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Plumbers and pipefitters in Texas: what they earn
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Texas earned a median $59,840 a year in May 2025, $28.77 an hour. 44,090 people held the job, 3.1 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 6% below the national figure of $63,800, and Texas ranks 39 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become a plumber in Texas — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). ↓
The full wage spread in Texas
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.40 | $38,270 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $22.78 | $47,380 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $28.77 | $59,840 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $35.63 | $74,100 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $39.37 | $81,890 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $29.22 | $60,780 | 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.
Texas against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | New Mexico | $61,440 | 2,830 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $60,970 | 4,110 |
| 38 | Virginia | $60,470 | 13,780 |
| 39 | Texas | $59,840 | 44,090 |
| 40 | Alabama | $58,670 | 6,950 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $58,600 | 9,270 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $57,970 | 6,050 |
The complete ranking is on the Plumbers and pipefitters page.
Against the national figure
| Texas | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $59,840 | $63,800 |
| Median hourly | $28.77 | $30.67 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $38,270 | $44,150 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $81,890 | $108,420 |
| Employed | 44,090 | 465,840 |
Other trades in Texas
Electricians ($58,570) · HVAC technicians ($57,760) · Welders ($53,340) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($56,290)
See all five ranked by pay in Texas.
How to become a plumber in Texas
Texas licenses plumbers through the TSBPE on a tiered path — register as an apprentice, then Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, and Master — each with its own experience, training course, exam and fee, renewed annually. The licensing authority is Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE).
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber's Apprentice (registration) | Entry-level registration; must be at least 16. No experience or exam. Register before working so hours count toward the higher licenses. | — | — | $15 |
| Tradesman Plumber-Limited | 4,000 hours of plumbing-trade experience plus a TSBPE-approved 24-hour course, then pass the exam ($36 exam fee, $35 to obtain the license). | 4,000 hrs (≈ 2 yrs) | Tradesman Plumber-Limited Examination | $35 |
| Journeyman Plumber | 8,000 hours of plumbing-trade experience plus a TSBPE-approved 48-hour course, then pass the exam. | 8,000 hrs (≈ 4 yrs) | Journeyman Plumber Examination | $40 |
| Master Plumber | Hold a journeyman license (in Texas or another state) at least two years — or one year plus a US DOL-approved apprenticeship — then pass the exam (administered by Pearson VUE). | — | Master Plumber Examination (Pearson VUE) | $75 |
Reciprocity. TSBPE has no general reciprocity program, but a journeyman plumber licensed in another state can qualify to sit for the Texas Master Plumber exam.
Renewal. Annual, with 6 hours of continuing education.
Licensing sources: TSBPE License Types (retrieved 2026-09-16) · TSBPE Journeyman Plumber (retrieved 2026-09-16) · TSBPE Master Plumber (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) 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 Texas?
Texas licenses plumbers through the TSBPE on a tiered path — register as an apprentice, then Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, and Master — each with its own experience, training course, exam and fee, renewed annually.
What does it cost to get licensed as a plumber in Texas?
Application and license fees run from about $15 to $75 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 Texas?
You can be licensed as Tradesman Plumber-Limited after about 2 years of on-the-job training (4,000 hours); higher tiers take longer.
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.