How much do plumbers make an hour in the U.S.?

The median hourly wage is $30.67. The middle half earn between $24.13 and $40.92 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do apprentice plumbers make in the U.S.?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.22 an hour ($44,150 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $24.13.

How much does a journeyman plumber make?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level, but the median, $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour), is a fair estimate of typical journeyman pay. Master-level and top earners are closer to the 75th to 90th percentiles, $85,110–$108,420.

Which state pays plumbers the most?

The District of Columbia, with a median of $101,020 a year, followed by Illinois ($99,950). Arkansas has the lowest median, $48,660.

Which metro area pays plumbers the most?

The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area, with a median of $107,560 a year.

Plumber salary

Updated September 26, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Plumbers in the U.S. earn a median of $63,800 a year, or $30.67 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $108,420 a year.

Median yearly pay$63,800

Bottom 10% under$44,150Top 10% over$108,420

Apprentice starting pay (estimate): $21.22/hr
Jobs nationwide: 465,840
Median hourly pay: $30.67/hr

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Excludes self-employed plumbers. *Starting pay is estimated from the 10th percentile; BLS does not report pay by license level.

Apprentice, journeyman and master plumber pay

Stage	Yearly pay	Hourly pay
Apprentice	$44,150–$50,190$21.22–$24.13/hr
Journeyman	$63,800$30.67/hr
Master / top earners	$85,110–$108,420$40.92–$52.13/hr

Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.

How it compares

The 90th-percentile wage, $108,420, is 2.5 times the 10th-percentile wage, $44,150: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Plumber pay by state

See all 50 states and DC

Other trades in the U.S.

Electrician HVAC technician Welder Lineman

Questions

How much do plumbers make?: Plumbers in the U.S. earn a median of $63,800 a year, or $30.67 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $108,420 a year.
How much do plumbers make an hour in the U.S.?: The median hourly wage is $30.67. The middle half earn between $24.13 and $40.92 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do apprentice plumbers make in the U.S.?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.22 an hour ($44,150 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $24.13.
How much does a journeyman plumber make?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level, but the median, $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour), is a fair estimate of typical journeyman pay. Master-level and top earners are closer to the 75th to 90th percentiles, $85,110–$108,420.
Which state pays plumbers the most?: The District of Columbia, with a median of $101,020 a year, followed by Illinois ($99,950). Arkansas has the lowest median, $48,660.
Which metro area pays plumbers the most?: The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area, with a median of $107,560 a year.

About this data

Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, occupation 47-2152 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters). BLS counts wage and salary workers only, so self-employed plumbers and business owners aren't included. Page updated September 26, 2026. How we calculate these figures