What Is a Plumber's Salary? (With Average Salary by State)

Updated July 27, 2023

Plumbers are in high demand due to the regular construction of new buildings and homes and the necessity to maintain existing plumbing infrastructure in current buildings. Learning about a plumber's salary and other career-related information can help you decide if this path is right for you.

In this article, we discuss the average salary a plumber can earn, including how much they might earn in each state and explore other details about this career, including factors that can affect salary and how to increase your earning potential.

Average plumber's salary

For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries:

National average plumber salary

The national average salary for a plumber is $56,216 per year. The national average salary range for a plumber is anywhere between $33,958 per year and $93,066 per year. Some plumbers work overtime hours beyond their normal 40-hour work weeks, and they earn an average overtime amount of $6,750 per year.

Related: Learn About Being a Plumber

Average plumber salaries by state

For more information on how much plumbers can earn, consider the average plumber salaries by state:

Alabama: $52,938 per year
Alaska: $86,499 per year
Arizona: $55,416 per year
Arkansas: $51,579 per year
California: $58,139 per year
Colorado: $59,320 per year
Connecticut: $72,155 per year
Delaware: $63,375 per year
Florida: $50,956 per year
Georgia: $51,096 per year
Hawaii: $60,130 per year
Idaho: $60,426 per year
Illinois: $75,648 per year
Indiana: $55,411 per year
Iowa: $54,763 per year
Kansas: $48,130 per year
Kentucky: $52,382 per year
Louisiana: $49,904 per year
Maine: $69,093 per year
Maryland: $65,158 per year
Massachusetts: $72,673 per year
Michigan: $54,027 per year
Minnesota: $69,304 per year
Mississippi: $44,413 per year
Missouri: $53,993 per year
Montana: $71,267 per year
Nebraska: $62,970 per year
Nevada: $55,706 per year
New Hampshire: $73,008 per year
New Jersey: $60,238 per year
New Mexico: $53,374 per year
New York: $60,344 per year
North Carolina: $51,123 per year
North Dakota: $60,997 per year
Ohio: $53,088 per year
Oklahoma: $76,580 per year
Oregon: $86,418 per year
Pennsylvania: $55,172 per year
Rhode Island: $62,051 per year
South Carolina: $49,634 per year
South Dakota: $62,565 per year
Tennessee: $50,744 per year
Texas: $55,935 per year
Utah: $59,745 per year
Vermont: $61,042 per year
Virginia: $54,027 per year
Washington: $110,634 per year
West Virginia: $46,312 per year
Wisconsin: $74,001 per year
Wyoming: $61,882 per year

Factors that affect a plumber's salary

There are several important factors that can influence how much a plumber earns, including the following:

Type of plumber

The type of plumber you are can influence your salary, as job duties can vary depending on your specialization. An employer may pay a plumber more if they perform complicated tasks on specialized plumbing systems regularly. Consider the different types of plumbers:

Commercial plumber

A commercial plumber can work in schools, hospitals, colleges and manufacturing plants and specializes in working around industrial equipment. They're responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing tanks and pipes in these commercial settings.

Service and repair plumber

Service and repair plumbers specialize in performing various maintenance and repair tasks that relate to plumbing systems in both residential and commercial settings. Common jobs a service and repair plumber may perform include fixing leaks, adjusting pressure levels, eliminating clogs and cleaning plumbing systems and fixtures.

Residential plumber

Residential plumbers specialize in installing, maintaining and repairing plumbing fixtures and issues in a residential setting. Residential plumbers spend much of their time performing pipe system installations, small-scale plumbing jobs and residential plumbing system repairs.

Sanitary plumber

A sanitary plumber specializes in various plumbing techniques that relate to sanitary systems. Their duties include unblocking and cleaning clogs in sanitary systems, installing toilet and bathroom pipes, fitting suspended drains and overseeing plumbing installations like bathtubs and toilets.

Water supply plumber

Water supply plumbers specialize in working with water supply systems such as water tanks, kitchen tanks, bathroom tanks, overhead storage tanks and pipes. Common duties of water supply plumbers include installing various water supply systems in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, along with fitting excess pipes and sanitation systems.

Location

The city in which you work can also influence your salary as a plumber. For example, plumbers in larger cities may be able to earn more, as they have the opportunity to find employment with larger and more established companies than plumbers working in rural areas would.

Work experience

As you gain work experience, you may be able to increase your salary. Plumbers who have less than one year of work experience typically earn an average of $47,096 per year, while plumbers with more than 10 years of experience can earn an average salary of $68,325 per year. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the link provided.

Education

Most employers require plumbers to complete an apprenticeship and gain relevant job experience before they can work in their roles independently. Most states also issue licenses for plumbers to be able to work.

While a college degree isn't necessary to become a plumber, you may consider earning one to increase your knowledge of subjects like chemistry, physics and math. This can also help you enter the plumbing industry if you're new to the field or transitioning from another career field.

Type of employer

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), plumbers can earn different salaries depending on the type of employer for which they work. Some of the top-paying industries for plumbers include manufacturing, air conditioning contracting and civil engineering construction.

Ways to increase your salary as a plumber

There are several ways to increase your salary as a plumber. Consider exploring the following examples:

Earn certifications

Once you've gained enough experience as a plumber, you can pursue plumbing certifications. For example, you may consider earning the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Certification in Plumbing Level 1. When you earn this type of professional credential, you can show your commitment to performing well in the plumbing industry. Depending on the state where you work, you may qualify to become a master plumber.

Start your own plumbing business

Consider starting your own plumbing business to increase your income. When you conduct your own business, you can keep all the revenue you earn after you pay for relevant expenses. Start building your business gradually by accepting a few independent clients while you maintain a job. Once you are able to earn enough from your clients to replace a full-time salary, you can focus on expanding your plumbing business full-time.

Stay knowledgeable of industry trends and current practices

Remain knowledgeable of trends and current practices in the plumbing industry so you can prove yourself as a valuable employee to a plumbing company. For example, read about recent innovations in smart technology as it applies to plumbing fixtures so you can install, maintain and repair them as necessary without requiring additional instruction from a supervisor.

Focus on higher-paying locations

You may consider moving to a higher-paying location to increase your salary as a plumber. For example, plumbers in the densely populated city of Brooklyn, New York, earn an average annual salary of $65,824 per year, while plumbers in the less densely populated city of Tucson, Arizona, earn $51,544 per year. Ensure that you account for differences in living costs between different areas before you decide to move for work. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the links provided.

Seek a higher-paying employer

A plumber's salary can depend on their place of employment. If you want to make more money as a plumber, do some research on available plumbing jobs and the average salary of plumbers at each company. Read reviews about other employees' experiences with salary increases and prepare to switch employers to increase your earning potential.

Obtain more training

Request training from your current employer on complex plumbing tasks. When you seek instruction from someone with more experience, you can refine your current skills and knowledge and learn how to complete different duties. As a result, you may increase your employability and qualify for a higher salary than other potential job candidates.

You can also pursue additional training as a gas technician, which can improve your value to an employer. This can also help you refine additional skill sets, such as operating control systems, extracting gas for energy usage and implementing safety practices into daily operations.