Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,150 | $21.22 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Mean (average) | $72,170 | $34.70 |
| 90th percentile | $108,420 | $52.13 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,670 | $37,720 | $76,690 | 6,950 | 1.1 |
| Alaska | $93,920 | $53,730 | $122,660 | 1,200 | 1.23 |
| Arizona | $62,070 | $45,640 | $100,120 | 11,810 | 1.22 |
| Arkansas | $48,660 | $33,410 | $68,870 | 3,370 | 0.86 |
| California | $72,830 | $47,350 | $131,100 | 47,660 | 0.87 |
| Colorado | $63,240 | $47,770 | $100,240 | 10,080 | 1.17 |
| Connecticut | $77,280 | $45,670 | $102,990 | 5,410 | 1.07 |
| Delaware | $64,720 | $40,990 | $95,520 | 1,590 | 1.1 |
| District of Columbia | $101,020 | $52,310 | $117,180 | 1,010 | 0.48 |
| Florida | $52,910 | $38,940 | $73,610 | 29,260 | 0.98 |
| Georgia | $57,200 | $37,680 | $80,740 | 8,930 | 0.61 |
| Guam | $36,470 | $36,400 | $53,340 | 320 | 1.61 |
| Hawaii | $78,060 | $47,750 | $113,300 | 2,500 | 1.33 |
| Idaho | $52,380 | $39,430 | $82,620 | 3,090 | 1.2 |
| Illinois | $99,950 | $50,250 | $126,430 | 16,750 | 0.92 |
| Indiana | $76,320 | $46,890 | $102,520 | 11,280 | 1.18 |
| Iowa | $63,890 | $45,510 | $97,500 | 5,730 | 1.23 |
| Kansas | $65,220 | $39,130 | $109,290 | 4,590 | 1.06 |
| Kentucky | $64,160 | $44,860 | $94,710 | 6,360 | 1.06 |
| Louisiana | $63,680 | $38,120 | $79,540 | 8,360 | 1.44 |
| Maine | $64,000 | $48,120 | $80,760 | 2,710 | 1.41 |
| Maryland | $65,400 | $45,630 | $108,420 | 11,420 | 1.38 |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | $52,010 | $135,080 | 13,460 | 1.24 |
| Michigan | $80,190 | $46,560 | $103,430 | 14,120 | 1.07 |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | $48,720 | $121,050 | 10,720 | 1.21 |
| Mississippi | $55,480 | $35,830 | $75,470 | 3,360 | 0.96 |
| Missouri | $66,790 | $44,780 | $117,180 | 8,310 | 0.95 |
| Montana | $79,960 | $48,250 | $100,860 | 1,860 | 1.22 |
| Nebraska | $60,970 | $42,830 | $98,030 | 4,110 | 1.34 |
| Nevada | $61,610 | $42,210 | $118,430 | 5,370 | 1.15 |
| New Hampshire | $66,810 | $44,850 | $87,730 | 1,950 | 0.95 |
| New Jersey | $78,240 | $48,720 | $136,710 | 8,750 | 0.68 |
| New Mexico | $61,440 | $36,160 | $87,700 | 2,830 | 1.09 |
| New York | $77,490 | $46,130 | $130,420 | 23,210 | 0.8 |
| North Carolina | $57,080 | $38,860 | $75,850 | 14,510 | 0.98 |
| North Dakota | $63,560 | $45,520 | $83,560 | 1,620 | 1.26 |
| Ohio | $63,330 | $45,470 | $101,410 | 16,390 | 0.99 |
| Oklahoma | $57,970 | $37,990 | $82,560 | 6,050 | 1.18 |
| Oregon | $97,050 | $58,230 | $147,100 | 5,370 | 0.91 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,080 | $46,770 | $134,110 | 13,620 | 0.75 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,620 | $24,530 | $47,630 | 940 | 0.33 |
| Rhode Island | $76,470 | $49,680 | $110,360 | 1,820 | 1.21 |
| South Carolina | $53,940 | $37,660 | $75,780 | 5,770 | 0.84 |
| South Dakota | $51,620 | $39,230 | $74,480 | 1,760 | 1.28 |
| Tennessee | $58,600 | $38,520 | $82,020 | 9,270 | 0.94 |
| Texas | $59,840 | $38,270 | $81,890 | 44,090 | 1.05 |
| Utah | $61,900 | $43,860 | $83,120 | 7,030 | 1.35 |
| Vermont | $62,170 | $48,800 | $91,940 | 980 | 1.08 |
| Virgin Islands | $49,630 | $25,880 | $104,610 | 50 | 0.56 |
| Virginia | $60,470 | $43,970 | $78,050 | 13,780 | 1.12 |
| Washington | $81,030 | $49,490 | $141,860 | 12,470 | 1.17 |
| West Virginia | $56,980 | $36,010 | $83,160 | 1,830 | 0.87 |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | $50,020 | $120,070 | 10,210 | 1.16 |
| Wyoming | $62,410 | $43,770 | $80,030 | 1,140 | 1.35 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 42,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter CIP 46.0502
- Plumbing Technology/Plumber CIP 46.0503
- Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other CIP 46.0599
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
- Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
- Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
- Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
- Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
- Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- AEC Design Group CADPIPE
- Atlas Construction Business Forms
- Autodesk Building Systems
- Bentley Systems AutoPIPE
- Bookkeeping software
- COADE CAESAR II
- Database software
- Drawing and drafting software
- Elite Software DPIPE
- Elite Software FIRE
- Elite Software HSYM
Transferable skills for career changers: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Drain Technician, Fire Sprinkler Service Technician, Pipe Welder, Pipefitter, Plumber, Plumbing Installer, Residential Plumber, Service Plumber, Sprinkler Fitter, Steamfitter.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make?
The national median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $63,800 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,150 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $108,420. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and apprenticeship on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters to change +6.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 42,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($101,020), Illinois ($99,950), Oregon ($97,050). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.