Plumber salary guide 2026: starting pay, median pay, and pay by state

Plumbing is steady work with strong earning potential. People call when it’s urgent, and demand rarely slows down. If you’re thinking about becoming a plumber or want to know how much to pay your employees, our guide breaks down plumber salaries by state, explains factors that affect your pay, and gives tips to grow your earnings.

National and state pay data come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 data released May 15, 2026. BLS reports plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters as one group, so pay for plumbers alone may differ. Pay ranges by license level and role come from ZipRecruiter.

Learn more: How to start a plumbing business

Quick answer: How much do plumbers make in 2026?

The national median wage for plumbers is $63,800 per year, or $30.67 per hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $44,150, and the top 10% earn more than $108,420. Your pay depends on where you work, your license level, whether you’re union, and whether you work for someone else or run your own shop.

Average plumber salary in the U.S.

Here’s how plumber salaries break down by hour, week, month, and year using national data for minimum and maximum wages across the U.S.:

Plumber salary by license level

Your license level is one of the biggest drivers of plumber pay. Apprentices earn while they learn, journeymen can work independently, and master plumbers can lead teams or open their own shops.

We’ll break down salaries by plumbing license type below. Keep in mind that rates vary depending on where you live.

Apprentice plumber salary

Apprentice plumbers typically earn $34,000 to $47,500 a year, or about $16.35 to $22.84 an hour. These plumbers are in training and work under the supervision of licensed professionals while learning both on the job and in the classroom. They handle basic tasks like pipe installation and fixture repairs but can’t work independently or pull permits.

Journeyman plumber salary

Journeyman plumbers typically earn $57,000 to $79,500 a year, or about $27.40 to $38.22 an hour.. This is an advanced license type that allows you to work independently, supervise apprentices, and take on a wider range of plumbing projects, though you may still face limits on permits or business ownership depending on state regulations. Requirements vary by state but can involve completing an apprenticeship and passing a licensing exam.

Master plumber salary

Master plumbers typically earn $61,500 to $92,500 a year, or about $29.57 to $44.47 an hour. This licensing level requires several years of experience beyond journeyman status and the successful completion of advanced licensing exams. These plumbers can oversee complex projects, pull permits, ensure code compliance, supervise teams, and even run their own businesses.

Read more: Plumbing licensing guide, state-by-state

Plumbing business owner salary

Plumbing business owners can earn more than employed plumbers, but income varies widely with business size, services, and local demand. Indeed reports a national average salary of $78,056 for plumbing entrepreneurs. Owners of larger, more established firms with multiple crews, commercial contracts, or emergency service agreements frequently clear $150,000 to $250,000 or more.

The gap between the low and high end comes down to a few key variables:

• Business size and location: More crews and a busier market compound fast. A two-truck operation in a high-demand metro will out-earn a solo operator in a rural market at nearly every price point.
• Services offered: Emergency repairs, commercial work, and specialty services (backflow testing, medical gas, hydro-jetting) command premium rates that residential-only shops can’t match.
• Repeat business and referrals: A full calendar of returning clients costs nothing in marketing. The most profitable plumbing businesses are built on service agreements and referral networks, not one-off jobs.
• Operational efficiency: Owners who track job costs and profit margins per job—not just revenue—know which services to grow and which to cut. Blind revenue growth without margin visibility is how businesses stall out.

Thinking of starting a plumbing business? Try Housecall Pro’s plumbing business software to streamline your operations, manage jobs efficiently, and grow your profits.

Read more: How to pay yourself as a business owner

Plumber salary by state

Plumbing rates vary widely depending on where you work. Cost of living, licensing requirements, union presence, and market demand all play a role. Here’s an overview of the median hourly and annual wages for plumbers in each state:

What states pay plumbers the most?

Illinois, Oregon, Minnesota, Alaska, and Massachusetts have the highest median plumber wages among states. The District of Columbia is higher than any state, at a median of $101,020. The spread is wide: in Oregon, the top 10% of plumbers earn more than $147,100, while the lowest 10% earn less than $58,230.

What states pay plumbers the least?

Arkansas, South Dakota, Idaho, Florida, and South Carolina have the lowest median plumber wages among states. Even there, the top 10% of plumbers earn more than $68,870 to $82,620, depending on the state.

Highest-paying plumbing jobs

Plumbing pay depends on your role, your license level, and whether you’re designing systems, leading a crew, or working in the field. Here are the highest-paying plumbing roles, from highest to lowest.

Each of these paths builds on the skills you already have. Whether you prefer leading people, solving design challenges, or rolling up your sleeves in the field, there’s room to grow into a role that pays more and matches how you want to work.  

Read more: Types of plumbers, explained

What factors have the biggest impact on a plumber’s salary?

Some of these you can act on now. Others take time. All of them are worth understanding before your next job negotiation or business decision.

• Location: The single biggest lever. Illinois plumbers earn a median of $99,950; Arkansas plumbers earn $48,660. That $51,290 gap reflects differences in local markets, not just skill.
• License type: Moving from apprentice to journeyman and then master typically means higher pay. See the license-level table above.
• Union membership: Union plumbers often earn more than non-union workers in the same market, plus structured benefits (pension, healthcare, paid training) that increase total compensation further.
• Specializations: Certifications in areas like medical gas, backflow prevention, fire suppression systems, or green plumbing can open up specialized work.
• Type of work: Commercial and industrial plumbing consistently pays more than residential. Supervisors and foremen earn more than field techs.

How much do plumbers make when they start?

Your starting pay depends on whether you enter the trade as a helper, an apprentice, or a licensed plumber. Most plumbers learn through an apprenticeship, earning money while building their skills. BLS doesn’t track plumber pay by experience, but the bottom of the range gives a rough idea of what new plumbers can expect. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $44,150 a year, or $21.22 an hour. Helpers who work with pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn an average of $43,730 a year. Your earning potential generally grows as you gain experience, take on more responsibility, and earn your license.

How does plumber pay compare?

Plumbing can offer strong earning potential compared with other construction trades and the U.S. workforce overall. In May 2025, the median annual pay for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $63,800—$5,650 above the median for construction trades workers and $12,820 above the median for all occupations. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $108,420 a year.

How to increase your plumber salary

If you’re ready to up your paycheck, here are a few concrete ways to do it:

• Run your business efficiently. Tracking job costs, labor hours, and profit margins lets you identify which jobs are worth taking and which are eating into your earnings.
• Get certified in a specialty. Backflow prevention, medical gas, fire suppression systems, and green plumbing certifications can qualify you for higher-paying jobs with less competition.
• Take on leadership. Moving into a foreman or supervisor role typically adds $10,000–$20,000 per year over field tech pay.
• Relocate strategically. Moving from a low-paying state like Arkansas ($48,660 median) to a market like Illinois ($99,950 median) could roughly double your pay, though cost of living and licensing rules differ by state.

Starting your own plumbing business

Many plumbers see their biggest pay increase when they start a business. Running your own shop means more responsibility—licenses, insurance, scheduling, and payroll—but it also gives you control over your rates, schedule, and potential growth.

This shift can feel like a lot, which is why having the right systems matters. Housecall Pro’s plumbing software can make that transition smoother:

• Scheduling and dispatching keep your day organized and reduce wasted drive time.
• Price Book makes quoting fast and consistent, so you don’t lose time second-guessing numbers.
• Job Costing shows which jobs actually turn a profit, giving you clarity to adjust rates.
• Customer management helps you keep loyal clients and win repeat work.

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