What Plumbers Make Across Major U.S. Markets (2026)
Quick Answer
Journeyman plumbers in the U.S. earn between $28 and $52 per hour depending on market, sector, and experience level. The national median sits around $34 to $36 per hour for commercial and industrial work. High-cost markets like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago push well past $45 per hour for experienced journeymen. Markets in the Southeast and Mountain West generally run $28 to $36. Master plumbers and foremen earn $5 to $15 per hour above journeyman scale in most markets.
Why Plumber Pay Varies So Much Market to Market
Plumbing is one of the more geographically mobile trades, but wages don't travel with you. The difference between a journeyman plumber's rate in Memphis and the same ticket in San Francisco can exceed $20 per hour. That gap doesn't reflect skill. It reflects local labor supply, project pipeline, union density, cost of living pressure, and what the dominant contractors in that market are used to paying.
A few factors drive most of the variation:
Union density: Markets with strong UA (United Association) presence tend to have higher floor wages and better total compensation packages. Chicago, New York, and the Bay Area are union-dense. Phoenix, Dallas, and Atlanta are majority open shop.
Project type mix: Industrial and heavy commercial plumbing, process piping, and mechanical rooms on large commercial projects pay more than residential service. A plumber who can work on a 20-story commercial tower or a pharmaceutical facility is worth more than one limited to single-family homes.
Local contractor competition: In growth markets with major construction pipelines, contractors compete for labor. That competition drives up rates faster than any other factor.
Cost of living adjustment: High-cost metros price wages upward over time, even in open-shop markets.
Fact: The spread between the 10th and 90th percentile plumber wage nationally is over $30 per hour. Where you work matters as much as what you know.
Plumber Wages by Major U.S. Market (2026)
The table below covers journeyman-level commercial/industrial wages across major metros. These represent experienced plumbers working full-time on commercial or industrial projects. Rates are hourly and reflect non-union market rates unless noted. Union rates in the same cities often run higher.
Table 1 · Journeyman Plumber Wages by Major U.S. Market (2026)
Commercial and industrial project wages for experienced journeyman plumbers. Non-union open-shop rates unless noted. Union rates in dense markets often run higher.
| Market | Journeyman Range ($/hr) | Midpoint ($/hr) | Union Density | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $45–$58 | $51 | High (UA Local 1) | Union scale dominates commercial work. Prevailing wage adds further on public projects. |
| San Francisco, CA | $44–$57 | $50 | High (UA Local 38) | Bay Area union density among the highest nationally. Industrial and commercial rates competitive with NYC. |
| Chicago, IL | $42–$52 | $47 | High (UA Local 130) | Strong UA local with multi-year CBAs. Commercial and industrial project pipeline robust. |
| Boston, MA | $40–$52 | $46 | High (UA Local 12) | Healthcare and life science construction drives commercial demand. Prevailing wage active on public projects. |
| Seattle, WA | $38–$50 | $44 | Medium-High (UA Local 32) | Tech campus and data center construction keeps commercial pipeline strong. High cost of living supports rates. |
| Denver, CO | $34–$46 | $40 | Medium (UA Local 3) | Growth market with active commercial pipeline. Mix of union and open shop. Rates rising with demand. |
| Phoenix, AZ | $32–$42 | $37 | Low-Medium | Predominantly open shop. Semiconductor and data center construction driving industrial demand upward. |
| Las Vegas, NV | $32–$44 | $38 | Medium (UA Local 525) | Casino and resort construction sustains commercial work. Data center demand growing significantly. |
| Houston, TX | $30–$40 | $35 | Low (open shop dominant) | Petrochemical and refinery work near the Gulf Coast can push industrial rates to $42+. High labor supply keeps commercial rates moderate. |
| Dallas, TX | $29–$38 | $34 | Low (open shop dominant) | Large commercial pipeline. Competitive market with significant licensed plumber supply. Data center activity growing. |
| Atlanta, GA | $28–$37 | $33 | Low (open shop dominant) | Fast-growing market but large residential base keeps commercial rates from rising quickly. Industrial work pays more. |
| Charlotte, NC | $27–$36 | $32 | Low (open shop dominant) | Rapidly growing commercial market. Data center and manufacturing construction creating demand for industrial-trained plumbers. |
| Nashville, TN | $27–$35 | $31 | Low (open shop dominant) | Boom construction market, significant residential base. Commercial rates rising with growth but starting from a lower base. |
Sources: BLS OEWS data, UA local wage scales, and labor market survey data. Ranges represent commercial and industrial journeyman rates. Residential service work typically runs $3–$8/hr below these figures in the same market. Union scale and prevailing wage work may exceed the upper end of ranges shown.
A few markets worth highlighting:
New York and San Francisco top the chart, with union scale and prevailing wage work pushing many journeymen above $55 to $65 per hour when fringes are included.
Chicago and Boston run $42 to $52 for commercial work, with strong UA density keeping rates elevated.
Houston and Dallas fall in the $30 to $38 range. These markets run mostly open shop, with a large pool of licensed plumbers and a heavy residential and light commercial base keeping rates lower than their project volume would suggest.
Phoenix and Las Vegas are mid-range markets, typically $32 to $40, with growth-driven demand pushing rates up in recent years.
Southeast markets like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville run $28 to $35 for journeyman work. Fast-growing markets with large residential bases and limited union presence.
Fact: A journeyman plumber in New York City working union commercial can earn more than double the hourly rate of a journeyman plumber doing residential service work in Atlanta.
Journeyman vs. Master Plumber Pay
The master plumber license is one of the clearest credential-to-wage premiums in the trades. In most states, someone with a master license can pull permits, run jobs, and take on work that a journeyman cannot legally perform on their own. Contractors pay for that.
Table 2 · Journeyman vs. Master Plumber Wages — Sample Markets (2026)
Commercial work. Open-shop rates unless noted. Master rates reflect permit-pulling, supervisory-eligible workers. Union foreman differentials follow CBA and are often higher.
| Market | Journeyman ($/hr) | Master / Foreman ($/hr) | Premium ($/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $45–$58 | $54–$68 | +$8–$12 |
| Chicago, IL | $42–$52 | $50–$62 | +$8–$10 |
| Seattle, WA | $38–$50 | $46–$60 | +$7–$10 |
| Houston, TX | $30–$40 | $36–$48 | +$5–$8 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $32–$42 | $38–$50 | +$5–$8 |
| Atlanta, GA | $28–$37 | $34–$44 | +$4–$7 |
Master plumber rates reflect workers with active master license who are eligible to pull permits and supervise. Union foreman differentials are set by CBA and may differ from open-shop premiums shown. Actual figures vary by contractor and project scope.
The master premium typically runs $4 to $10 per hour above journeyman scale in open-shop markets. In union environments, foreman and general foreman differentials are set by the CBA and can be even larger.
The path matters too. Getting a master license in most states requires 4 to 5 years of journeyman experience after your journeyman ticket, plus a written exam. It's not a fast track, but it's a real one. Plumbers who earn a master license and can run a crew or manage a project phase are in a different hiring category.
Fact: Master plumbers who can pull permits and run commercial jobs in major metros often earn $55,000 to $90,000+ annually in total compensation including benefits.
Commercial vs. Residential vs. Industrial Plumbing Pay
Not all plumbing work pays the same rate, even in the same market. The sector you work in shapes your wages significantly.
Residential Service and Remodel
Residential service work, drain cleaning, remodels, and single-family new construction typically pay the lowest hourly rates in any market. The work is physically varied and sometimes pays more on service routes with flat-rate billing, but base wages for residential-focused plumbers run 10% to 20% below commercial rates in the same city.
Commercial Construction
Commercial construction, office buildings, hospitals, schools, and retail, is where most journeyman plumbers in the $34 to $50 range are working. The work is larger in scale, more consistent in hours, and typically runs on union or prevailing wage contracts in major metros.
Industrial and Process Piping
Industrial work, refineries, chemical plants, pharmaceutical facilities, food processing, pays the highest rates. Industrial plumbers and pipefitters with overlap certifications can earn $45 to $65 or more per hour on the right project. The work requires specific safety certifications and project experience that residential and light commercial work doesn't provide.
Fact: Plumbers who transition from residential to commercial work typically see a $4 to $8 per hour increase without changing markets. The sector shift is one of the fastest ways to move your base rate.
How Experience Level Moves the Number
Most contractors have an informal internal scale even if they don't publish it. An apprentice plumber coming out of year 2 of a 5-year program isn't paid the same as a 15-year commercial journeyman. Experience level affects the opening offer and how much room there is to negotiate.
Table 3 · Plumber Wages by Experience Level — National Median Ranges (2026)
National median ranges across all markets. Commercial and industrial work. Residential service work typically runs lower at each tier.
| Experience Level | Hourly Range | Est. Annual (2,000 hrs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Year 1–2 | $14–$20 | $28,000–$40,000 | Starting point in open shop. Union programs typically set at 40–50% of journeyman scale. |
| Apprentice Year 3–4 | $19–$26 | $38,000–$52,000 | Advancing skills and project scope. Union programs scale to 70–80% of journeyman rate. |
| Journeyman (0–3 yrs) | $28–$38 | $56,000–$76,000 | Newly licensed. Rate moves quickly with commercial project experience. |
| Journeyman (4–9 yrs) | $33–$46 | $66,000–$92,000 | Core commercial and industrial range. Certifications and project type experience drive variation within band. |
| Journeyman (10+ yrs) | $37–$52 | $74,000–$104,000 | High-experience range. Industrial and complex commercial work. Foreman-eligible in most markets. |
| Master Plumber / Foreman | $40–$60 | $80,000–$120,000 | Active master license. Permit authority and crew supervision. High-demand position in most markets. |
| Superintendent / Project Plumbing Lead | $48–$70+ | $96,000–$140,000+ | Large commercial or industrial project lead. Often salaried on major projects. High-cost markets push above top of range. |
National median ranges. High-cost union markets (New York, San Francisco, Chicago) frequently exceed the upper end of these ranges at every tier. Annual estimates based on 2,000 hours. Sources: BLS OEWS, UA wage scales, and labor market survey data.