Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) earn a median $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour) in the United States, with 465,840 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters do
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters assemble, install, alter and repair pipelines and pipe systems that carry water, steam, air and other liquids or gases. They may also install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems, and sprinkler fitters are included in this group. A job can start with reviewing blueprints, building codes and specifications, planning the layout of the system, and laying out full-scale drawings of pipe systems and supports. The worker locates and marks where pipes, connections, passage holes and fixtures go, cuts, threads or bends pipe with saws, torches, threaders and benders, and joins sections using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent or caulking, or with soldering, brazing and welding equipment. Underground storm, sanitary or water piping may be installed and extended to connect fixtures. Before repairs, steam, water or gas is shut off from the pipe section with valve keys or wrenches. Pipelayers (47-2151) have their own code.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: Aircraft Hydraulic Equipment Mechanic, Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic, Aircraft Plumbing Mechanic, Commercial Plumber, Corrosion Control Fitter.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.22 | $24.13 | $30.67 | $40.92 | $52.13 | $34.70 | 465,840 |
| Annual | $44,150 | $50,190 | $63,800 | $85,110 | $108,420 | $72,170 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $25.15 | $35.88 | $48.57 | $55.00 | $56.34 | $43.85 | 1,010 | 1.43 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $52,310 | $74,630 | $101,020 | $114,400 | $117,180 | $91,200 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $24.16 | $34.65 | $48.05 | $57.72 | $60.79 | $44.91 | 16,750 | 2.75 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $50,250 | $72,070 | $99,950 | $120,050 | $126,430 | $93,400 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $27.99 | $36.02 | $46.66 | $60.77 | $70.72 | $47.33 | 5,370 | 2.73 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $58,230 | $74,920 | $97,050 | $126,400 | $147,100 | $98,450 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $23.42 | $29.40 | $45.39 | $52.29 | $58.20 | $41.68 | 10,720 | 3.63 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $48,720 | $61,150 | $94,410 | $108,750 | $121,050 | $86,700 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $25.83 | $35.40 | $45.15 | $49.44 | $58.97 | $43.49 | 1,200 | 3.70 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $53,730 | $73,640 | $93,920 | $102,820 | $122,660 | $90,460 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.76 | $28.36 | $35.01 | $48.17 | $63.03 | $39.58 | 47,660 | 2.62 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $47,350 | $58,980 | $72,830 | $100,200 | $131,100 | $82,320 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.40 | $22.78 | $28.77 | $35.63 | $39.37 | $29.22 | 44,090 | 3.13 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $38,270 | $47,380 | $59,840 | $74,100 | $81,890 | $60,780 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.72 | $22.70 | $25.44 | $30.20 | $35.39 | $26.94 | 29,260 | 2.95 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $38,940 | $47,220 | $52,910 | $62,820 | $73,610 | $56,030 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.18 | $28.83 | $37.26 | $48.67 | $62.70 | $40.29 | 23,210 | 2.40 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $46,130 | $59,960 | $77,490 | $101,230 | $130,420 | $83,790 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $24.16 | $34.65 | $48.05 | $57.72 | $60.79 | $44.91 | 16,750 | 2.75 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $50,250 | $72,070 | $99,950 | $120,050 | $126,430 | $93,400 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $30.42 | $36.56 | $51.71 | $74.81 | $74.81 | $54.94 | 3,830 | 3.37 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $63,270 | $76,040 | $107,560 | $155,600 | $155,600 | $114,280 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $25.94 | $35.72 | $49.70 | $58.91 | $61.15 | $46.36 | 12,750 | 2.83 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $53,960 | $74,300 | $103,380 | $122,540 | $127,200 | $96,430 | ||||
| Bellingham, WA | Hourly | $23.86 | $30.53 | $49.40 | $69.49 | $69.49 | $49.45 | 540 | 5.89 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $49,620 | $63,500 | $102,750 | $144,540 | $144,540 | $102,860 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $24.70 | $31.39 | $48.86 | $55.28 | $58.52 | $44.25 | 6,730 | 3.45 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $51,370 | $65,290 | $101,630 | $114,980 | $121,720 | $92,030 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $27.71 | $34.83 | $48.56 | $61.71 | $70.72 | $48.42 | 4,600 | 3.81 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $57,640 | $72,440 | $101,010 | $128,360 | $147,100 | $100,710 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.02 | $29.76 | $37.79 | $51.91 | $69.94 | $43.66 | 21,040 | 2.22 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $47,870 | $61,900 | $78,610 | $107,970 | $145,480 | $90,820 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.16 | $28.15 | $34.19 | $48.70 | $60.14 | $38.57 | 15,690 | 2.50 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $46,090 | $58,560 | $71,110 | $101,300 | $125,080 | $80,230 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $25.94 | $35.72 | $49.70 | $58.91 | $61.15 | $46.36 | 12,750 | 2.83 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $53,960 | $74,300 | $103,380 | $122,540 | $127,200 | $96,430 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.92 | $23.04 | $29.45 | $36.20 | $39.53 | $29.94 | 11,980 | 2.96 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $39,350 | $47,910 | $61,250 | $75,290 | $82,230 | $62,260 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $19.19 | $23.68 | $29.47 | $36.39 | $41.19 | $30.70 | 10,980 | 3.34 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $39,920 | $49,260 | $61,300 | $75,680 | $85,680 | $63,860 | ||||
Top industries employing plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Building Equipment Contractors employ 73.0% of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters nationally (340,140 jobs) at a median $63,110 a year ($30.34 an hour), followed by Utility System Construction (3.2%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (2.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 340,140 | 73.0% | $63,110 | $30.34 |
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 14,960 | 3.2% | $61,400 | $29.52 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 11,480 | 2.5% | $66,200 | $31.83 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 10,790 | 2.3% | $71,220 | $34.24 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 6,570 | 1.4% | $63,300 | $30.43 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (465,840). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $59,880 for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in May 2021 and $63,800 in May 2025, with employment of 417,620 and 465,840.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $59,880 | $28.79 | 417,620 |
| May 2022 | $60,090 | $28.89 | 427,920 |
| May 2023 | $61,550 | $29.59 | 436,160 |
| May 2024 | $62,970 | $30.27 | 455,940 |
| May 2025 | $63,800 | $30.67 | 465,840 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $48.57 | $101,020 | $52,310 | $117,180 | 1,010 | 1.43 | 0.48 |
| 2 | Illinois profile | $48.05 | $99,950 | $50,250 | $126,430 | 16,750 | 2.75 | 0.92 |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $46.66 | $97,050 | $58,230 | $147,100 | 5,370 | 2.73 | 0.91 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $45.39 | $94,410 | $48,720 | $121,050 | 10,720 | 3.63 | 1.21 |
| 5 | Alaska profile | $45.15 | $93,920 | $53,730 | $122,660 | 1,200 | 3.70 | 1.23 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $45.14 | $93,880 | $52,010 | $135,080 | 13,460 | 3.70 | 1.24 |
| 7 | Wisconsin profile | $39.04 | $81,210 | $50,020 | $120,070 | 10,210 | 3.47 | 1.16 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $38.96 | $81,030 | $49,490 | $141,860 | 12,470 | 3.51 | 1.17 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $38.56 | $80,190 | $46,560 | $103,430 | 14,120 | 3.21 | 1.07 |
| 10 | Montana profile | $38.44 | $79,960 | $48,250 | $100,860 | 1,860 | 3.64 | 1.22 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $37.61 | $78,240 | $48,720 | $136,710 | 8,750 | 2.04 | 0.68 |
| 12 | Hawaii profile | $37.53 | $78,060 | $47,750 | $113,300 | 2,500 | 3.99 | 1.33 |
| 13 | New York profile | $37.26 | $77,490 | $46,130 | $130,420 | 23,210 | 2.40 | 0.80 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $37.16 | $77,280 | $45,670 | $102,990 | 5,410 | 3.19 | 1.07 |
| 15 | Rhode Island profile | $36.77 | $76,470 | $49,680 | $110,360 | 1,820 | 3.64 | 1.21 |
| 16 | Indiana profile | $36.69 | $76,320 | $46,890 | $102,520 | 11,280 | 3.52 | 1.18 |
| 17 | California profile | $35.01 | $72,830 | $47,350 | $131,100 | 47,660 | 2.62 | 0.87 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $32.73 | $68,080 | $46,770 | $134,110 | 13,620 | 2.25 | 0.75 |
| 19 | New Hampshire profile | $32.12 | $66,810 | $44,850 | $87,730 | 1,950 | 2.86 | 0.95 |
| 20 | Missouri profile | $32.11 | $66,790 | $44,780 | $117,180 | 8,310 | 2.83 | 0.95 |
| 21 | Maryland profile | $31.44 | $65,400 | $45,630 | $108,420 | 11,420 | 4.13 | 1.38 |
| 22 | Kansas profile | $31.36 | $65,220 | $39,130 | $109,290 | 4,590 | 3.19 | 1.06 |
| 23 | Delaware profile | $31.11 | $64,720 | $40,990 | $95,520 | 1,590 | 3.28 | 1.10 |
| 24 | Kentucky profile | $30.84 | $64,160 | $44,860 | $94,710 | 6,360 | 3.18 | 1.06 |
| 25 | Maine profile | $30.77 | $64,000 | $48,120 | $80,760 | 2,710 | 4.23 | 1.41 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $30.72 | $63,890 | $45,510 | $97,500 | 5,730 | 3.68 | 1.23 |
| 27 | Louisiana profile | $30.62 | $63,680 | $38,120 | $79,540 | 8,360 | 4.32 | 1.44 |
| 28 | North Dakota profile | $30.56 | $63,560 | $45,520 | $83,560 | 1,620 | 3.77 | 1.26 |
| 29 | Ohio profile | $30.45 | $63,330 | $45,470 | $101,410 | 16,390 | 2.95 | 0.99 |
| 30 | Colorado profile | $30.40 | $63,240 | $47,770 | $100,240 | 10,080 | 3.51 | 1.17 |
| 31 | Wyoming profile | $30.01 | $62,410 | $43,770 | $80,030 | 1,140 | 4.05 | 1.35 |
| 32 | Vermont profile | $29.89 | $62,170 | $48,800 | $91,940 | 980 | 3.23 | 1.08 |
| 33 | Arizona profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $45,640 | $100,120 | 11,810 | 3.65 | 1.22 |
| 34 | Utah profile | $29.76 | $61,900 | $43,860 | $83,120 | 7,030 | 4.05 | 1.35 |
| 35 | Nevada profile | $29.62 | $61,610 | $42,210 | $118,430 | 5,370 | 3.46 | 1.15 |
| 36 | New Mexico profile | $29.54 | $61,440 | $36,160 | $87,700 | 2,830 | 3.25 | 1.09 |
| 37 | Nebraska profile | $29.31 | $60,970 | $42,830 | $98,030 | 4,110 | 4.01 | 1.34 |
| 38 | Virginia profile | $29.07 | $60,470 | $43,970 | $78,050 | 13,780 | 3.35 | 1.12 |
| 39 | Texas profile | $28.77 | $59,840 | $38,270 | $81,890 | 44,090 | 3.13 | 1.05 |
| 40 | Alabama profile | $28.21 | $58,670 | $37,720 | $76,690 | 6,950 | 3.29 | 1.10 |
| 41 | Tennessee profile | $28.17 | $58,600 | $38,520 | $82,020 | 9,270 | 2.83 | 0.94 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $27.87 | $57,970 | $37,990 | $82,560 | 6,050 | 3.54 | 1.18 |
| 43 | Georgia profile | $27.50 | $57,200 | $37,680 | $80,740 | 8,930 | 1.83 | 0.61 |
| 44 | North Carolina profile | $27.44 | $57,080 | $38,860 | $75,850 | 14,510 | 2.94 | 0.98 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $27.39 | $56,980 | $36,010 | $83,160 | 1,830 | 2.61 | 0.87 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $26.67 | $55,480 | $35,830 | $75,470 | 3,360 | 2.89 | 0.96 |
| 47 | South Carolina profile | $25.93 | $53,940 | $37,660 | $75,780 | 5,770 | 2.50 | 0.84 |
| 48 | Florida profile | $25.44 | $52,910 | $38,940 | $73,610 | 29,260 | 2.95 | 0.98 |
| 49 | Idaho profile | $25.18 | $52,380 | $39,430 | $82,620 | 3,090 | 3.60 | 1.20 |
| 50 | South Dakota profile | $24.82 | $51,620 | $39,230 | $74,480 | 1,760 | 3.84 | 1.28 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $23.39 | $48,660 | $33,410 | $68,870 | 3,370 | 2.59 | 0.86 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-2150), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2152 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2152, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2152.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.