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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Not all Plumber salaries are created equal. The national median salary for Plumbers in 2026 is $67,577, with entry-level positions averaging $48,656 and senior roles reaching $95,960. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $125,786, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Plumber falls within the Construction & Trades sector, specifically in Construction. The typical education path involves Apprenticeship. The career outlook? High demand. Work style is job-site — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$73,354 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Plumber in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $125,786 — $73,354 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,432). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Plumbers reveals a $47,304 spread from entry to senior. At $67,577, the median sits $12,790 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $48,656 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $95,960 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $119,065 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $53,721 (average of the bottom 3). That $65,344 delta is real money — $5,445/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Plumber in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $125,786 — $73,354 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,432). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Plumber is $48,656, while senior-level (P90) earners average $95,960. That $47,304 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Plumbers at $85,844 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $70,501) is $15,343.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $48,656 | $67,577 | $95,960 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £27,636 | £38,383 | £54,505 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$43,677 | CA$60,663 | CA$86,142 |
| Australia | 13 | A$54,160 | A$75,223 | A$106,816 |
| Sweden | 24 | 299,137 kr | 415,469 kr | 589,965 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $61,808 | $85,844 | $121,898 |
| California | 61 | $55,532 | $77,128 | $109,521 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $53,534 | $74,352 | $105,580 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $52,130 | $72,403 | $102,812 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $50,761 | $70,501 | $100,111 |
| Washington | 8 | $49,745 | $69,090 | $98,108 |
| Oregon | 5 | $49,190 | $68,320 | $97,014 |
| Colorado | 11 | $48,931 | $67,959 | $96,502 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $48,904 | $67,922 | $96,450 |
| New York | 5 | $48,670 | $67,597 | $95,988 |
| Illinois | 5 | $48,560 | $67,445 | $95,771 |
| Nevada | 5 | $48,004 | $66,672 | $94,674 |
| Virginia | 7 | $47,976 | $66,633 | $94,619 |
| Idaho | 3 | $47,976 | $66,633 | $94,619 |
| Utah | 4 | $47,577 | $66,079 | $93,832 |
| Florida | 22 | $47,532 | $66,017 | $93,744 |
| Arizona | 12 | $47,485 | $65,952 | $93,652 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $47,428 | $65,873 | $93,539 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $46,881 | $65,112 | $92,459 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $46,561 | $64,668 | $91,829 |
| Michigan | 6 | $46,508 | $64,594 | $91,723 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $46,485 | $64,562 | $91,678 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $46,387 | $64,427 | $91,486 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $45,648 | $63,400 | $90,028 |
| Alaska | 1 | $45,648 | $63,400 | $90,028 |
| Iowa | 2 | $45,648 | $63,400 | $90,028 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $45,648 | $63,400 | $90,028 |
| Montana | 1 | $45,648 | $63,400 | $90,028 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $45,024 | $62,533 | $88,797 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $44,964 | $62,449 | $88,678 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $44,958 | $62,442 | $88,668 |
| Texas | 40 | $44,897 | $62,357 | $88,547 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $44,747 | $62,148 | $88,250 |
| Georgia | 6 | $44,621 | $61,974 | $88,002 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $44,564 | $61,894 | $87,890 |
| Indiana | 3 | $44,446 | $61,730 | $87,657 |
| Alabama | 5 | $43,950 | $61,041 | $86,679 |
| Ohio | 6 | $43,853 | $60,906 | $86,487 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $43,822 | $60,864 | $86,427 |
| Maryland | 1 | $43,777 | $60,801 | $86,337 |
| Missouri | 4 | $43,743 | $60,753 | $86,270 |
| Kansas | 4 | $43,639 | $60,610 | $86,067 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $43,457 | $60,357 | $85,707 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $43,229 | $60,040 | $85,257 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $40,444 | $56,172 | $79,764 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $38,573 | $53,573 | $76,074 |
At the state level, Hawaii leads with an average Plumber median of $85,844 across 1 cities, followed by California ($77,128) and Massachusetts ($74,352). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska — offer medians between $53,573 and $60,040. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($125,786 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $63,528 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $92,881 | 146 | $63,617 | $57,936 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $125,786 | 198 | $63,528 | $76,203 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $95,924 | 151 | $63,526 | $63,796 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $107,336 | 169 | $63,512 | $66,046 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $112,408 | 177 | $63,507 | $68,838 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $116,846 | 184 | $63,503 | $71,281 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $107,273 | 169 | $63,475 | $80,279 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $102,011 | 161 | $63,361 | $63,115 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $93,135 | 147 | $63,357 | $58,081 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $92,501 | 146 | $63,357 | $57,719 |
The $47,304 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Plumber career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Construction & Trades sector, high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Plumbers is $67,577 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $48,656, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $95,960.
The highest-paying city for Plumbers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $125,786. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($125,786), Irvine ($116,846), San Francisco ($114,564). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Plumber salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $52,432. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Plumbers (10th percentile) average $48,656 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $90,566. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Plumbers average $95,960 nationally — $47,304 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Plumbers can earn up to $178,616.
The top-paying states for Plumbers are Hawaii ($85,844 median), California ($77,128 median), Massachusetts ($74,352 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Plumber involves Apprenticeship. The field is in the Construction & Trades sector (Construction), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically job-site.
With a national median of $67,577 and representation across 288 metro areas, Plumber offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $47,304 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.