What state pays plumbers the most?

By raw salary, Alaska ($88,480), California ($88,420), Massachusetts ($86,930), Oregon ($86,680), and Illinois ($84,440) are the top five. However, when adjusted for cost of living, Illinois leads because it combines strong union wages with moderate living costs. Michigan, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Washington round out the top five on a cost-of-living adjusted basis.

Why do plumber salaries vary so much between states?

Five main factors drive state-by-state salary differences: union presence (the biggest factor - strong union states pay 25-40% more in total compensation), cost of living (high COL areas command higher nominal wages), construction activity and population growth, state licensing requirements (stricter requirements limit supply and increase pay), and weather/infrastructure age (older pipes in cold climates create more repair demand).

What are the best cities for plumber pay?

The highest-paying metro areas for plumbers are San Francisco ($96,870), New York ($89,450), Seattle ($88,230), Chicago ($84,200), and Boston ($83,400). However, the best value comes from metros with strong union wages but moderate living costs, like Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Milwaukee, where plumbers keep more of their earnings.

Should I relocate for better plumber pay?

It depends on more than just the salary number. A $90,000 salary in San Francisco buys less than a $70,000 salary in Chicago after housing, taxes, and daily expenses. Look at the COL-adjusted salary column in our table. Also consider: union availability, licensing reciprocity (some states require retesting), demand for plumbers, and family/personal factors. The Midwest offers the best combination of strong wages and affordable living for plumbers.

Updated April 2026

Plumber Salary by State in 2026

All 50 states ranked by plumber pay. See raw salary, hourly rate, cost-of-living adjusted pay, and union strength for every state.

Highest Raw Pay

1. Alaska$88,480

2. California$88,420

3. Massachusetts$86,930

4. Oregon$86,680

5. Illinois$84,440

Best After Cost of Living

1. Illinois$88,420

2. Oregon$86,070

3. Alaska$83,790

4. Massachusetts$80,120

5. Washington$78,350

All 50 States: Plumber Salary Data

Sorted by average salary. Each state shows hourly rate, cost-of-living index (100 = national average), adjusted salary, and union strength. States above the national median of $62,970 are highlighted.

#	State	Avg Salary	Hourly	COL Index	COL-Adjusted	Union
1	Alaska	$88,480	$42.54	105.6	$83,790	moderate
2	California	$88,420	$42.51	113.4	$77,970	strong
3	Massachusetts	$86,930	$41.79	108.5	$80,120	strong
4	Oregon	$86,680	$41.67	100.7	$86,070	strong
5	Illinois	$84,440	$40.60	95.5	$88,420	strong
6	Hawaii	$82,560	$39.69	112	$73,710	strong
7	Washington	$82,350	$39.59	105.1	$78,350	strong
8	New York	$81,950	$39.40	115.4	$71,010	strong
9	New Jersey	$76,200	$36.63	113.5	$67,140	strong
10	Minnesota	$73,250	$35.22	97.3	$75,280	strong
11	Connecticut	$71,950	$34.59	107.5	$66,930	strong
12	Wisconsin	$66,350	$31.90	92.2	$71,960	strong
13	Pennsylvania	$65,850	$31.66	96.1	$68,520	strong
14	Michigan	$65,800	$31.63	91.3	$72,070	strong
15	Maryland	$65,300	$31.39	107.8	$60,570	moderate
16	Rhode Island	$64,200	$30.87	100.9	$63,630	strong
17	Colorado	$64,100	$30.82	102.9	$62,290	moderate
18	Nevada	$63,800	$30.67	98	$65,100	moderate
19	Missouri	$63,200	$30.38	89.4	$70,710	moderate
20	North Dakota	$60,400	$29.04	91.8	$65,790	weak
21	New Hampshire	$60,250	$28.97	104	$57,930	moderate
22	Ohio	$59,450	$28.58	90.3	$65,840	moderate
23	Iowa	$58,950	$28.34	89.9	$65,570	moderate
24	Delaware	$58,730	$28.24	101.2	$58,040	moderate
25	Indiana	$58,200	$27.98	90.6	$64,240	moderate
26	Montana	$58,100	$27.93	94.2	$61,680	weak
27	Wyoming	$57,800	$27.79	93.1	$62,080	weak
28	Maine	$57,700	$27.74	97.8	$58,990	moderate
29	Nebraska	$57,400	$27.60	90.3	$63,570	moderate
30	Utah	$57,200	$27.50	97.5	$58,670	weak
31	Virginia	$56,750	$27.28	101.7	$55,800	weak
32	Vermont	$55,900	$26.88	99.2	$56,350	moderate
33	Arizona	$55,810	$26.83	97.1	$57,480	weak
34	Kansas	$55,300	$26.59	89.7	$61,650	weak
35	Idaho	$54,340	$26.12	94.5	$57,500	weak
36	Texas	$53,900	$25.91	96.1	$56,090	weak
37	Georgia	$53,650	$25.79	92.5	$58,000	weak
38	Tennessee	$53,300	$25.63	90.5	$58,900	weak
39	New Mexico	$53,150	$25.55	92.6	$57,400	weak
40	Kentucky	$52,800	$25.38	88.1	$59,930	weak
41	Louisiana	$52,650	$25.31	90.4	$58,240	weak
42	Florida	$51,680	$24.85	100.4	$51,470	weak
43	North Carolina	$51,200	$24.62	92.3	$55,470	weak
44	South Dakota	$50,200	$24.13	89.5	$56,090	weak
45	South Carolina	$49,800	$23.94	90.4	$55,090	weak
46	Oklahoma	$49,500	$23.80	88.2	$56,120	weak
47	West Virginia	$49,100	$23.61	85.8	$57,230	weak
48	Alabama	$48,750	$23.44	87.1	$55,970	weak
49	Arkansas	$47,200	$22.69	86.3	$54,690	weak
50	Mississippi	$45,980	$22.11	85	$54,090	weak

Sources: BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 47-2152), BEA Regional Price Parities 2023. COL-adjusted salary = raw salary / (COL index / 100).

Top 25 Metro Areas for Plumber Pay

Metro-level data provides a more accurate picture than state averages. Major cities with strong union presence and high construction activity consistently top the list.

#	Metro Area	Avg Salary	Hourly Rate
1	San Francisco-Oakland, CA	$96,870	$46.57
2	New York-Newark, NY-NJ	$89,450	$43.00
3	Seattle-Tacoma, WA	$88,230	$42.42
4	Chicago-Naperville, IL	$84,200	$40.48
5	Boston-Cambridge, MA	$83,400	$40.10
6	Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA	$82,600	$39.71
7	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN	$78,500	$37.74
8	Detroit-Warren, MI	$76,800	$36.92
9	Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ	$75,400	$36.25
10	Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA	$74,900	$36.01
11	Sacramento, CA	$74,200	$35.67
12	Denver-Aurora, CO	$72,800	$35.00
13	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$72,400	$34.81
14	Pittsburgh, PA	$71,300	$34.28
15	Honolulu, HI	$70,500	$33.89
16	St. Louis, MO-IL	$69,800	$33.56
17	Anchorage, AK	$69,200	$33.27
18	Baltimore, MD	$68,100	$32.74
19	Hartford, CT	$67,500	$32.45
20	Las Vegas, NV	$66,800	$32.12
21	Washington, DC	$65,900	$31.68
22	Cleveland, OH	$64,700	$31.11
23	Columbus, OH	$63,500	$30.53
24	Salt Lake City, UT	$62,900	$30.24
25	Indianapolis, IN	$62,300	$29.95

Regional Analysis

Northeast

The union stronghold of the country. New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut all rank in the top 15 for plumber pay. The trade-off is a high cost of living that eats into take-home pay. Boston and New York metro plumbers earn $83,000-$89,000 but housing costs are steep. Pennsylvania offers a good compromise with strong union presence and more moderate living costs.

Midwest

The best value region for plumbers. Illinois leads the nation in COL-adjusted pay thanks to powerful Chicago-area unions and moderate housing costs. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota follow closely - all have strong union traditions, robust construction industries, and affordable living. A journeyman plumber in the Midwest keeps more of their paycheck than one earning 20% more in California.

South

Lower nominal pay reflects right-to-work laws, weaker union presence, and lower cost of living. Texas employs the most plumbers (32,500) but pays below the national median. Florida is similar. However, rapid population growth in states like Texas, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas is driving increasing demand. Plumbers willing to relocate south may find abundant work and improving wages.

West

High pay, very high cost of living. California and Washington are top-5 earners thanks to strong union presence and booming construction. Oregon is a standout with high pay and relatively moderate COL. Alaska leads on raw salary ($88,480) but has limited opportunities and extreme working conditions. Colorado and Utah are growing markets with rising wages driven by population influx.

What Drives State-by-State Salary Differences

Union presence is the single biggest factor. States with strong plumber unions (Illinois, New York, California, Oregon, Massachusetts) consistently rank in the top 10 for pay. Union contracts set floor wages that pull up the entire market, including non-union shops that must compete for workers. The correlation between union strength and plumber wages is stronger than any other factor.

Cost of living drives nominal wages higher in expensive states but does not always translate to better purchasing power. A $90,000 salary in San Francisco buys roughly the same lifestyle as a $65,000 salary in Detroit. Always look at COL-adjusted figures when comparing states.

Construction activity creates demand. States with building booms (Texas, Florida, Colorado, Utah) need plumbers and wages trend upward with demand. Conversely, states with stagnant construction may have flat or declining real wages.

Licensing requirements limit labor supply. States with strict licensing (more training hours, harder exams) have fewer licensed plumbers, which supports higher wages. States with minimal requirements have more competition and lower pay.

Climate and infrastructure age affect demand for repair work. Cold-weather states with aging infrastructure (pipes that freeze and burst, old buildings needing replumbing) generate more service call demand. This particularly benefits self-employed plumbers who earn premium rates on emergency work.