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Salary data · Bespree
Plumber Salary in Philadelphia
Plumbers in the Philadelphia area earn a median of $35.99/hr — based on BLS OEWS May 2025.
At median pay, that's roughly $74,859/year, $1,440/week, or $6,233/month (40-hour week, before taxes).
Adjusted for local prices, the median $35.99/hr wage is about $35.09/hr in national-average purchasing power, and HUD's one-bedroom FMR equals about 42.2 hours of work, or 24% of gross monthly pay.
About plumbers
Job duties, work environment, and education based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What plumbers do
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair piping systems that carry water, steam, air, and other liquids and gases. They read blueprints, install pipes and fixtures, inspect and test installed piping systems, and troubleshoot malfunctioning systems. Plumbers also install drainage systems and water heaters and ensure compliance with building codes and regulations.
Work environment
These workers may be employed in residential, commercial, or industrial settings. The work is physically demanding and includes lifting heavy materials, standing for long periods, and working in tight spaces. Plumbers may work evenings and weekends, especially for emergency calls. The job involves risk of injury from cuts, burns, and falls, though safety training and protective equipment help reduce these risks.
How to become one
Most plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters learn on the job through a 4- to 5-year apprenticeship. Some begin by attending a trade or vocational school. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required. Most states and localities require plumbers to be licensed, which generally involves passing an exam on plumbing codes and regulations after gaining sufficient experience.
Similar occupations
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — bls.gov/ooh. BLS content is in the public domain.
Hourly wage ranges
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th) | $23.27 | $48,402 |
| 25th percentile | $29.28 | $60,902 |
| Median (50th) | $35.99 | $74,859 |
| 75th percentile | $49.89 | $103,771 |
| Top earners (90th) | $68.37 | $142,210 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Annual estimate = hourly × 2,080 hrs · Actual annual income varies by hours worked and schedule.
Plumbers — Hourly Pay Distribution
Percentile range from entry-level to top earners
How Philadelphia compares
Plumbers pay by metro
| Metro | Median/hr |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $35.99 |
| Chicago | $49.70 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford | $38.32 |
| New York City | $37.79 |
| New Haven | $37.32 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $36.71 |
| Los Angeles | $34.19 |
| Houston | $29.47 |
| Miami | $27.77 |
Plumbers — Median Hourly Pay by Metro
Sorted by median pay, highest to lowest
What pay means locally
A broad purchasing-power view using BEA regional price data.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare broad local price levels with the U.S. average. They help explain how far a median hourly wage may go in Philadelphia.
| BLS median wage | $35.99/hr |
|---|---|
| BEA all-items RPP | 102.6 |
| Local price level | 2.6% higher than the U.S. average |
| Cost-adjusted median | $35.09/hr |
HUD Fair Market Rent benchmark
HUD Fair Market Rent is a 40th-percentile gross rent benchmark by bedroom size, not average rent. The one-bedroom value is the default comparison for hourly worker affordability.
| Bedroom size | HUD FMR | Hours at median |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,397/mo | 38.8 hours |
| 1 bedroom | $1,520/mo | 42.2 hours |
| 2 bedroom | $1,810/mo | 50.3 hours |
At the local BLS median wage, HUD's one-bedroom FMR equals about 42.2 hours of work, or roughly 24% of gross monthly pay before taxes.
Methodology: cost-adjusted median = BLS median hourly wage ÷ (BEA all-items RPP ÷ 100). An RPP above 100 means local prices are higher than the U.S. average.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis MARPP 2024, line 1 (RPPs: All items); BEA area 37980: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (Metropolitan Statistical Area).
HUD rent source: FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents, 40th percentile gross rent. HUD area: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA. Multi-state MSA row appears by state component in the HUD schedule with the same FMR values.
This is broad metro-level context, not a personal budget, tax, or take-home-pay estimate.
Compare affordability for plumber
Compare the same role across metros using cost-adjusted pay and rent context.
Where plumber pay goes furthest
- Chicago
$47.98/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $49.70/hr
- Bridgeport-Stamford
$35.86/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $38.32/hr
- New Haven
$35.69/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $37.32/hr
- Trenton-Princeton
$35.58/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $36.71/hr
Affordability questions
- What is the cost-adjusted wage for plumber in Philadelphia?
- The BLS median wage is $35.99/hr. After adjusting by the BEA all-items RPP of 102.6, that is about $35.09/hr in national-average purchasing power.
- How many hours does one-bedroom Fair Market Rent take at the median wage?
- HUD's one-bedroom FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA is $1,520/mo. At $35.99/hr, that equals about 42.2 hours of work, or 24% of gross monthly pay before taxes.
- Is this a personal budget estimate?
- No. These are broad metro-level comparisons from public datasets. They do not include taxes, benefits, household size, commuting choices, or actual housing costs.
Job outlook for Plumbers
National employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
🟡 About as fast as average
+3.8% projected growth, 2024–2034
+18,100
2024–2034
~42,400
New + replacement
480,200
2024 estimate
High school diploma
Entry-level
On-the-job training: Apprenticeship
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Published August 2025. National-level projections — local growth may differ.
Skills & qualifications
Key skills and knowledge areas from O*NET OnLine, plus representative tools compiled by Bespree for plumbers.
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Installation
- Critical Thinking
- Equipment Selection
- Building and Construction
- Mechanical
- Design
- Customer and Personal Service
- Physics
- Pipe wrenches
- Pipe cutters
- Soldering torches
- Threading machines
- Drain cameras
Skills and knowledge data from O*NET OnLine, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Bespree has selected and summarized a subset of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Tools & technology listed are representative examples compiled by Bespree.
Commute-adjusted effective wage
What you actually earn after subtracting the cost of getting to work.
Effective hourly wage after estimated commute costs, based on a 40-hr work week.
| Commute mode | Monthly cost | Hourly impact | Effective wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| No commute cost (baseline) | — | — | $35.99 |
| Public transit (regional estimate) | ~$120/mo | −$0.69/hr | $35.30/hr |
| Driving (gas + wear) | ~$280/mo | −$1.62/hr | $34.37/hr |
Methodology: Commute cost is deducted from median hourly wage assuming 2,080 working hours per year (52 weeks × 40 hrs). Costs are directional estimates based on published transit fares or AAA average variable driving costs. Actual costs vary by distance, schedule, vehicle, and commute days.
Public transit (regional estimate): Estimated regional monthly transit cost.
Driving (gas + wear): AAA avg variable cost estimate.
Local job market
—
No current paid openings on Bespree
No exact matches right now — new openings are added regularly.
Browse all jobs on Bespree →BLS estimates 7,150 plumbers employed in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD area, or 6.8 per 1,000 jobs. (BLS OEWS May 2025)
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Data source: Wage data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, BLS OEWS May 2025. Regional price context uses U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP 2024, all-items RPP). Rent context uses HUD Fair Market Rents (FY 2026, 40th percentile gross rent). Job outlook data is from the BLS Employment Projections program (BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034). BLS data is in the public domain. Occupation profile content summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Skills and knowledge data from O*NET OnLine, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Bespree has selected and summarized a subset of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Tools & technology listed are representative examples compiled by Bespree. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after retrieval. Wage figures are estimates and do not constitute a guarantee of earnings. Actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, and hours worked. Weekly and monthly earnings shown assume a 40-hour work week and are pre-tax estimates. Commute cost figures and regional price adjustments are directional estimates; actual commute costs, purchasing power, and budgets vary.