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Plumbers and pipefitters in Pennsylvania: what they earn
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Pennsylvania earned a median $68,080 a year in May 2025, $32.73 an hour. 13,620 people held the job, 2.2 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 7% above the national figure of $63,800, and Pennsylvania ranks 18 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become a plumber in Pennsylvania — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from No statewide plumber license or state board; municipalities and counties license (e.g., City of Philadelphia; Allegheny County Health Department). ↓
The full wage spread in Pennsylvania
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.49 | $46,770 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $27.83 | $57,880 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $32.73 | $68,080 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $44.15 | $91,820 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $64.48 | $134,110 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $37.05 | $77,050 | 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.
Pennsylvania against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Rhode Island | $76,470 | 1,820 |
| 16 | Indiana | $76,320 | 11,280 |
| 17 | California | $72,830 | 47,660 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $68,080 | 13,620 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $66,810 | 1,950 |
| 20 | Missouri | $66,790 | 8,310 |
| 21 | Maryland | $65,400 | 11,420 |
The complete ranking is on the Plumbers and pipefitters page.
Against the national figure
| Pennsylvania | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $68,080 | $63,800 |
| Median hourly | $32.73 | $30.67 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $46,770 | $44,150 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $134,110 | $108,420 |
| Employed | 13,620 | 465,840 |
Other trades in Pennsylvania
Electricians ($67,600) · HVAC technicians ($62,400) · Welders ($52,900) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($58,580)
See all five ranked by pay in Pennsylvania.
How to become a plumber in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no statewide plumber license and no state plumbing board — municipalities and counties license plumbers, so it varies by place. Two sourced examples: the City of Philadelphia and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh).
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber — Philadelphia | Four years registered as a Philadelphia apprentice plumber, then pass the ICC journeyman exam. Renews annually. | — | Journeyman Plumber Examination (International Code Council) | $126 |
| Master Plumber — Philadelphia | One year registered as a Philadelphia journeyman plumber, then pass the ICC master plumber exam. Renews annually. | — | Master Plumber Examination (International Code Council) | $303 |
| Journeyman Plumber — Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) | 576 hours of schooling and four years working for a registered master plumber, then the county journeyman exam (offered twice a year). Renews annually on your birthday. | 576 hrs | Allegheny County Journeyman Plumbers Examination | $125 |
| Master Plumber — Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) | Two full years of journeyman experience, then the county master exam (offered twice a year). Renews annually on your birthday. | — | Allegheny County Master Plumber Examination | $375 |
Reciprocity. No statewide license means no statewide reciprocity; Philadelphia recognizes comparable authorization from other jurisdictions.
Renewal. Annual (varies by locality).
Licensing sources: City of Philadelphia Master Plumber License (retrieved 2026-09-16) · Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing licensing (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with No statewide plumber license or state board; municipalities and counties license (e.g., City of Philadelphia; Allegheny County Health Department) 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has no statewide plumber license and no state plumbing board — municipalities and counties license plumbers, so it varies by place. Two sourced examples: the City of Philadelphia and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh).
What does it cost to get licensed as a plumber in Pennsylvania?
Application and license fees run from about $125 to $375 depending on the tier, with separate exam fees in some cases — see the table above.
How long does it take to become a plumber in Pennsylvania?
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.