How much do plumbers make in Texas in 2026?

The median plumber salary in Texas is $59,840 a year, which works out to roughly $28.77 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the middle of the pack — half of plumbers in the state earn more, half earn less. The data comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The bottom quarter of Texas plumbers — the 25th percentile — earns $47,380 a year, or about $22.78 an hour. These are typically workers early in their careers, still building their license credentials, or working in lower-cost metro areas and rural counties. At the top of the range, the 75th percentile hits $74,100 a year, about $35.63 an hour. Plumbers at that level usually carry a Master Plumber license, run their own crews, specialize in commercial or industrial work, or have accumulated enough years in the trade to command top rates from employers who know their value.

The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is $26,720 a year — that's not pocket change. It tells you that the decisions you make about licensing, specialization, and where in Texas you work have a real dollar impact on your take-home.

Texas is a licensed state, and the licensing ladder matters to your pay. Apprentices work under licensed journeymen and earn less while they accumulate hours. A Journeyman Plumber license in Texas requires passing a state exam and logging the required work experience, typically around four years of apprenticeship hours. A Master Plumber license requires additional experience and a separate exam. Every step up the licensing ladder generally corresponds to a step up in wages, and some employers pay a flat premium the day you bring in a new license.

Geography plays a role inside Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston metro, and Austin area all have dense construction pipelines and large commercial plumbing contractors who pay at or above the state median. Smaller cities and rural counties often pay less, though cost of living is also lower in those areas. If you're willing to travel for shutdown or new-construction work, you can often access rates closer to the 75th percentile even if you're based in a smaller market.

Overtime is a real factor in this trade. Texas construction cycles, hurricane repair work, and the state's sustained residential and commercial building activity mean plumbers who are willing to put in 50- or 60-hour weeks during peak periods can significantly boost their annual earnings beyond what base wages suggest. Overtime hours at 1.5x pay add up fast: just 10 extra hours a week at the median rate adds roughly $11,240 to your annual take-home over a full year.

Specialty work tends to push pay toward the higher end of the range. Plumbers who work on medical gas systems, high-pressure industrial piping, or large commercial projects — hotels, hospitals, data centers — typically earn more than those doing residential service and repair. If you're currently doing residential work and want to move toward the 75th percentile, getting comfortable with commercial codes and systems is one of the faster paths.

Some plumbers in Texas may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

The BLS figures here are base wages only. They don't capture the value of employer-provided health insurance, retirement contributions, per diem for travel work, or truck and tool allowances that many full-time plumbing employees receive. On the flip side, self-employed plumbers and small-shop owners who pull in more than the 75th percentile figure may not be fully represented in this survey. Use these numbers as a solid baseline — they reflect real employer-reported wages across the state — but factor in your full compensation picture when comparing offers or deciding whether to go out on your own.