SOC 47-2152 · BLS occupation: Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter · May 2025
Plumber Salary
Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters in the US earn a median of $63,800 a year ($34.70 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter pay climbed from $59,800 in 2019 to $72,170 in 2025, a +20.7% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$63,800
Half of all Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+20.7% since 2019 · +3.2% YoY
Hourly
$34.70
Job growth 2025-35
+6.8%
US workers
465,840
BLS series
Annual median wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters is $44,150 – $108,420.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$44,150
25th
$50,190
Median
$63,800
75th
$85,110
90th
$108,420
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $44,150 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $50,190 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $63,800 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $85,110 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $108,420 |
Geography
Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter pay by state
Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters earn the most in D.C. ($101,020, +58% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($48,660). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$63,800
Highest-paying states for plumber, pipefitter & steamfitters
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $101,020 | +58% | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $99,950 | +57% | 16,750 |
| Oregon | $97,050 | +52% | 5,370 |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | +48% | 10,720 |
| Alaska | $93,920 | +47% | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | +47% | 13,460 |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | +27% | 10,210 |
| Washington | $81,030 | +27% | 12,470 |
| Michigan | $80,190 | +26% | 14,120 |
| Montana | $79,960 | +25% | 1,860 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $101,020 | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $99,950 | 16,750 |
| Oregon | $97,050 | 5,370 |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | 10,720 |
| Alaska | $93,920 | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | 13,460 |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | 10,210 |
| Washington | $81,030 | 12,470 |
| Michigan | $80,190 | 14,120 |
| Montana | $79,960 | 1,860 |
| New Jersey | $78,240 | 8,750 |
| Hawaii | $78,060 | 2,500 |
| New York | $77,490 | 23,210 |
| Connecticut | $77,280 | 5,410 |
| Rhode Island | $76,470 | 1,820 |
| Indiana | $76,320 | 11,280 |
| California | $72,830 | 47,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,080 | 13,620 |
| New Hampshire | $66,810 | 1,950 |
| Missouri | $66,790 | 8,310 |
| Maryland | $65,400 | 11,420 |
| Kansas | $65,220 | 4,590 |
| Delaware | $64,720 | 1,590 |
| Kentucky | $64,160 | 6,360 |
| Maine | $64,000 | 2,710 |
| Iowa | $63,890 | 5,730 |
| Louisiana | $63,680 | 8,360 |
| North Dakota | $63,560 | 1,620 |
| Ohio | $63,330 | 16,390 |
| Colorado | $63,240 | 10,080 |
| Wyoming | $62,410 | 1,140 |
| Vermont | $62,170 | 980 |
| Arizona | $62,070 | 11,810 |
| Utah | $61,900 | 7,030 |
| Nevada | $61,610 | 5,370 |
| New Mexico | $61,440 | 2,830 |
| Nebraska | $60,970 | 4,110 |
| Virginia | $60,470 | 13,780 |
| Texas | $59,840 | 44,090 |
| Alabama | $58,670 | 6,950 |
| Tennessee | $58,600 | 9,270 |
| Oklahoma | $57,970 | 6,050 |
| Georgia | $57,200 | 8,930 |
| North Carolina | $57,080 | 14,510 |
| West Virginia | $56,980 | 1,830 |
| Mississippi | $55,480 | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $53,940 | 5,770 |
| Florida | $52,910 | 29,260 |
| Idaho | $52,380 | 3,090 |
| South Dakota | $51,620 | 1,760 |
| Arkansas | $48,660 | 3,370 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipe systems for water, gas, drainage, and industrial process flow. Entry typically combines a 4–5 year apprenticeship with state licensure.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $44,150 – $108,420. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., Illinois and Oregon. Pay in D.C. runs 2.1 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 42,000 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 6.8% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter salary in the US?
How much does a Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter make an hour?
How much do Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitters the most?
Is the average Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter salary higher than the median?
Is Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter a growing career?
Open positions
Open Plumber, Pipefitter & Steamfitter roles hiring now
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Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 47-2152. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.