As with any type of professional in the skilled trades, when plumbers are on the hunt for a new job position, one of the first details they’ll look for is the listed pay rate. If you want to attract the top men and women to your plumbing company, you’ll want to make sure you’re offering competitive rates — and paying your potential employees what they’re worth.
But how do you know what to pay your people? From hourly pay to annual salary, plumber salaries vary from state to state for a variety of reasons, including the local cost of living and current demands in the job market. Fortunately, industry and state averages make it easy for companies to determine a fair plumbing salary.
Whether your company is stationed way out in Anchorage, Alaska, or smack city-center in the heart of Los Angeles, California, we’ve got you covered with a state-by-state breakdown of plumbing salaries across the country. Check out how your plumber salary compares to the rest of the industry, and from that, learn what to pay your people.
Average Plumber Salary – National Average
So on average, how much does a plumber make? Currently, the average hourly rate for professional plumbers in the United States is $24.64. Outside of the average rate per hour, the median base salary for a plumber in the United States is $51,433 a year.
Bear in mind, this is a nationwide total and may not accurately reflect your company’s specific location. As we mentioned earlier, other factors like the cost of living and current demand for local jobs significantly influence the average plumber’s salary on a state and city level.
For instance, the state of Massachusetts currently offers plumbers an average annual base salary of $69,978 or $33.52 per hour. This is a whopping 36% above the national average. More specifically, certain Massachusetts cities such as Wakefield and Wilmington hold plumber salary averages of up to $100,720 — which is more than double the average of certain states.
In comparison, the state of Mississippi currently offers plumbers an average base salary of $45,470 a year. This is 12% lower than the national average. In Ocean Springs, MS, the average is $42,668 a year, which is nearly $10,000 less than the national average.
Plumber Salary By State – How Plumber Salaries Compare
With plumbers’ wages ranging quite significantly across the country, breaking down each state’s average can help you better understand what you should be offering potential employees.
However, it’s important to note that depending on your job title, plumbing license, and experience level, your base salary may be different. For example, if you’re an experienced master plumber with a wide range of skills, you’re likely to have a higher median salary, and overall have higher salaries than an entry level plumber fresh out of trade school working on their apprenticeship.
Though specific salary ranges may vary depending on experience level — from entry level plumbers completing an apprenticeship to an experienced master plumber position — we compiled a list of the most recent average plumber salaries for each state across the country.
- Alabama: $51,964/year, $24.89/hr
- Alaska: $64,940, $31.11/hr
- Arizona: $51,793/year, $24.81/hr
- Arkansas:$46,308/year, $22.18/hr
- California: $56,149/year, $26.90/hr
- Colorado: $57,405/year, $27.50/hr
- Connecticut: $62,082/year, $29.74/hr
- Delaware: $51,129/year, $24.49/hr
- Florida: $44,558/year, $21.34/hr
- Georgia: $47,601, $22.80/hr
- Hawaii: $43,991/year, $21.07/hr
- Idaho: $45,487/year, $21.79/hr
- Illinois: $42,612/year, $20.41/hr
- Indiana: $42,605/year, $20.41/hr
- Iowa: $49,597/year, $23.76/hr
- Kansas: $43,501/year, $20.84/hr
- Kentucky: $44,662/year, $21.39/hr
- Louisiana: $46,113/year, $22.09/hr
- Maine: $53,687/year, $25.72/hr
- Maryland: $56,809/year, $27.21/hr
- Massachusetts: $69,978/year, $33.52/hr
- Michigan: $49,354/year, $23.64/hr
- Minnesota: $64,582/year, $30.94/hr
- Mississippi: $45,470/year, $21.78/hr
- Missouri:$48,941/year, $23.44/hr
- Montana: $67,262/year, $32.22/hr
- Nebraska: $51,481/year, $24.66/hr
- Nevada: $50,416/year, $24.15/hr
- New Hampshire: $61,592/year, $29.50/hr
- New Jersey: $58,174/year, $27.87/hr
- New Mexico: $38,958/year, $18.66/hr
- New York: $52,516/year, $25.16/hr
- North Carolina: $46,110/year, $22.09/hr
- North Dakota:$49,020/year, $23.48/hr
- Ohio: $49,089/year, $23.51/hr
- Oklahoma: $48,188/year, $23.08/hr
- Oregon: $45,799/year, $21.94/hr
- Pennsylvania: $50,301/year, $24.09/hr
- Rhode Island: $60,573/year, $29.01/hr
- South Carolina: $45.918/year, $22.00/hr
Top 10 Highest Paying States and Current Job Availability
As you can see, the median pay across the country can vary significantly depending on the specific location your plumbing company resides. However, just because a position may pay more in a certain state doesn’t mean that the position is in higher demand. Take a look at the top 10 highway paying states for plumbing salaries per hour and year as well as the current job availability in each location.
- Massachusetts: $69,978/year, $33.52/hr, 295 jobs
- Montana: $67,262/year, $32.22/hr, 32 jobs
- Wisconsin: $66,656/year, $31.93/hr, 117 jobs
- South Dakota: $65,725/year, $31.48/hr, 51 jobs
- Washington: $65,306/year, $31.28/hr, 214 jobs
- Alaska: $64,940, $31.11/hr, 16 jobs
- Minnesota: $64,582/year, $30.94/hr, 171 jobs
- Connecticut: $62,082/year, $29.74/hr, 114 jobs
- New Hampshire: $61,592/year, $29.50/hr, 47 jobs
- Rhode Island: $60,573/year, $29.01/hr, 18 jobs
Cities with the Highest Plumbing Salaries in Each State – Average Salary
So, now that you know what the average salary is for your state, it’s time to take a look at the effect individual city location has on plumbing salaries. It’s important to remember that it’s not only your business’s state that influences average salary amounts but the city you’re located in as well.
Across the country, the top three highest-paying cities for plumbers were Middlefield, CT ($150,311), Orem, UT ($121,607), and Mukilteo, WA ($113,842). While these averages are drastically above the national average — and not the common situation in most U.S city locations — you can see just how city-specific factors influence the median plumber’s salary.
With a U.S. annual average of $51,433 per year and $24.64 per hour, let’s take a look at the cities with the highest plumber salary in each state to see how your current expected plumber salary offering compares.
- Tuscaloosa, AL: $67,649/year, $32.40/hr
- Anchorage, AK: $66,253/year, $31.74/hr
- Mesa, AZ: $90,473/year, $43.34/hr
- Jonesboro, AR: $51,259/year, $24.66/hr
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA: $99,403/year, $47.61/hr
- Lakewood, CO: $83,298/year, $40.00/hr
- Middlefield, CT: $150,311/year, $72.00/hr
- Wilmington, DE: $89,369/year, $42.81/hr
- West Palm Beach, FL: $51,231/year, $24.54/hr
- Lawrenceville, GA: $87,094/year, $41.72/hr
- Pearl City, HI: $73,627/year, $35.27/hr
- Meridian, ID: $59,804/year, $28.65/hr
- Arlington Heights, IL: $94,787/year, $45.40/hr
- Greenwood, IN: $72,917/year, $34.93/hr
- Altoona, IA: $60,180/year, $28.83/hr
- Overland Park, KS: $92,847/year, $44.47/hr
- Lexington, KY: $68,391/year, $32.76/hr
- Mandeville, LA: $80,235/year, $38.43/hr
- York, ME: $59,996/year, $28.74/hr
- Beltsville, MD: $96,612/year, $46.28/hr
- Wakefield, MA: $100,720/year, $48.25/hr
- Farmington Hills, MI: $74,990/year $35.92/hr
- Saint Paul, MN: $88,247/year, $42.27/hr
- Ridgeland, MS: $76,828/year, $36.80/hr
- Saint Charles, MO: $96,899/year, $46.42/hr
- Bozeman, MT: $70,120/year, $33.59/hr
- Seward, NE: $76,135/year, $36.47/hr
- Henderson, NV: $54,886/year, $26.29/hr
- Auburn, NH: $92,199/year, $44.16/hr
- Mount Laurel, NJ: $81,720/year, $39.14/hr
- Rio Rancho, NM: $57,355/year, $27.47/hr
- Ronkonkoma, NY: $72,844/year, $34.89/hr
- Kernersville, NC: $81,546/year, $39.06/hr
- North Dakota: N/A
- Miamisburg, OH: $82,506/year, $40.00/hr
- Edmond, OK:$65,736/year, $31.49/hr
- Portland, OR: $70,028/year, $33.54/hr
- Media, PA: $66,403/year, $31.81/hr
- Newport, RI: $79,292/year, $37.98/hr
- Rock Hill, SC: $69,267/year, $33.18/hr
- Sioux Falls, SD: $60,092/year, $28.78/hr
- Franklin, TN: $54,226/year, $25.97/hr
- Rockwall, TX: $73,258/year, $35.09/hr
- Orem, UT: $121,607/year, $58.25/hr
- Vermont: N/A
- Falls Church, VA: $90,258/year, $43.23/hr
- Mukilteo, WA: $113,842/year, $54.53/hr
- Harpers Ferry, WV: $65,180/year, $33.52/hr
- Green Bay, WI: $87,398/year, $41.86/hr
- Jackson, WY: $58,022/year, $27.79/hr
So, we’ve covered multiple views of the national average plumbing salary for technicians, but what about plumbing business owners or other trades that may be part of your business’ team? Take a look at our blog about plumbing business owner salary for the average salaries, profits, and revenue for plumbers. Then, check our guides for electrician salaries and HVAC salaries to see what you should be paying other skilled trade job seekers.
Plumbing Software for All of Your Business’ Financial Needs
Using the above data as a reference, you should have a pretty clear idea of what plumbers earn on average and what employers should be paying plumbers. But do you have as good of an understanding of the rest of your finances? If you don’t, rest assured you’re not alone. That’s why we created FieldPulse, designed specifically for your trade business.
Streamlining your plumbing finances can be a struggle, but with FieldPulse, it doesn’t have to be. Use FieldPulse’s plumbing business software to create itemized estimates and invoices when you bid plumbing jobs, track sales commissions, profit and costs per job, and integrate with QuickBooks to stay on top of what you’re paying your people. Schedule a free demo to discover how FieldPulse can save you time and money today.
