What is the best state for plumbers?

After cost of living, Illinois: the median of $99,950 a year buys about what $99,990 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays plumbers the most?

Before adjusting for prices, the District of Columbia has the highest median, $101,020. After cost of living it ranks 4th of 51.

What is the worst state for plumbers after cost of living?

Florida, where the median of $52,910 buys about what $51,160 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for plumbers

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Illinois is the best-paying state for plumbers: its median of $99,950 a year buys what $99,990 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. By raw pay, the District of Columbia leads at $101,020, but its higher prices drop it to 4th of 51. Counting prices moves 11 states ten or more places.

Plumber pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Illinois$99,950 median · prices 100.0	$99,990	$99,950	100.0
2	Minnesota$94,410 median · prices 98.6	$95,730	$94,410	98.6
3	Oregon$97,050 median · prices 103.4	$93,890	$97,050	103.4
4	District of Columbia$101,020 median · prices 109.9	$91,920	$101,020	109.9
5	Alaska$93,920 median · prices 102.4	$91,760	$93,920	102.4
6	Massachusetts$93,880 median · prices 105.8	$88,770	$93,880	105.8
7	Wisconsin$81,210 median · prices 94.1	$86,310	$81,210	94.1
8	Montana$79,960 median · prices 94.6	$84,480	$79,960	94.6
9	Michigan$80,190 median · prices 96.2	$83,340	$80,190	96.2
10	Indiana$76,320 median · prices 93.3	$81,780	$76,320	93.3
11	Washington$81,030 median · prices 107.0	$75,720	$81,030	107.0
12	Rhode Island$76,470 median · prices 102.3	$74,770	$76,470	102.3
13	Connecticut$77,280 median · prices 103.6	$74,590	$77,280	103.6
14	Missouri$66,790 median · prices 90.8	$73,540	$66,790	90.8
15	Iowa$63,890 median · prices 87.8	$72,800	$63,890	87.8
16	Kansas$65,220 median · prices 90.1	$72,410	$65,220	90.1
17	Louisiana$63,680 median · prices 88.2	$72,190	$63,680	88.2
18	New Jersey$78,240 median · prices 108.8	$71,910	$78,240	108.8
19	New York$77,490 median · prices 107.9	$71,800	$77,490	107.9
20	North Dakota$63,560 median · prices 89.0	$71,450	$63,560	89.0
21	Kentucky$64,160 median · prices 90.2	$71,160	$64,160	90.2
22	Hawaii$78,060 median · prices 110.0	$71,000	$78,060	110.0
23	Pennsylvania$68,080 median · prices 97.6	$69,770	$68,080	97.6
24	Ohio$63,330 median · prices 92.8	$68,260	$63,330	92.8
25	Nebraska$60,970 median · prices 90.1	$67,670	$60,970	90.1
26	Wyoming$62,410 median · prices 92.7	$67,330	$62,410	92.7
27	New Mexico$61,440 median · prices 92.2	$66,630	$61,440	92.2
28	Alabama$58,670 median · prices 88.8	$66,050	$58,670	88.8
29	Oklahoma$57,970 median · prices 87.8	$65,990	$57,970	87.8
30	Maine$64,000 median · prices 97.0	$65,950	$64,000	97.0
31	California$72,830 median · prices 110.7	$65,780	$72,830	110.7
32	Delaware$64,720 median · prices 99.8	$64,840	$64,720	99.8
33	New Hampshire$66,810 median · prices 104.2	$64,140	$66,810	104.2
34	Mississippi$55,480 median · prices 87.0	$63,800	$55,480	87.0
35	Tennessee$58,600 median · prices 91.9	$63,790	$58,600	91.9
36	West Virginia$56,980 median · prices 89.5	$63,670	$56,980	89.5
37	Vermont$62,170 median · prices 98.0	$63,470	$62,170	98.0
38	Utah$61,900 median · prices 98.9	$62,610	$61,900	98.9
39	Maryland$65,400 median · prices 105.0	$62,310	$65,400	105.0
40	Arizona$62,070 median · prices 100.7	$61,650	$62,070	100.7
41	Texas$59,840 median · prices 97.1	$61,650	$59,840	97.1
42	Nevada$61,610 median · prices 100.0	$61,620	$61,610	100.0
43	Colorado$63,240 median · prices 103.1	$61,370	$63,240	103.1
44	North Carolina$57,080 median · prices 94.3	$60,510	$57,080	94.3
45	Virginia$60,470 median · prices 101.1	$59,810	$60,470	101.1
46	Georgia$57,200 median · prices 96.3	$59,400	$57,200	96.3
47	South Dakota$51,620 median · prices 88.6	$58,270	$51,620	88.6
48	South Carolina$53,940 median · prices 93.7	$57,540	$53,940	93.7
49	Arkansas$48,660 median · prices 86.9	$55,970	$48,660	86.9
50	Idaho$52,380 median · prices 95.5	$54,850	$52,380	95.5
51	Florida$52,910 median · prices 103.4	$51,160	$52,910	103.4

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full plumber pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for plumbers.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2152) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed plumbers. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for plumbers?: After cost of living, Illinois: the median of $99,950 a year buys about what $99,990 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays plumbers the most?: Before adjusting for prices, the District of Columbia has the highest median, $101,020. After cost of living it ranks 4th of 51.
What is the worst state for plumbers after cost of living?: Florida, where the median of $52,910 buys about what $51,160 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.