Skilled Trades

Plumber

Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters

SOC 47-2152

$63,500
Median Pay / yr
5%
Growing
~43K
Openings / yr
4-5 years
Time to Entry

How Much Does a Plumber Make?

The national median salary for a Plumber is $63,500 per year ($30.53/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data).

That's roughly in line with the national median salary of $65,470 for all occupations.

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How to Become a Plumber

Education Required
HS diploma
Typical Entry Path
1
HS diploma
2
4-5yr apprenticeship
Required Licenses & Certifications

State license required; journeyman/master levels

Time to Entry-Level
4-5 years

Plumber Job Outlook

Faster than avg — the BLS projects 5% growth from 2024 to 2034.

That's faster than the average across all occupations (4%).

About 42,600 positions are expected to open annually, from both new roles and replacement needs.

Construction; infrastructure; aging workforce creating openings

What It's Like to Work as a Plumber

Physical Demands
Very High

Very High

Remote Work
N/A

This role typically requires in-person work at a specific location.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Career data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-34 projections (released August 2025). Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2024.

View on BLS.gov