Free plumber template
Plumber estimate template: shower valve replacement
An estimate template for replacing a shower mixing valve: access, valve swap, trim, and test, with the labor rate prefilled from real plumber wage data.
The labor rate, with the math shown
Median plumber wage (national)
$30.67/hr
Derived from the $63,800 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025) at 2,080 hours a year.
Prefilled billing rate
$60 to $75/hr
The wage times a 2 to 2.5x rule of thumb for overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit. The download prefills $70/hr. A starting point, not market data: set your own rate.
Download the templates
Free, no signup. The CSVs open in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers with the line items and the labor rate already in place.
What's on the estimate
Hours are typical ranges to edit, not measurements. Material quantities and prices stay open because only you know your suppliers.
| Line item | Typical hrs | Rate | Prefilled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open access (rear wall panel or tile opening) | 0.5 to 1.5 | $70/hr | $70.00 |
| Cut out old valve and sweat or press in new one | 1.5 to 2.5 | $70/hr | $140.00 |
| Install trim, test under pressure, and check temperature limit stop | 0.5 to 1 | $70/hr | $56.00 |
| Pressure-balanced or thermostatic valve | your quantity and price | ||
| Trim kit (if contractor-supplied) | your quantity and price | ||
| Pipe, fittings, and access panel | your quantity and price | ||
Scope notes printed on the estimate
- Access through a rear wall panel is priced here; opening tile is a separate line and tile repair is excluded.
- The temperature limit stop is set at handoff and noted on the invoice (scald protection is a code item).
Adjust the rate for your state
Plumber pay is not one number. These are the highest-paying states TradesPays tracks; the hourly figure is the state median derived the same way (annual over 2,080 hours).
| State | Median (annual) | Derived hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,950 | $48.05/hr |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | $45.39/hr |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | $45.13/hr |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | $39.04/hr |
| Washington | $81,030 | $38.96/hr |
| Michigan | $80,190 | $38.55/hr |
Full state-by-state pay: plumber salary by state.
The plumber bundle: $24 one time. Checkout opens soon.
- Every estimate and invoice template for your trade, current and future job types included
- Editable spreadsheet versions of each template, not just the free CSV
- Labor rates refreshed with each new BLS wage release, so your numbers never go stale
- A one-page guide to setting your hourly rate from the median wage, with the math shown
No payment today. Leave your email to lock the $24 launch price and get first access when checkout opens. You also get pay-data updates for your trade; one click stops them.
We only keep a hashed version of your email, never the address itself.
Plumber rates and estimates: FAQ
- What should plumbers charge per hour in 2026?
- The national median plumber wage is about $30.67 an hour, derived from the $63,800 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025). A common rule of thumb for plumbers billing customers is 2 to 2.5 times the wage to cover overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit: roughly $60 to $75 an hour. That range is a starting point, not market data; set your own rate.
- What goes into a shower valve replacement estimate?
- This template breaks the job into 3 labor lines, from "open access (rear wall panel or tile opening)" through "install trim, test under pressure, and check temperature limit stop", lists the usual materials with quantities left open, and prints 2 scope notes so assumptions and exclusions are in writing before work starts.
- Is the template really free?
- Yes. The estimate and invoice CSVs download free with no signup. The $24 per-trade bundle adds editable spreadsheet versions, every job type for your trade, and labor rates refreshed with each BLS release.
More plumber templates
Wage source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS May 2025), national median for plumbers, 2026 site data. Hourly figures are derived (annual over 2,080 hours) and labeled as such. Billing-rate ranges are rule-of-thumb starting points, not market data.