $61,115 | −4% |
| 22 | Baltimore, MD | $63,200 | 104.5 | $60,478 | −5% |
| 23 | Denver, CO | $63,900 | 105.8 | $60,397 | −5% |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $58,690 | 97.3 | $60,319 | −5% |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $59,700 | 100.2 | $59,581 | −7% |
| 26 | Dallas, TX | $61,250 | 103.1 | $59,408 | −7% |
| 27 | Atlanta, GA | $58,380 | 100.1 | $58,322 | −9% |
| 28 | Orlando, FL | $55,380 | 101.4 | $54,615 | −14% |
| 29 | Tampa, FL | $52,000 | 100.9 | $51,536 | −19% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $57,760 | 114.2 | $50,578 | −21% |
U.S. median for plumbers: $63,800. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-2152); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.