How Much Do Plumbers Make? (Hourly, Per Year, and by Level)
6 min read·Updated June 2026
The short answer
Plumber pay climbs with license level. Apprentices commonly earn $18 to $28 an hour, journeymen $28 to $45, and master plumbers more. Self-employed plumbers and owners billing $70 to $170 an hour often clear $80,000 to well over $150,000 a year.
By level
- Apprentice: roughly $18 to $28 per hour while training.
- Journeyman: roughly $28 to $45 per hour.
- Master / licensed contractor: higher, plus the ability to run jobs and a crew.
Employed vs. self-employed
An employed plumber earns a wage; a licensed plumber running their own shop bills the full job and keeps the margin, including the lucrative emergency calls. That is the path from a solid wage to six figures, especially once they hire other plumbers.
How plumbers earn more
- Advance from apprentice to journeyman to master license.
- Go self-employed and bill jobs, not just hours.
- Offer emergency and after-hours service at a premium.
- Build recurring commercial and contractor relationships.
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