What is the median plumber salary in Chicago, IL?

The median plumber wage in Chicago, IL is $103,380 a year, or about $49.70 an hour (BLS OEWS May 2025).

What is the pay range for plumbers in Chicago, IL?

In Chicago, IL, plumbers earn from $74,300 (25th percentile) to $122,540 (75th percentile) a year, with a median of $103,380 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Does Chicago, IL pay more than the Illinois average for plumbers?

The Chicago, IL median of $103,380 runs about $3,430 a year above the Illinois statewide median of $99,950 (BLS OEWS).

How much do union plumbers make in Chicago, IL?

UA Local 130 journeyman plumbers earn about $108,160 a year ($52.00/hr wage rate), or about $96.00/hr counting benefits. That is $4,780 above the Chicago, IL median for all plumbers (BLS OEWS May 2025). The union figure is approximate, taken from the local's 2024 agreement; check the current agreement before you negotiate.

How much do plumbers make an hour in Chicago, IL?

The median plumber in Chicago, IL earns about $49.70/hr, based on the $103,380/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.

How much do plumbers make a month in Chicago, IL?

That is about $8,615/mo before taxes, from the $103,380/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

How much do plumbers make in Chicago, IL in 2026?

Government wage survey, BLS OEWS May 2025. Updated June 2026.

In 2026, plumbers in Chicago, IL earn a median of $103,380 per year ($49.70/hr), according to BLS OEWS (May 2025). That is about $3,430 above the Illinois statewide median. Last updated June 2026.

Median pay (50th pct)

$103,380/yr

Half of Chicago, IL plumbers earn between $74,300 and $122,540 per year.

$74,300/yr$103,380/yr$122,540/yr

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Plumber pay in Chicago, IL: key numbers
Median pay	$103,380/yr ($49.70/hr)
Pay range (25th–75th percentile)	$74,300 – $122,540/yr
Vs Illinois statewide median	+$3,430/yr
Plumbers employed in this metro	12,750
Job concentration vs national	0.94×
Source	BLS OEWS May 2025
Last updated	June 2026

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Plumber pay in Chicago, IL vs Illinois

The median plumber wage in Chicago, IL is $103,380/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025). The Illinois statewide median is $99,950/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025) , so this metro runs about $3,430/yr above the state figure. See the full Illinois page

12,750 plumbers employed in this metro (BLS May 2025).
Job concentration: 0.94× the national average for this trade (less concentrated here).

Union vs non-union plumber pay in Chicago, IL

UA Local 130 is based in Chicago. Its journeyman plumbers earn about $108,160/yr ($52.00/hr wage rate), or about $96.00/hr once benefits are counted. That is $4,780/yr above the $103,380 median for all plumbers in the metro, and within the top-quartile line of $122,540.

The union figure is approximate, from the local's 2024 agreement, and is a contract rate for journeymen only. The BLS median covers every plumber in the metro: union and non-union, apprentices through masters. Check the current agreement before you use it to negotiate.

About this data

Metro wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS metropolitan program (May 2025), the authoritative public source for occupational pay, reported here for the Chicago, IL metro area. The union scale comes from the local's published agreement and is labeled approximate. We don't hold member submissions at metro level yet; each figure is labeled with its source.

Plumber pay in Chicago, IL: FAQ

What is the median plumber salary in Chicago, IL?: The median plumber wage in Chicago, IL is $103,380 a year, or about $49.70 an hour (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the pay range for plumbers in Chicago, IL?: In Chicago, IL, plumbers earn from $74,300 (25th percentile) to $122,540 (75th percentile) a year, with a median of $103,380 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Does Chicago, IL pay more than the Illinois average for plumbers?: The Chicago, IL median of $103,380 runs about $3,430 a year above the Illinois statewide median of $99,950 (BLS OEWS).
How much do union plumbers make in Chicago, IL?: UA Local 130 journeyman plumbers earn about $108,160 a year ($52.00/hr wage rate), or about $96.00/hr counting benefits. That is $4,780 above the Chicago, IL median for all plumbers (BLS OEWS May 2025). The union figure is approximate, taken from the local's 2024 agreement; check the current agreement before you negotiate.
How much do plumbers make an hour in Chicago, IL?: The median plumber in Chicago, IL earns about $49.70/hr, based on the $103,380/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.
How much do plumbers make a month in Chicago, IL?: That is about $8,615/mo before taxes, from the $103,380/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Sources

Wage data: BLS OEWS: Illinois
Union scales: IBEW · UA
How we build these numbers
Next data refresh: when BLS publishes its next annual OEWS release (typically the following spring).

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