BLS SOC 47-2152 · Skilled Trades
Plumber Salary
Plumbers install and repair piping systems for water, gas, and sewage in residential and commercial buildings. They read blueprints, inspect systems, and ensure compliance with building codes.
Data: BLS OEWS · 2026
National Median
$63,867
annual
25th Percentile
$49,178
annual
75th Percentile
$81,750
annual
90th Percentile
$102,187
annual
National Salary Distribution
P25: $49,178Median: $63,867P75: $81,750P90: $102,187
1
Top Paying Cities for Plumber
Ranked by median annual salary
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $88,000 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $85,000 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $84,000 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,000 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $76,000 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $75,000 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $73,000 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $70,000 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $70,000 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $68,000 |
2
Best After Cost of Living
Salary adjusted for cost of living (US avg = $100k)
| # | City | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $61,538 |
| 2 | Raleigh, NC | $61,165 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,111 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $60,674 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,000 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $59,813 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $59,813 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,223 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $58,929 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $58,333 |
3
Plumber Salary — All Cities
All 30 metro areas, sorted by median salary
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $67,760 | $88,000 | $112,640 | $140,800 | 78,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $65,450 | $85,000 | $108,800 | $136,000 | 87,000 |
| New York, NY | $64,680 | $84,000 | $107,520 | $134,400 | 102,000 |
| Boston, MA | $60,060 | $78,000 | $99,840 | $124,800 | 63,000 |
| Washington, DC | $58,520 | $76,000 | $97,280 | $121,600 | 67,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $57,750 | $75,000 | $96,000 | $120,000 | 72,000 |
| San Diego, CA | $56,210 | $73,000 | $93,440 | $116,800 | 36,000 |
| Austin, TX | $53,900 | $70,000 | $89,600 | $112,000 | 57,000 |
| Portland, OR | $53,900 | $70,000 | $89,600 | $112,000 | 30,000 |
| Denver, CO | $52,360 | $68,000 | $87,040 | $108,800 | 42,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $50,820 | $66,000 | $84,480 | $105,600 | 52,500 |
| Chicago, IL | $49,280 | $64,000 | $81,920 | $102,400 | 52,500 |
| Houston, TX | $49,280 | $64,000 | $81,920 | $102,400 | 42,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $48,510 | $63,000 | $80,640 | $100,800 | 45,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $48,510 | $63,000 | $80,640 | $100,800 | 33,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $48,510 | $63,000 | $80,640 | $100,800 | 33,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $46,970 | $61,000 | $78,080 | $97,600 | 37,500 |
| Miami, FL | $46,200 | $60,000 | $76,800 | $96,000 | 33,000 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $46,200 | $60,000 | $76,800 | $96,000 | 27,000 |
| Nashville, TN | $45,430 | $59,000 | $75,520 | $94,400 | 27,000 |
| Charlotte, NC | $44,660 | $58,000 | $74,240 | $92,800 | 30,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $44,660 | $58,000 | $74,240 | $92,800 | 21,000 |
| Columbus, OH | $43,120 | $56,000 | $71,680 | $89,600 | 24,000 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $42,350 | $55,000 | $70,400 | $88,000 | 21,000 |
| Detroit, MI | $41,580 | $54,000 | $69,120 | $86,400 | 22,500 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $41,580 | $54,000 | $69,120 | $86,400 | 22,500 |
| Louisville, KY | $38,500 | $50,000 | $64,000 | $80,000 | 15,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $37,730 | $49,000 | $62,720 | $78,400 | 13,500 |
| Memphis, TN | $36,960 | $48,000 | $61,440 | $76,800 | 12,000 |
| El Paso, TX | $33,880 | $44,000 | $56,320 | $70,400 | 9,000 |
Top Skills for Plumber
Pipe FittingPlumbing CodesBlueprint ReadingTroubleshootingWelding