Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in the United States earned a median of $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $50,190 and $85,110, and the top 10% earned more than $108,420.
The source is the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), May 2025 estimates, checked as of October 2026. It covers about 465,840 wage-and-salary jobs and excludes the self-employed. Note that BLS groups residential service plumbers with industrial pipefitters and steamfitters, so the range includes very different kinds of work.
The full pay range
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
| 10th | $44,150 |
| 25th | $50,190 |
| 50th (median) | $63,800 |
| 75th | $85,110 |
| 90th | $108,420 |
The mean was $72,170 a year, or $34.70 an hour. The gap between mean and median is wider than in HVAC, which tells you the top end stretches further. Union pipefitters on large industrial and commercial jobs, and master plumbers running their own work, sit in that upper tail.
The spread is the real story. The 90th percentile is about 2.5 times the 10th:
108,420 รท 44,150 = 2.46
That's the distance between a first-year apprentice in a low-cost state and a licensed plumber with years in, overtime and a high-wage market.
Pay by state
State medians for May 2025, from the same BLS data:
| State | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,950 |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 |
| New York | $77,490 |
| California | $72,830 |
| Texas | $59,840 |
| Georgia | $57,200 |
| Mississippi | $55,480 |
| Florida | $52,910 |
Illinois and Massachusetts medians are more than $40,000 above Florida's. Some of that is cost of living, and some is how much of the local trade is union and commercial. If you're weighing a move, check the metro numbers, not just the state.
Why licensing matters so much for plumbers
Plumbing is one of the most tightly licensed trades. The BLS notes that most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed, typically after 2 to 5 years of experience and an exam. The usual path runs apprentice, then journey-level, then master, and in many states only a master (or a licensed contractor) can pull permits and run jobs.
Each step tends to raise your rate, because each one changes what you're legally allowed to do without someone else signing off. Requirements are set state by state, and some cities add their own. The full path is in how to become a licensed plumber.
What else moves your pay
- Service versus new construction. Service plumbers who handle emergencies, diagnostics and water heaters often earn more per hour than rough-in crews, especially with commission on flat-rate tickets.
- Specialties. Backflow testing, medical gas, gas piping and commercial work each need extra training or certification.
- Overtime and on-call. Burst pipes don't keep office hours. On-call rotations pay, but they also decide whether you get home for dinner.
- How the shop runs its day. A plumber who spends two hours of a ten-hour day driving between badly sequenced calls earns the same hourly wage on fewer billable jobs. That eventually caps raises and commission. The plumbing industry page explains how emergency calls break a plumbing schedule.
Employees versus self-employed plumbers
The BLS wage figures exclude self-employed plumbers. If you go out on your own or take 1099 work, you set a rate that has to cover self-employment tax, insurance, the van and unpaid time. Compare offers using the conversion in 1099 vs W-2 for technicians, not the headline rate.
What to take away
- BLS May 2025: median $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour) for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters.
- The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $44,150 to $108,420.
- State medians in our sample ranged from $52,910 (Florida) to $99,950 (Illinois).
- Licensing level is one of the biggest pay levers, and it's set by your state.
Common questions
How much does a journeyman plumber make?
The BLS doesn't split pay by license level. A journeyman with a few years in will usually sit somewhere around the median to the 75th percentile ($63,800 to $85,110 nationally in May 2025), depending on state and whether the work is union, commercial or service.
Do plumbers make more than electricians?
They're close. In May 2025 the BLS median was $63,800 for plumbers and $63,190 for electricians, and both have a 90th percentile above $108,000.
How much do apprentice plumbers make?
Apprentices are usually paid a share of the journey-level rate that rises each year of the program. The exact steps are set by the employer or the apprenticeship program, so ask for the wage schedule before you sign on. The BLS 10th percentile, $44,150, is a rough floor for the occupation overall.
Which state pays plumbers the most?
Of the states we checked for May 2025, Illinois had the highest median at $99,950, followed by Massachusetts at $93,880. The BLS occupation page has every state and metro.