Plumber Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) plumber in the US earns $30.67 an hour, or $63,800 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 465,840 jobs (May 2025, occupation: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters). The middle half earn between $50,190 and $85,110 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $108,420.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $53,443 a year ($4,454 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Alaska ($74,426 a year) and lowest in Arkansas ($39,959).
Plumber pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $21.22 | $44,150 | $37,655 |
| 25th percentile | $24.13 | $50,190 | $42,508 |
| Median (half earn more) | $30.67 | $63,800 | $53,443 |
| 75th percentile | $40.92 | $85,110 | $68,705 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $52.13 | $108,420 | $85,103 |
The average (mean) is $72,170 a year ($34.70 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2152. Source
Plumber salary by state
The highest median pay for plumbers is in District of Columbia ($101,030), Illinois ($99,940), Oregon ($97,050), Minnesota ($94,410), Alaska ($93,910). The lowest is in Arkansas ($48,650), South Dakota ($51,630), Idaho ($52,370).
The most plumbers work in California (47,660), Texas (44,090), Florida (29,260).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Alaska ($74,426), Illinois ($74,336), Massachusetts ($70,334), Oregon ($69,536), Minnesota ($69,215). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28.21 | $58,680 | $46,878 | 6,950 |
| Alaska | $45.15 | $93,910 | $74,426 | 1,200 |
| Arizona | $29.84 | $62,070 | $50,812 | 11,810 |
| Arkansas | $23.39 | $48,650 | $39,959 | 3,370 |
| California | $35.01 | $72,820 | $56,252 | 47,660 |
| Colorado | $30.40 | $63,230 | $50,167 | 10,080 |
| Connecticut | $37.16 | $77,290 | $59,191 | 5,410 |
| Delaware | $31.11 | $64,710 | $50,985 | 1,590 |
| District of Columbia | $48.57 | $101,030 | $79,905* | 1,010 |
| Florida | $25.44 | $52,920 | $44,701 | 29,260 |
| Georgia | $27.50 | $57,200 | $46,035 | 8,930 |
| Hawaii | $37.53 | $78,060 | $58,950 | 2,500 |
| Idaho | $25.18 | $52,370 | $42,335 | 3,090 |
| Illinois | $48.05 | $99,940 | $74,336 | 16,750 |
| Indiana | $36.69 | $76,320 | $58,778 | 11,280 |
| Iowa | $30.72 | $63,900 | $51,629 | 5,730 |
| Kansas | $31.36 | $65,230 | $51,752 | 4,590 |
| Kentucky | $30.84 | $64,150 | $51,597 | 6,360 |
| Louisiana | $30.62 | $63,690 | $51,785 | 8,360 |
| Maine | $30.77 | $64,000 | $50,450 | 2,710 |
| Maryland | $31.44 | $65,400 | $50,054 | 11,420 |
| Massachusetts | $45.14 | $93,890 | $70,334 | 13,460 |
| Michigan | $38.56 | $80,200 | $62,093 | 14,120 |
| Minnesota | $45.39 | $94,410 | $69,215 | 10,720 |
| Mississippi | $26.67 | $55,470 | $45,268 | 3,360 |
| Missouri | $32.11 | $66,790 | $53,607 | 8,310 |
| Montana | $38.44 | $79,960 | $61,910 | 1,860 |
| Nebraska | $29.31 | $60,960 | $48,994 | 4,110 |
| Nevada | $29.62 | $61,610 | $51,684 | 5,370 |
| New Hampshire | $32.12 | $66,810 | $55,831 | 1,950 |
| New Jersey | $37.61 | $78,230 | $60,040 | 8,750 |
| New Mexico | $29.54 | $61,440 | $49,447 | 2,830 |
| New York | $37.26 | $77,500 | $59,365 | 23,210 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 | $57,080 | $46,224 | 14,510 |
| North Dakota | $30.56 | $63,560 | $53,146 | 1,620 |
| Ohio | $30.45 | $63,340 | $51,561 | 16,390 |
| Oklahoma | $27.87 | $57,970 | $46,705 | 6,050 |
| Oregon | $46.66 | $97,050 | $69,536 | 5,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 | $68,080 | $54,586 | 13,620 |
| Rhode Island | $36.77 | $76,480 | $58,962 | 1,820 |
| South Carolina | $25.93 | $53,930 | $43,556 | 5,770 |
| South Dakota | $24.82 | $51,630 | $43,665 | 1,760 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 | $58,590 | $49,257 | 9,270 |
| Texas | $28.77 | $59,840 | $50,261 | 44,090 |
| Utah | $29.76 | $61,900 | $49,161 | 7,030 |
| Vermont | $29.89 | $62,170 | $50,227 | 980 |
| Virginia | $29.07 | $60,470 | $48,105 | 13,780 |
| Washington | $38.96 | $81,040 | $64,717 | 12,470 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $56,970 | $46,217 | 1,830 |
| Wisconsin | $39.04 | $81,200 | $61,980 | 10,210 |
| Wyoming | $30.01 | $62,420 | $52,334 | 1,140 |
Overtime and pay rules for plumbers
Plumbers who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a plumber's pay
On the median $63,800, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.2% of pay for a single filer: $5,476 of income tax and $4,881 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $47,700, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,190 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $383, so it costs about $2,807 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed plumbers are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Tech | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,970 | — |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 | — |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $31 an hour is how much a year.
Plumber salary questions
How much does a plumber make?
The median pay is $30.67 an hour, or $63,800 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $44,150 and the top 10% more than $108,420.
How much does a plumber make after taxes?
About $53,443 a year, or $2,056 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Arkansas, at that state's own median pay, it is about $39,959.
How much does a plumber make a month?
About $5,317 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,454 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays plumbers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $101,030 a year ($48.57 an hour). Next are Illinois ($99,940) and Oregon ($97,050). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Alaska.
How much does a plumber make an hour?
The median is $30.67 an hour. The middle half earn $24.13 to $40.92, and the top 10% more than $52.13.
Do plumbers get paid overtime?
Plumbers who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
More trades and construction salaries
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.