How Much Do Plumbers Make in 2026? (Salary by State)
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Plumbers in the US earn $59,880 on average — with master plumbers and business owners earning well into six figures.
Average Plumber Salary in 2026
Metric
Amount
Average salary
$59,880
Median salary
$56,330
Entry level (apprentice)
$33,000-$40,000
Journeyman
$50,000-$70,000
Master plumber
$65,000-$95,000
Hourly rate
$28.79
Plumber Salary by Experience Level
Level
Years
Salary Range
Hourly
Apprentice (1st year)
0-1
$30,000-$38,000
$14-$18
Apprentice (2nd-3rd year)
1-3
$38,000-$48,000
$18-$23
Apprentice (4th-5th year)
3-5
$45,000-$55,000
$22-$26
Journeyman
5-10
$50,000-$70,000
$24-$34
Master Plumber
10+
$65,000-$95,000
$31-$46
Plumbing Contractor
10+
$80,000-$200,000+
Varies
Plumber Salary by State
State
Average Salary
Hourly Rate
vs. National
Illinois
$82,270
$39.55
+37%
Massachusetts
$73,370
$35.28
+23%
Alaska
$72,680
$34.94
+21%
New York
$71,150
$34.21
+19%
New Jersey
$70,900
$34.09
+18%
California
$69,870
$33.59
+17%
Oregon
$68,740
$33.05
+15%
Hawaii
$68,510
$32.94
+14%
Minnesota
$67,850
$32.62
+13%
Washington
$66,540
$31.99
+11%
Texas
$53,700
$25.82
-10%
Florida
$49,400
$23.75
-17%
Georgia
$48,900
$23.51
-18%
Mississippi
$44,200
$21.25
-26%
Plumber Salary by Specialty
Specialty
Average Salary
Demand
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$60,100
High
Gas Line Plumber
$65,000
High
Commercial Plumber
$62,000
High
Industrial Plumber
$68,000
Moderate
Sprinkler Fitter
$58,500
Moderate
Service/Repair Plumber
$55,000
Very High
Residential New Construction
$52,000
High
Drain Technician
$48,000
High
Union vs. Non-Union Plumber Pay
Type
Average Wage
Benefits
Total Comp
Union (UA)
$32-$50/hour
Excellent
$80,000-$110,000
Non-Union
$22-$35/hour
Varies
$46,000-$73,000
Union plumbers earn 20-35% more when factoring in pension, health insurance, and training.
Overtime and Total Earnings
Base Salary
OT Hours/Week
Annual OT Pay
Total Earnings
$55,000
5
$9,900
$64,900
$55,000
10
$19,800
$74,800
$55,000
15
$29,700
$84,700
$55,000
20
$39,600
$94,600
Service plumbers often work overtime, especially on emergency calls which may pay double time.
How to Become a Plumber
Step
Duration
Notes
High school diploma
—
Math and shop classes help
Pre-apprenticeship (optional)
3-6 months
Trade school or community college
Apprenticeship
4-5 years
Paid training (earn while you learn)
Journeyman license exam
—
State exam required
Master plumber license
2-5 more years
Optional but pays more
Business license
Varies
To start your own company
Total time: 4-10 years depending on career path.
Plumbing Business Owner Income
Business Size
Owner Income
Solo operator
$65,000-$100,000
1-2 employees
$85,000-$130,000
Small company (5-10)
$120,000-$180,000
Medium company (15+)
$175,000-$300,000+
Plumbing business owners have significant earning potential but take on business risk and responsibilities.
Plumber Salary After Taxes
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State Tax (avg)
Take-Home
$50,000
$3,400
$3,825
$2,000
$40,775
$59,880
$4,500
$4,581
$2,395
$48,404
$80,000
$8,400
$6,120
$3,200
$62,280
$100,000
$12,200
$7,650
$4,000
$76,150
Plumber vs. Other Trades
Trade
Average Salary
Training Time
Elevator Mechanic
$97,860
4-5 years
Electrician
$60,240
4-5 years
Plumber
$59,880
4-5 years
HVAC Technician
$51,390
2-5 years
Carpenter
$52,850
3-4 years
Welder
$47,010
6 months-2 years
Job Outlook
Metric
Value
Job growth (2022-2032)
2%
Median age of plumbers
45
Annual retirements
50,000+
New plumbers needed
~43,000/year
Many plumbers are approaching retirement, creating strong demand for new entrants.
Is Plumbing a Good Career?
Pros:
No college debt
Paid apprenticeship
Steady demand
Path to business ownership
Work can’t be outsourced
Cons:
Physically demanding
Exposure to unsanitary conditions
On-call/emergency work
Can be hard on knees and back
4-5 year apprenticeship
Bottom Line
Plumbers earn $59,880 on average, but journeymen earn $50,000-$70,000 and master plumbers reach $65,000-$95,000. With overtime, union membership, or business ownership, six-figure earnings are achievable. The trade offers a debt-free path to a solid middle-class income with strong job security.