How much do Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters make?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn a median annual salary of $63,800 in the United States, which works out to roughly $30.67 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $44,150 at the entry level and $108,420 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $50,190 and $85,110 a year.
That is $2,410 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary range by percentile
Half of all Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn between $50,190 and $85,110 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,150 | $21.23 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $50,190 | $24.13 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $63,800 | $30.67 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $85,110 | $40.92 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,420 | $52.13 |
Highest-paying states for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay at $101,020 a year, followed by Illinois ($99,950) and Oregon ($97,050). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $48,660 — a gap of $52,360 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $101,020 | $48.57 | +58% |
| 2 | Illinois | $99,950 | $48.05 | +57% |
| 3 | Oregon | $97,050 | $46.66 | +52% |
| 4 | Minnesota | $94,410 | $45.39 | +48% |
| 5 | Alaska | $93,920 | $45.15 | +47% |
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 466,000 people work as Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $72,170 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
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