Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
Construction and Extraction Occupations · 466K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$63,800
Median hourly
$31
Average annual
$72,170
Typical range
$44,150–$108,420
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is $63,800 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $31 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems.
Most earn between $44,150 and $108,420 a year. There are roughly 466K people employed as plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.
- Hourly
- $30.67
- Daily
- $245
- Weekly
- $1,227
- Bi-weekly
- $2,454
- Monthly
- $5,317
- Annual
- $63,800
$63,800 a year is around the 50th percentile for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss. The median is $63,800.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$101,020
- 2Illinois$99,950
- 3Oregon$97,050
- 4Minnesota$94,410
- 5Alaska$93,920
- 6Massachusetts$93,880
- 7Wisconsin$81,210
- 8Washington$81,030
- 9Michigan$80,190
- 10Montana$79,960
- 11New Jersey$78,240
- 12Hawaii$78,060
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$107,560
- 2Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$103,380
- 3Bellingham, WA$102,750
- 4Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$101,630
- 5Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$101,010
- 6Kennewick-Richland, WA$97,130
- 7Bloomington, IN$96,980
- 8Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$96,760
- 9Fairbanks-College, AK$96,670
- 10Champaign-Urbana, IL$95,530
- 11Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$95,230
- 12Springfield, IL$94,370
Related job titles
Employers advertise Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters roles under these titles.
- Aircraft Hydraulic Equipment Mechanic
- Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic
- Aircraft Plumbing Mechanic
- Commercial Plumber
- Corrosion Control Fitter
- Diesel Engine Pipefitter
- Drain Cleaner
- Drain Technician
- Dry Docks Utility Systems Repair Operator
- Equipment Service Associate (ESA)
- Fire Control System Installer
- Fire Hydrant Mechanic
- Fire Sprinkler Fitter
- Fire Sprinkler Installer
- Fire Sprinkler Service Technician
- Fire Sprinkler Technician
Related occupations
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers$53,140
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$42,360
- Engineers, All Other$122,930
- Boilermakers$76,410
- Pipelayers$49,000
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,010
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$49,120
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$49,880
What a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters does
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
- Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components.
- Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
- Anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place.
- Keep records of work assignments.
- Install green plumbing equipment, such as faucet flow restrictors, dual-flush or pressure-assisted flush toilets, or tankless hot water heaters.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters make?
- The median annual wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is $63,800 ($31 per hour). Pay ranges from about $44,150 at the 10th percentile to $108,420 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $72,170, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $101,020.
- Is Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 466K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters do?
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.; Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components.; Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools..