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Plumbers and pipefitters in Ohio: what they earn
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Ohio earned a median $63,330 a year in May 2025, $30.45 an hour. 16,390 people held the job, 3.0 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 1% below the national figure of $63,800, and Ohio ranks 29 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become a plumber in Ohio — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Ohio Department of Commerce. ↓
The full wage spread in Ohio
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.86 | $45,470 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $24.06 | $50,040 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $30.45 | $63,330 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $40.51 | $84,260 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $48.75 | $101,410 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $33.51 | $69,700 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Ohio against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Iowa | $63,890 | 5,730 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $63,680 | 8,360 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $63,560 | 1,620 |
| 29 | Ohio | $63,330 | 16,390 |
| 30 | Colorado | $63,240 | 10,080 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $62,410 | 1,140 |
| 32 | Vermont | $62,170 | 980 |
The complete ranking is on the Plumbers and pipefitters page.
Against the national figure
| Ohio | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $63,330 | $63,800 |
| Median hourly | $30.45 | $30.67 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $45,470 | $44,150 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $101,410 | $108,420 |
| Employed | 16,390 | 465,840 |
Other trades in Ohio
Electricians ($64,700) · HVAC technicians ($62,510) · Welders ($50,340) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($59,800)
See all five ranked by pay in Ohio.
How to become a plumber in Ohio
Ohio issues a state plumbing license only for commercial contractors, through the OCILB; residential and journeyman plumbers are licensed locally by municipalities (Columbus shown as an example). The licensing authority is Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Ohio Department of Commerce.
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman / Residential Plumber (local — Columbus example) | The state issues no residential or journeyman plumber license; municipalities license individuals. Columbus requires five years' experience (or a US DOL apprenticeship) and the ICC Journeyman exam (minimum 70%). | — | National Standard Journeyman Plumber exam (ICC, minimum 70%) | — |
| Commercial Plumbing Contractor (state — OCILB) | Required for commercial plumbing work statewide. At least 18; five years' experience in the trade; pass the PSI exam; carry at least $500,000 liability insurance. Application fee $25. | — | OCILB plumbing exam (trade + business and law, PSI) | $25 |
Reciprocity. No blanket reciprocity; Ohio has an out-of-state pathway for someone holding a substantially similar license.
Renewal. Annual, with 10 hours of continuing education.
Licensing sources: Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (retrieved 2026-09-16) · City of Columbus Journeyperson Plumber Application (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Ohio Department of Commerce before you act.
Compare the time and cost to get licensed across trades and states →
Common questions
Do you need a license to work as a plumber in Ohio?
Ohio issues a state plumbing license only for commercial contractors, through the OCILB; residential and journeyman plumbers are licensed locally by municipalities (Columbus shown as an example).
What does it cost to get licensed as a plumber in Ohio?
The main application or license fee is $25; separate exam or endorsement fees can apply, as noted in the table above.
How long does it take to become a plumber in Ohio?
It depends on which credential you need and the training and testing each step takes — the full path is in the table above.
The pay and employment figures above are the May 2025 BLS estimates; the licensing detail is sourced separately from the state authority and dated inline. See how the numbers are built.