Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship
National Wage Spread
Annual wages for Plumber & Pipefitters across all experience levels, nationwide.
Plumber & Pipefitter Wages by State
Median annual wage for Plumber & Pipefitters by state, sorted highest to lowest.
| State | Median Wage | vs. National | Employment | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $96,200 | +53% | 18,730 | 959 |
| Oregon | $93,110 | +48% | 6,080 | 249 |
| Minnesota | $83,280 | +32% | 8,520 | 495 |
| Massachusetts | $83,260 | +32% | 15,670 | 849 |
| Alaska | $83,090 | +32% | 870 | 341 |
| District of Columbia | $81,950 | +30% | 640 | 145 |
| Washington | $79,070 | +26% | 12,210 | 434 |
| Hawaii | $78,540 | +25% | 2,640 | 216 |
| Wisconsin | $78,510 | +25% | 9,120 | 1308 |
| New York | $78,460 | +25% | 22,630 | 823 |
| Montana | $77,930 | +24% | 1,810 | 776 |
| New Jersey | $77,160 | +23% | 9,840 | 2555 |
| Michigan | $77,030 | +22% | 12,830 | 1559 |
| Connecticut | $73,080 | +16% | 4,180 | 1711 |
| California | $68,390 | +9% | 45,460 | 1375 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,650 | +6% | 13,990 | 1844 |
| Louisiana | $64,720 | +3% | 9,040 | 372 |
| Rhode Island | $64,630 | +3% | 1,790 | 710 |
| Indiana | $64,560 | +3% | 11,620 | 1307 |
| Delaware | $64,300 | +2% | 1,570 | 518 |
| Colorado | $63,610 | +1% | 9,970 | 963 |
| Maryland | $63,270 | +0% | 11,490 | 695 |
| Nebraska | $62,880 | -0% | 4,240 | 316 |
| Kansas | $62,820 | -0% | 4,090 | 515 |
| North Dakota | $62,670 | -0% | 1,650 | 149 |
| Ohio | $62,530 | -1% | 14,490 | 805 |
| Kentucky | $62,370 | -1% | 5,500 | 642 |
| Missouri | $62,090 | -1% | 7,900 | 1231 |
| New Hampshire | $62,030 | -1% | 2,530 | 647 |
| Arizona | $61,940 | -2% | 12,330 | 669 |
| Maine | $61,890 | -2% | 2,480 | 370 |
| Utah | $61,680 | -2% | 6,770 | 436 |
| Wyoming | $61,480 | -2% | 1,140 | 143 |
| Iowa | $61,230 | -3% | 6,350 | 1537 |
| Vermont | $60,550 | -4% | 960 | 530 |
| Nevada | $60,120 | -5% | 5,330 | 119 |
| New Mexico | $59,660 | -5% | 2,900 | 99 |
| Virginia | $59,560 | -5% | 13,190 | 2435 |
| Texas | $58,560 | -7% | 42,290 | 1964 |
| Mississippi | $57,960 | -8% | 3,050 | 213 |
| Tennessee | $57,730 | -8% | 8,810 | 802 |
| Idaho | $57,380 | -9% | 3,710 | 491 |
| Georgia | $56,290 | -11% | 7,530 | 568 |
| Oklahoma | $54,840 | -13% | 7,110 | 249 |
| South Carolina | $54,840 | -13% | 5,480 | 1114 |
| Alabama | $53,840 | -14% | 7,880 | 664 |
| North Carolina | $50,990 | -19% | 14,300 | 1189 |
| South Dakota | $50,790 | -19% | 1,800 | 225 |
| Florida | $50,540 | -20% | 26,730 | 1447 |
| Arkansas | $49,700 | -21% | 3,080 | 404 |
| West Virginia | $49,630 | -21% | 1,860 | 359 |
Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Overview
The Plumber & Pipefitter trade offers a median salary of $62,970/yr nationally, accessible through a 4-year apprenticeship that pays you while you train. It's one of the clearest earn-while-you-learn propositions in the American labor market.
Looking ahead, Plumber & Pipefitter employment is expected to grow 4.5% by 2034. About 44,000 openings per year — driven heavily by retirements in an aging workforce — keep demand for apprentices high.
Nationally, wages span from $40,670/yr at the 10th percentile to $105,150/yr at the 90th. Geography drives much of this spread — the same trade can pay 50%+ more in high-cost states compared to rural markets.
Plumber & Pipefitter Trade School Programs
Compare apprenticeship with formal trade school training: