How much do plumbers make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for plumbers?

Different states win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 25 states: $52,910–$99,950 (median $65,400).

Plumber pay by state

Where is the union premium biggest for Plumbers?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

Union data is partial for Plumber (4 of 25 states) — submitting your pay helps build complete data for Plumber.

Union landscape

The United Association (UA) runs the major union pipeline for plumbers, and the dollar difference between union and non-union scale is hard to ignore. In California, a UA Local 38 journeyman in San Francisco earns $131,040 on union scale against a state median of $72,830 — a $58,210 premium. In New York, UA Local 1 journeyman scale hits $120,640 versus a state median of $77,490, a $43,150 gap. Massachusetts is narrower but still meaningful: UA Local 12 in Boston posts $112,320 against a state median of $93,880, a $18,440 difference — and note that Massachusetts already has one of the highest state medians in our dataset, so even the non-union baseline there is strong. Those three data points aren't a complete picture of union density across the country. Union concentration in plumbing skews toward major metro areas and large commercial or industrial work. A journeyman card in San Francisco or New York carries a different market value than the same card in a lower-density region. TradesPays reports the journeyman scale figures where we have verified local data — we don't extrapolate union premiums to states or locals we haven't confirmed. If your local's scale isn't reflected here yet, the submission link at the bottom of the page is the right move.

What we don't track yet

Two honest gaps worth naming before you lean too hard on any single number here. First, metro-level pay. Our current plumber data is state-level only. A $63,800 national median and a $99,950 Illinois state median don't tell you what a shop in Peoria pays versus one in Chicago. Metro variation inside a single state can be as large as the gap between states, and we won't publish metro figures until we have enough verified data to stand behind them. Watch this page — metro breakdowns for high-volume states are the next build-out. Second, career-tier splits. Outside of the union journeyman scale figures listed above, TradesPays doesn't yet separate apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber wages in its state medians. Those tiers can represent $15,000–$30,000 in annual pay difference depending on the market, and lumping them together softens what the data is really saying for any one worker. If you're a licensed master or a first-year apprentice, the state median is a reference point, not your number. If you have verified pay stubs, certified payroll records, or local union scale sheets we haven't captured, use the submission form. Real data from workers in the field is how this gets better.

Plumber pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for plumbers?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median for plumbers is $63,800. The 25th percentile sits at $50,190 and the 75th percentile at $85,110.

Which states pay plumbers the most?

In TradesPays' current 25-state dataset, the three highest-paying states are Illinois at $99,950, Minnesota at $94,410, and Massachusetts at $93,880.

Which state in your dataset pays plumbers the least?

Florida is the lowest in our current covered set at $52,910. Keep in mind TradesPays covers 25 states — states not yet in the dataset may fall higher or lower.

How much more do union plumbers make compared to non-union?

Based on verified journeyman scale data, the premium varies significantly by local. UA Local 38 in San Francisco shows a $58,210 premium over the California state median. UA Local 1 in New York shows $43,150 over the New York state median. UA Local 12 in Boston shows $18,440 over the Massachusetts state median — which is itself already one of the highest state figures in our dataset.

Does TradesPays break out pay by apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber?

Not yet, outside of union journeyman scale data for specific locals. The state medians on TradesPays blend all career tiers. We flag this openly because it matters — a master plumber and a first-year apprentice will land in very different spots within that range.

Does TradesPays show plumber pay by city or metro area?

Not currently. All plumber data on TradesPays is at the state level. Metro-level breakdowns are in development for high-volume states, but we won't publish them until the underlying data is solid enough to be useful.

How can I help improve the plumber pay data on TradesPays?

If you have verified pay stubs, certified payroll records, or local union scale sheets for a state or metro not yet covered, submit them through the form on this page. Worker-sourced data with documentation is how we fill the gaps — we don't manufacture numbers to fill empty cells.

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