Plumber / Pipefitter

💰 Salary & Earning Potential

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.

Plumbers typically earn $28–$55 per hour, or $58,000–$114,000 annually. Union journeyman plumbers through UA earn $38–$65 per hour with comprehensive benefits. Service plumbers at residential plumbing contractors in high-demand markets earn $60,000–$90,000 with bonus. Master plumbers who operate their own contracting businesses earn $90,000–$200,000+ based on business size and market. Industrial plumbers doing pipe fabrication and fit-out at refineries, power plants, and pharmaceutical facilities earn $70,000–$120,000+ with overtime on major projects.

Plumbers typically earn $28–$55 per hour, or $58,000–$114,000 annually. Union journeyman plumbers through UA earn $38–$65 per hour with comprehensive benefits. Service plumbers at residential plumbing contractors in high-demand markets earn $60,000–$90,000 with bonus. Master plumbers who operate their own contracting businesses earn $90,000–$200,000+ based on business size and market. Industrial plumbers doing pipe fabrication and fit-out at refineries, power plants, and pharmaceutical facilities earn $70,000–$120,000+ with overtime on major projects.

📈 Job Outlook

Plumbers install, repair, and maintain water supply, drainage, and gas systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The BLS projects faster-than-average employment growth for plumbers driven by housing construction, commercial development, infrastructure replacement, and the increasing complexity of whole-house water filtration, tankless heating, and hydronic systems. Plumbers who develop skills in pipe fusion, gas systems, fire suppression, and medical gas piping access the most specialized and highest-paying commercial work. Union plumbers through UA (United Association) earn top-tier wages with defined-benefit pensions at commercial and industrial contractors.

Plumbers install, repair, and maintain water supply, drainage, and gas systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The BLS projects faster-than-average employment growth for plumbers driven by housing construction, commercial development, infrastructure replacement, and the increasing complexity of whole-house water filtration, tankless heating, and hydronic systems. Plumbers who develop skills in pipe fusion, gas systems, fire suppression, and medical gas piping access the most specialized and highest-paying commercial work. Union plumbers through UA (United Association) earn top-tier wages with defined-benefit pensions at commercial and industrial contractors.

🎓 Training & Education

Plumber apprenticeships typically run four to five years through UA joint apprenticeship committees or employer apprenticeship programs. Apprentices complete classroom instruction in plumbing codes, pipe systems, blueprint reading, and safety alongside supervised on-the-job training at progressively increasing responsibility levels. Journeyman plumber licensing requires passing a state-administered trade examination after completing apprenticeship. Master plumber licensing requires additional experience (typically 2–4 years as a journeyman) and a more comprehensive code examination. Backflow prevention certification, medical gas certification, and fire suppression endorsements are specialty credentials that support commercial advancement.

Plumber apprenticeships typically run four to five years through UA joint apprenticeship committees or employer apprenticeship programs. Apprentices complete classroom instruction in plumbing codes, pipe systems, blueprint reading, and safety alongside supervised on-the-job training at progressively increasing responsibility levels. Journeyman plumber licensing requires passing a state-administered trade examination after completing apprenticeship. Master plumber licensing requires additional experience (typically 2–4 years as a journeyman) and a more comprehensive code examination. Backflow prevention certification, medical gas certification, and fire suppression endorsements are specialty credentials that support commercial advancement.

☀️ Day in the Life

A Plumber begins the day at a service truck — reviewing the day's call list: a residential water heater replacement, a kitchen faucet leak, and a commercial bathroom renovation rough-in. The water heater job involves shutting off the cold water supply, draining the old 50-gallon gas unit, disconnecting the gas line and venting, removing the old unit and setting the new one in place, making copper connections with solder joints, reconnecting the gas and testing for leaks with leak detection solution, then lighting the pilot and verifying thermostat operation. The kitchen faucet requires diagnosing the source of the leak — a failed cartridge valve — and completing the swap in under an hour. The commercial rough-in involves reading the plumbing plan, locating DWV branch lines from the 4-inch cast iron stack, cutting pipe and sweating copper supply lines to rough-in position for three fixtures, leaving them capped for the inspector.

⚖️ Pros & Cons

🗺️ Plumber / Pipefitter by State

See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state:

🔗 Related Careers