Plumber salary in the United States
National median pay
$63,800/year
about $30.67 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $50,190 – $85,110
National pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $44,150 | $21.23 |
| 25th | $50,190 | $24.13 |
| Median (50th) | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| 75th | $85,110 | $40.92 |
| 90th (top earners) | $108,420 | $52.13 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Pay by city
Highest median pay: San Jose ($107,560). Lowest of the cities we track: Tampa ($52,000).
| Metro area | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $107,560 | $76,040 – $155,600 |
| Chicago, IL | $103,380 | $74,300 – $122,540 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $101,630 | $65,290 – $114,980 |
| Portland, OR | $101,010 | $72,440 – $128,360 |
| Boston, MA | $96,760 | $62,640 – $117,900 |
| Seattle, WA | $95,230 | $62,040 – $126,730 |
| Detroit, MI | $86,370 | $61,190 – $99,650 |
| New York, NY | $78,610 | $61,900 – $107,970 |
| San Francisco, CA | $77,880 | $62,650 – $121,770 |
| St. Louis, MO | $77,000 | $57,430 – $103,830 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $74,860 | $60,900 – $103,770 |
| San Diego, CA | $72,510 | $61,390 – $94,480 |
| Washington, DC | $71,860 | $55,780 – $94,050 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $71,110 | $58,560 – $101,300 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $70,100 | $59,780 – $84,870 |
| Sacramento, CA | $65,210 | $56,320 – $85,340 |
| Denver, CO | $63,900 | $59,920 – $81,350 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $63,750 | $54,430 – $90,470 |
| Baltimore, MD | $63,200 | $54,880 – $82,710 |
| Austin, TX | $62,810 | $48,760 – $79,710 |
| Houston, TX | $61,300 | $49,260 – $75,680 |
| Dallas, TX | $61,250 | $47,910 – $75,290 |
| Nashville, TN | $60,100 | $49,020 – $75,090 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $59,700 | $47,380 – $87,620 |
| Charlotte, NC | $58,690 | $47,430 – $64,230 |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,380 | $45,950 – $71,950 |
| San Antonio, TX | $58,180 | $46,230 – $68,510 |
| Miami, FL | $57,760 | $47,560 – $63,960 |
| Orlando, FL | $55,380 | $47,520 – $61,750 |
| Tampa, FL | $52,000 | $48,740 – $61,720 |
Pay depends a lot on location, so compare an on-site job with its local figures. For fully remote jobs, national pay is usually the fairest comparison.
🏆 Best paying cities for plumbers, after cost of living →
Is your offer fair?
$
- Below market under $50,190 ($24.13/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $50,190 to $85,110 ($24.13 to $40.92/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $85,110 ($40.92/hr). Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- Pay usually rises with license level (apprentice, journeyman, master). Make sure the offer matches yours.
- Ask whether service calls pay commission or bonuses on top of the hourly rate.
- Check whether a company vehicle, tools and on-call pay are included.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.