If you are running a plumbing business, you know that labor is your biggest line item and your biggest asset. Whether you are benchmarking salaries to hire your next master plumber or looking to scale your own earnings as an owner-operator, understanding how much plumbers make in 2026 is critical.
The plumbing trade remains one of the most lucrative and recession-resistant careers in the skilled trades. With a chronic shortage of skilled labor and aging infrastructure, the demand, and the price tag, for top talent is climbing.
How Much Do Plumbers Make?
In 2026, most plumbers in the US earn between $63,000 and $70,000 per year, with a typical hourly wage around $30 to $33 per hour for mid-career techs. However, highly experienced or specialized plumbers can earn over $100,000 annually, especially in high-cost states or commercial and industrial roles.
For a clearer picture, the median hourly wage hovers around $30 to $33 per hour in many markets, based on aggregated job postings. In high-demand markets or specialized sectors, that rate can easily double.
Why the variance? It comes down to the “skill gap”. The industry is facing a massive shortage of qualified tradespeople. If you are an owner trying to hire, you are likely feeling the pressure to offer competitive wages to secure reliable techs. If you are a plumber, this is your leverage. The baseline is solid, but the ceiling is much higher for those who specialize.
Key 2026 Benchmarks (US):
- National Average: ~$63,215 – $69,416
- Hourly Average: ~$30.27
- Top 10% Earners: $100,000+ annually
Plumber Salary by Experience Level
Experience is the single biggest multiplier for a plumber’s paycheck. The jump from an apprentice fetching tools to a master plumber designing complex systems is massive, often doubling or tripling income over a decade.
Here is the typical salary progression you can expect in 2026. Actual pay will vary by state, union membership, and company type.
| Experience Level | Years in Trade | Average Annual Salary | Estimated Hourly Rate |
| Apprentice / Entry-Level | 0–2 Years | $40,000 – $54,000 | $19 – $26 |
| Journeyman | 2–5 Years | $55,000 – $75,000 | $26 – $36 |
| Senior / Master Plumber | 5–10+ Years | $75,000 – $100,000+ | $36 – $50+ |
1. Entry-Level (Apprentice)
Apprentices start at the bottom, often earning 40–50% of a journeyman’s rate, depending on union agreements and region. However, unlike college students racking up debt, they are paid to learn on the job. Expect starting pay around $20/hour in many markets.
2. Journeyman
Once licensed, a plumber becomes a profit center for the business. They can work unsupervised, handle on-call shifts, and run standard service calls. This is where salaries typically stabilize around the $60,000–$70,000 mark, with overtime and commissions pushing earnings higher.
For more on how to keep journeyman plumbers fully booked, see our guide on AI answering service for home services.
3. Master Plumber
Master plumbers have the credentials to pull permits, design systems, and manage crews. In high-cost areas or specialized fields such as commercial or industrial plumbing, master plumbers frequently break the $100,000 barrier, especially when they supervise teams or handle complex projects.
Plumber Hourly Rate vs Annual Salary
Most field plumbers are paid hourly, which means “annual salary” is often a reflection of overtime availability rather than just base rate alone. In the service business, overtime is where the real money is made.
A plumber with a base rate of $30/hour earns roughly $62,400 a year working a standard 40-hour week:
| Scenario | Hours/Week | Hourly Rate | Est. Annual Pay |
| Base schedule only | 40 | $30 | ~$62,400 |
| 5 OT hours at 1.5x | 45 | $30 / $45 | ~$72,540 |
| 10 OT hours at 1.5x | 50 | $30 / $45 | ~$82,680 |
However, add in:
- Emergency after-hours calls, often paid at 1.5x or 2x depending on company policy and state rules
- Weekend rotations
- Performance bonuses or commission on sold jobs
Suddenly, that same plumber is taking home $85,000+.
For business owners, this distinction is vital. You are not just paying a base salary, you are paying for availability. The willingness to take the 2:00 AM burst pipe call is what separates a $60k earner from a $90k earner.
Plumber Salary by Specialization
Not all plumbing is created equal. A residential service plumber fixing clogged toilets has a very different earning profile than a certified medical gas installer working in a hospital. Specialization is often the fastest route to a higher tax bracket.
Below are some of the most common plumbing specializations and how they stack up for pay.
1. Commercial Plumber
Average: $65,000 – $95,000
Commercial projects are larger, take longer, and often involve complex blueprints and coordination with other trades. The margins are generally higher, which allows for better pay, especially for foremen and lead installers.
2. Medical Gas Installer
Average: $70,000 – $95,000+
These specialists install gas lines in hospitals and dental clinics. The certification is rigorous, and the stakes are life-and-death, which justifies premium pay and strong union representation in some regions.
3. Plumbing Engineer
Average: $85,000 – $107,000
Plumbing engineers are the brains behind complex systems, often working in offices designing infrastructure for new construction. This role typically requires an engineering degree or advanced certifications, plus field experience.
4. Underwater/Marine Plumber
Average: $70,000 – $120,000
If you can weld pipes underwater or fix sanitation systems on a ship, you are a unicorn in the industry. Hazard pay, travel stipends, and specialized training drive these salaries well into the six figures in some cases.
Plumber Salary by Location
Real estate dictates labor rates. You will pay, or earn, significantly more in states with high costs of living or strong union presences.
Top Paying States in 2026 (Approximate):
| State | Avg Annual Pay | Why It Pays More |
| Alaska | ~$88,000 | Harsh conditions and remote projects |
| Illinois | ~$87,000 | Strong union influence in metro areas |
| Massachusetts | ~$83,000 | High cost of living and dense urban work |
| New York | ~$80,000+ | NYC metro rates and union contracts |
| California | ~$75,000+ | Driven by San Francisco / LA market rates |
Lower Paying Regions:
States like Arkansas, Florida, and West Virginia tend to hover closer to the $50,000 mark for general plumbers. However, when you adjust for cost of living, that income can stretch further than it would in cities like New York or San Francisco.
Within each state, remember that metro areas can pay significantly more than rural regions, especially where unions and large commercial projects are common.
Union vs Non-Union Plumber Pay
There is a stark divide in compensation between union and non-union (open shop) plumbers in many markets.
| Factor | Union Plumbers | Non-Union Plumbers |
| Typical pay | ~$44/hour, ~$90k+ annually | ~$30/hour, ~$60k–$65k annually |
| Benefits | Strong pensions, health, training | Varies by employer |
| Raises | Structured, contract-based | Merit- and performance-based |
| Job security | Often higher under contracts | Depends on company health |
| Flexibility | Less flexible, seniority rules | More flexible schedules and pay plans |
Union Plumbers
- Average Pay: around $92,000 annually (~$44/hour) in some metro markets
- Benefits: robust pensions, paid health insurance, and guaranteed raises through collective bargaining
- Trade-off: strict seniority rules, union dues, and more rigid work rules
Non-Union Plumbers
- Average Pay: roughly $60,000–$65,000 annually (~$30/hour), depending on region
- Benefits: can range from minimal to competitive with union shops
- Trade-off: more flexibility, merit-based raises, and often higher potential for commission-based earnings in residential service
For business owners, union labor provides a guaranteed skill level but comes with a significantly higher burden rate. Non-union shops often compete by offering performance-based incentives that allow top performers to out-earn their union counterparts through hustle and salesmanship.
Factors That Affect How Much Plumbers Make
Beyond just years on the job, several levers impact take-home pay.
1. Certifications
A basic license gets you in the door. Certifications in backflow prevention, green plumbing, tankless water heaters, or boiler systems can open the vault. Each credential allows the business to offer a new service line, making the plumber more valuable and justifying higher billable rates.
2. Hazard Pay
Working in confined spaces, at heights, offshore, or in facilities with hazardous materials (like chemical plants) often comes with hazard pay. These premiums can add 5–20% or more to base wages, depending on the contract and risk level.
3. Emergency Availability
The “on-call” rotation is the bane of many plumbers’ existence, but it is also a cash cow. Plumbers willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays command premium overtime rates. Many residential service companies pay 1.5x to 2x the normal rate for emergency calls.
4. Sales Ability
In residential service, the modern plumber is part technician, part salesperson. Many companies offer a lower base hourly rate but high commissions on sold jobs such as water heaters, filtration systems, or whole-home repipes. A plumber with strong soft skills can easily double their base salary through commissions in a busy market.
How Self-Employed Plumbers Make Money?
This is where the ceiling disappears. A self-employed plumber or owner-operator is not just trading time for money, they are trading value for revenue.
Typical Earnings: $90,000 – $150,000+ annually for profitable solo shops and small businesses, depending on market, pricing, and utilization.
Revenue Models for Self-Employed Plumbers:
- Flat Rate Pricing: Charging by the job, not the hour, for example, $350 for a water heater flush that takes 45 minutes.
- Markups: Profit on materials, fixtures, and equipment.
- Service Agreements: Recurring revenue from annual maintenance plans, such as memberships for drain cleaning or water heater tune-ups.
- Project Work: Remodels, repipes, and small commercial jobs with higher ticket sizes.
However, self-employment comes with overhead: insurance, vehicle maintenance, marketing, and the “unpaid labor” of running the business, including billing, scheduling, and answering phones.
The Efficiency Trap
The biggest limit on a self-employed plumber’s income is administration. Every minute spent booking an appointment or chasing an invoice is a minute not spent earning $150/hour turning a wrench.
This is where an AI-powered operations platform can directly impact your effective hourly rate by cutting wasted admin time and keeping your schedule full.
ServiceAgent: AI Operations to Maximize Plumber Earnings
If you are paying a plumber $45 an hour (or paying yourself that much as an owner), why are you letting them answer the phone or juggle scheduling?
In a plumbing business, labor is your most expensive asset. Every time a skilled technician stops working to take a call, check a schedule, or send a manual invoice, you are bleeding money. You are effectively paying master plumber rates for receptionist work.
ServiceAgent is the AI Operations Platform built specifically for home service businesses like plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. It helps you turn more of every paid hour into billable work.
Here is how ServiceAgent boosts plumber salary potential and shop profitability:
- AI Voice Agents for Emergency Calls: Our AI answers calls 24/7, triages issues like leaks or no-hot-water situations, captures address and job details, and books appointments into your calendar so you never miss high-value emergencies.
- Smart Scheduling and Dispatch: ServiceAgent routes jobs to the right plumber based on skillset, location, and availability, reducing windshield time and filling gaps in the day.
- Automated Follow-Ups and Reviews: The platform sends text and email follow-ups, review requests, and reminders so homeowners rebook with you and your techs stay busy.
- AI-Powered Front Office Without Extra Headcount: Instead of hiring more CSRs, you can let AI handle the bulk of inbound calls, scheduling, and basic customer updates while your team focuses on billable work.
Compared to traditional field service management tools, ServiceAgent is AI-first, built to handle voice and chat interactions as if you had a fully staffed office. That means more completed jobs per tech, higher effective hourly rates, and room to offer better pay without crushing margins.
To see exactly how much extra revenue you can unlock per technician, explore the ServiceAgent platform overview.
How to Increase Your Plumber Salary?
If you are an employee looking to earn more, or an owner looking to increase margins so you can pay more, focus on these three levers.
1. Upskill into Niche Markets
Do not just be a “plumber”. Become the “tankless water heater expert” or the “leak detection specialist” in your service area. Niche services command higher billable rates and are easier to market at a premium.
2. Move to Commission-Based Pay
Performance pay aligns incentives. If you are good at diagnosing larger issues and offering solutions, a commission structure, such as hourly plus a percentage of revenue, will usually pay far more than a flat hourly wage. Commission plans vary by company and must follow local labor rules, so always review the structure before signing on.
3. Master the Soft Skills
Technical skills get the job done, but soft skills get the job sold. Plumbers who can communicate clearly, build trust with homeowners, and explain the value of a repair are the ones who get the 5-star reviews, bigger tickets, and repeat referrals.
For more ideas on growing home service revenue per technician, check out our article on home services AI assistants.
Is Plumbing a Good Career Financially?
Financially, plumbing is one of the safest bets in the economy.
- Job Security: AI cannot replace hands-on work like cutting pipe, soldering joints, or crawling into a crawlspace to fix a burst pipe. The job is physical and essential.
- Low Barrier to Entry: You can earn while you learn as an apprentice, avoiding the student loan burden of a four-year degree.
- High Ceiling: With the option to specialize or start a business, the earning potential rivals many white-collar professions.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady demand for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters over the next decade, driven by new construction, retrofits, and aging infrastructure.
For business owners, plumbing can be a high-margin industry if managed correctly. The challenge is not finding work, it is managing efficiency and labor costs to maximize profit on that work.
Conclusion: Turn Higher Plumber Wages into Profitable Growth
Plumbing offers strong earning potential at every stage, from paid apprenticeships to six-figure master plumbers and self-employed owners. Experience, specialization, location, and willingness to take on emergency work all play a role in how much plumbers make in 2026.
The real unlock for business owners is operational efficiency. When every hour your plumbers work is truly billable, you can afford to pay top-tier wages, attract better talent, and still grow margins.
ServiceAgent helps you do exactly that by:
- Answering and routing calls 24/7 so you never miss a high-value emergency.
- Automating scheduling, reminders, and follow-ups to keep techs fully booked.
- Acting as an AI-powered front office, without the headcount.
If you want to pay your plumbers more and still grow profit, start by eliminating wasted admin time.
Sign up for ServiceAgent today and see how AI can turn your plumbing team into a higher-earning, higher-margin operation.
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FAQs
1. What is the average plumber salary in the US for 2026?
The average plumber salary in 2026 generally ranges from $63,000 to $70,000 annually, with a typical hourly rate around $30–$33. However, top earners and master plumbers frequently exceed $100,000, particularly in specialized fields or high-cost-of-living states.
2. How much do plumbers make per hour in 2026?
Most plumbers earn between $25 and $40 per hour, with a national mid-range around $30–$33/hour. Apprentices tend to start closer to $19–$22/hour, while experienced journeymen and master plumbers can earn $40/hour or more in strong markets.
3. Do plumbers get paid overtime?
Yes, most plumbers who are paid hourly receive overtime when they work more than 40 hours per week, typically at 1.5x their base rate. For emergency after-hours work, some companies pay double time or offer additional bonuses, which can significantly increase annual earnings.
4. What state pays plumbers the most?
Alaska, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and California are consistently among the highest-paying states for plumbers. In these markets, average salaries can reach the $80,000–$90,000 range, especially for union plumbers and those working on large commercial projects.
5. Can plumbers make $100,000 or more?
Yes, absolutely. Master plumbers, commercial specialists, and business owners often make six figures. Working overtime, handling emergency calls, and earning commissions on sales are common ways experienced plumbers break the $100k mark.
6. How does salary vary by experience level?
Experience pays dividends. Apprentices typically earn $40k–$54k, journeymen earn $55k–$75k, and master plumbers generally earn $75k–$100k+. The jump from journeyman to master represents a significant salary increase due to the ability to pull permits and manage complex projects.
7. Is plumbing in high demand?
Yes, plumbing remains in high demand across the US. A nationwide shortage of skilled tradespeople and aging infrastructure are pushing wages up and keeping job prospects strong, making it a secure and lucrative career path for the foreseeable future.
8. Which software is best for managing plumbing salaries and operations?
ServiceAgent, ServiceTitan, and Housecall Pro are among the top tools for plumbing businesses. ServiceAgent stands out for its AI-first approach, using voice and chat agents to answer calls, book jobs, and automate front-office workflows so owners can reduce overhead and afford higher salaries.
