Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) employed 465,840 people in May 2025. The median pay is $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,150 and the highest-paid 10% more than $108,420. BLS projects its employment to change by +6.8% between 2025 and 2035 (about 42,000 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($101,020), Illinois ($99,950), Oregon ($97,050). Most jobs: California (47,660), Texas (44,090), Florida (29,260).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,150 | $21.23 |
| 25th percentile | $50,190 | $24.13 |
| Median | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Mean | $72,170 | $34.70 |
| 75th percentile | $85,110 | $40.92 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $108,420 | $52.12 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 510,600 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 545,200 |
| Change in jobs | 34,500 |
| Percent change | +6.8% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 42,000 |
| Self-employed share | 8.0% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Apprenticeship |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6,950 | 1.10 | $58,670 | $37,720 | $76,690 | -8% | 22% |
| Alaska | 1,200 | 1.23 | $93,920 | $53,730 | $122,660 | +47% | 18% |
| Arizona | 11,810 | 1.22 | $62,070 | $45,640 | $100,120 | -3% | 32% |
| Arkansas | 3,370 | 0.86 | $48,660 | $33,410 | $68,870 | -24% | 24% |
| California | 47,660 | 0.87 | $72,830 | $47,350 | $131,100 | +14% | 35% |
| Colorado | 10,080 | 1.17 | $63,240 | $47,770 | $100,240 | -1% | 35% |
| Connecticut | 5,410 | 1.07 | $77,280 | $45,670 | $102,990 | +21% | 24% |
| Delaware | 1,590 | 1.10 | $64,720 | $40,990 | $95,520 | +1% | 28% |
| District of Columbia | 1,010 | 0.48 | $101,020 | $52,310 | $117,180 | +58% | 23% |
| Florida | 29,260 | 0.98 | $52,910 | $38,940 | $73,610 | -17% | 41% |
| Georgia | 8,930 | 0.61 | $57,200 | $37,680 | $80,740 | -10% | 32% |
| Hawaii | 2,500 | 1.33 | $78,060 | $47,750 | $113,300 | +22% | 30% |
| Idaho | 3,090 | 1.20 | $52,380 | $39,430 | $82,620 | -18% | 32% |
| Illinois | 16,750 | 0.92 | $99,950 | $50,250 | $126,430 | +57% | 16% |
| Indiana | 11,280 | 1.18 | $76,320 | $46,890 | $102,520 | +20% | 17% |
| Iowa | 5,730 | 1.23 | $63,890 | $45,510 | $97,500 | +0% | 18% |
| Kansas | 4,590 | 1.06 | $65,220 | $39,130 | $109,290 | +2% | 20% |
| Kentucky | 6,360 | 1.06 | $64,160 | $44,860 | $94,710 | +1% | 19% |
| Louisiana | 8,360 | 1.44 | $63,680 | $38,120 | $79,540 | -0% | 20% |
| Maine | 2,710 | 1.41 | $64,000 | $48,120 | $80,760 | +0% | 23% |
| Maryland | 11,420 | 1.38 | $65,400 | $45,630 | $108,420 | +3% | 32% |
| Massachusetts | 13,460 | 1.24 | $93,880 | $52,010 | $135,080 | +47% | 24% |
| Michigan | 14,120 | 1.07 | $80,190 | $46,560 | $103,430 | +26% | 17% |
| Minnesota | 10,720 | 1.21 | $94,410 | $48,720 | $121,050 | +48% | 16% |
| Mississippi | 3,360 | 0.96 | $55,480 | $35,830 | $75,470 | -13% | 21% |
| Missouri | 8,310 | 0.95 | $66,790 | $44,780 | $117,180 | +5% | 19% |
| Montana | 1,860 | 1.22 | $79,960 | $48,250 | $100,860 | +25% | 18% |
| Nebraska | 4,110 | 1.34 | $60,970 | $42,830 | $98,030 | -4% | 22% |
| Nevada | 5,370 | 1.15 | $61,610 | $42,210 | $118,430 | -3% | 33% |
| New Hampshire | 1,950 | 0.95 | $66,810 | $44,850 | $87,730 | +5% | 28% |
| New Jersey | 8,750 | 0.68 | $78,240 | $48,720 | $136,710 | +23% | 28% |
| New Mexico | 2,830 | 1.09 | $61,440 | $36,160 | $87,700 | -4% | 22% |
| New York | 23,210 | 0.80 | $77,490 | $46,130 | $130,420 | +21% | 25% |
| North Carolina | 14,510 | 0.98 | $57,080 | $38,860 | $75,850 | -11% | 28% |
| North Dakota | 1,620 | 1.26 | $63,560 | $45,520 | $83,560 | -0% | 19% |
| Ohio | 16,390 | 0.99 | $63,330 | $45,470 | $101,410 | -1% | 21% |
| Oklahoma | 6,050 | 1.18 | $57,970 | $37,990 | $82,560 | -9% | 22% |
| Oregon | 5,370 | 0.91 | $97,050 | $58,230 | $147,100 | +52% | 20% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,620 | 0.75 | $68,080 | $46,770 | $134,110 | +7% | 22% |
| Rhode Island | 1,820 | 1.21 | $76,470 | $49,680 | $110,360 | +20% | 22% |
| South Carolina | 5,770 | 0.84 | $53,940 | $37,660 | $75,780 | -15% | 28% |
| South Dakota | 1,760 | 1.28 | $51,620 | $39,230 | $74,480 | -19% | 23% |
| Tennessee | 9,270 | 0.94 | $58,600 | $38,520 | $82,020 | -8% | 26% |
| Texas | 44,090 | 1.05 | $59,840 | $38,270 | $81,890 | -6% | 30% |
| Utah | 7,030 | 1.35 | $61,900 | $43,860 | $83,120 | -3% | 31% |
| Vermont | 980 | 1.08 | $62,170 | $48,800 | $91,940 | -3% | 25% |
| Virginia | 13,780 | 1.12 | $60,470 | $43,970 | $78,050 | -5% | 33% |
| Washington | 12,470 | 1.17 | $81,030 | $49,490 | $141,860 | +27% | 27% |
| West Virginia | 1,830 | 0.87 | $56,980 | $36,010 | $83,160 | -11% | 19% |
| Wisconsin | 10,210 | 1.16 | $81,210 | $50,020 | $120,070 | +27% | 17% |
| Wyoming | 1,140 | 1.35 | $62,410 | $43,770 | $80,030 | -2% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,830 | $107,560 | $63,270 | $155,600 | 1.13 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 12,750 | $103,380 | $53,960 | $127,200 | 0.94 |
| Bellingham, WA | 540 | $102,750 | $49,620 | $144,540 | 1.97 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,730 | $101,630 | $51,370 | $121,720 | 1.15 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 4,600 | $101,010 | $57,640 | $147,100 | 1.27 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 840 | $97,130 | $47,720 | $145,880 | 2.18 |
| Bloomington, IN | 320 | $96,980 | $48,590 | $98,740 | 1.45 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,200 | $96,760 | $52,270 | $143,950 | 1.14 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 390 | $95,530 | $50,680 | $112,850 | 1.24 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 6,350 | $95,230 | $51,930 | $153,500 | 1.02 |
| Rockford, IL | 440 | $94,230 | $50,930 | $120,140 | 1.08 |
| Anchorage, AK | 640 | $93,600 | $53,730 | $116,790 | 1.21 |
| Springfield, MA | 670 | $92,080 | $52,760 | $118,820 | 1.10 |
| Appleton, WI | 890 | $91,750 | $52,910 | $119,880 | 2.39 |
| Kokomo, IN | 400 | $91,470 | $50,430 | $96,660 | 3.77 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 870 | $90,730 | $48,200 | $111,670 | 2.38 |
| Green Bay, WI | 730 | $90,570 | $53,590 | $120,070 | 1.40 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 420 | $90,250 | $46,120 | $99,990 | 2.18 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 830 | $90,230 | $50,770 | $116,850 | 2.66 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5,520 | $86,370 | $48,250 | $107,780 | 0.97 |
| Madison, WI | 1,590 | $85,160 | $48,310 | $123,270 | 1.30 |
| Peoria, IL | 560 | $85,090 | $47,790 | $117,300 | 1.12 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 420 | $85,060 | $46,300 | $109,350 | 1.13 |
| Rochester, MN | 490 | $84,880 | $48,760 | $106,700 | 1.33 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2,760 | $84,700 | $56,520 | $124,470 | 1.12 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 780 | $83,210 | $47,830 | $94,590 | 1.87 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 1,040 | $82,960 | $57,760 | $102,290 | 3.72 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,370 | $82,260 | $48,860 | $119,980 | 1.31 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 380 | $82,120 | $46,340 | $95,380 | 2.50 |
| Billings, MT | 360 | $81,690 | $51,870 | $106,550 | 1.28 |
| Bozeman, MT | 350 | $81,310 | $55,690 | $97,440 | 1.64 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,810 | $81,120 | $49,460 | $115,080 | 1.36 |
| Salem, OR | 440 | $80,610 | $48,330 | $97,700 | 0.78 |
| Flint, MI | 790 | $80,510 | $46,010 | $105,850 | 1.95 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 2,270 | $80,440 | $46,630 | $98,210 | 1.27 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 310 | $80,030 | $47,400 | $131,510 | 0.80 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 3,000 | $79,820 | $49,590 | $110,770 | 1.40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,000 | $79,700 | $46,940 | $119,250 | 0.82 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,040 | $78,610 | $47,870 | $145,480 | 0.74 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 420 | $78,210 | $47,610 | $102,590 | 0.64 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 650 | $78,190 | $44,190 | $97,740 | 1.00 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,660 | $77,880 | $48,540 | $155,330 | 0.80 |
| New Haven, CT | 770 | $77,620 | $46,220 | $102,840 | 0.91 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 310 | $77,610 | $47,780 | $117,860 | 1.39 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,470 | $77,460 | $47,050 | $116,550 | 1.09 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,850 | $77,190 | $43,260 | $102,180 | 1.03 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 1,160 | $77,110 | $47,850 | $102,520 | 1.72 |
| Reno, NV | 1,170 | $77,020 | $44,200 | $111,540 | 1.41 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 4,060 | $77,000 | $47,040 | $121,230 | 1.01 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 4,010 | $76,980 | $46,740 | $102,370 | 1.21 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 870 | $76,980 | $47,250 | $99,470 | 2.31 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 670 | $76,880 | $47,040 | $102,990 | 1.40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 680 | $76,310 | $46,560 | $100,930 | 1.26 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 640 | $76,270 | $47,020 | $107,400 | 2.26 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 3,740 | $76,150 | $46,800 | $122,820 | 1.14 |
| Topeka, KS | 420 | $75,090 | $45,760 | $95,110 | 1.21 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 2,150 | $75,040 | $47,720 | $99,570 | 1.78 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,150 | $74,860 | $48,400 | $142,210 | 0.82 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 2,780 | $74,680 | $48,250 | $94,920 | 1.35 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 2,790 | $74,240 | $49,920 | $81,060 | 2.27 |
The median is $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $44,150 and the highest-paid tenth over $108,420 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
465,840 in May 2025, and BLS projects +6.8% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $101,020 (among states with published figures).