How Much Does a Plumber Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$63,800
Plumbers in the U.S. earn a median of $63,800 a year, or $30.67 an hour. Half of plumbers earn more than $63,800 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $108,420.
Pay percentiles for plumbers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21.22 | $44,150 |
| 25th | $24.13 | $50,190 |
| 50th (median) | $30.67 | $63,800 |
| 75th | $40.92 | $85,110 |
| 90th | $52.13 | $108,420 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for plumbers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $101,020 | $48.57 | +58% |
| Illinois | $99,950 | $48.05 | +57% |
| Oregon | $97,050 | $46.66 | +52% |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | $45.39 | +48% |
| Alaska | $93,920 | $45.15 | +47% |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | $45.14 | +47% |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | $39.04 | +27% |
| Washington | $81,030 | $38.96 | +27% |
| Michigan | $80,190 | $38.56 | +26% |
| Montana | $79,960 | $38.44 | +25% |
| United States | $63,800 | $30.67 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many plumbers are there?
BLS counts about 465,840 plumbers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters”. The most jobs are in California (47,660), Texas (44,090) and Florida (29,260).
The mean (average) annual wage is $72,170, higher than the median of $63,800.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,317
- Biweekly
- $2,454
- Weekly
- $1,227
- Daily (8 hours)
- $245
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do plumbers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for plumbers is $30.67. The middle 50% earn between $24.13 and $40.92 an hour.
Which state pays plumbers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for plumbers at $101,020, +58% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for plumbers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of plumbers earn less than $44,150 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.