40h normalized salary comparison

Plumber Salary in Denver

Average Plumber salary in Denver on a 40h basis 70,086 $ 5,840 $ gross/month · 33.70 $ gross/hour
Full-time salary range/year 32,500 $ – 120,500 $
Full-time salary range/month 2,708 $ – 10,042 $
Based on 36 salary reports

The average salary for a Plumber in Denver is 70,086 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,840 $ gross per month and 33.70 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 32,500 $ to 120,500 $. The analysis is based on 36 salary reports from workers and employers in Denver. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.

Reports 36
Minimum 40h 32,500 $
Avg. gross/year 40h 70,086 $
Avg. Gross/month 40h 5,840 $
Avg. gross/hour 40h 33.70 $
Maximum 40h 120,500 $

Minimum, average and maximum values on a 40h basis

Trend over time on a 40h basis

Individual reported salaries

Date Job title Weekly hours Reported gross/year Normalized to 40h/year Gross/month 40h Gross/hour 40h Note
07/02/2026 Plumbing Operations Manager 40.0 h 120,500 $ 120,500 $ 10,042 $ 57.93 $ I manage operations for a mid-size plumbing contractor, focusing on hiring, fleet management, and profitability. My role is primarily managerial with occasional field oversight.
06/14/2026 Journeyman Plumber (Night Shift) 40.0 h 65,000 $ 65,000 $ 5,417 $ 31.25 $ I work night shift service and emergency calls for a large maintenance provider; the shift premium and overtime opportunities pushed my annual gross up.
05/28/2026 Commercial Estimator (Plumbing) 40.0 h 93,000 $ 93,000 $ 7,750 $ 44.71 $ I work as a senior estimator producing bids for multi-million-dollar projects. This is primarily an office-based role but requires site visits and strong plumbing knowledge.
04/06/2026 Owner / Principal Plumber 45.0 h 135,000 $ 120,000 $ 10,000 $ 57.69 $ I own a successful contracting company focused on large commercial work; my reported annual pay is what I draw from the business after payroll and operating expenses.
01/18/2026 Commercial Plumbing Superintendent 44.0 h 118,000 $ 107,273 $ 8,939 $ 51.57 $ I oversee multiple simultaneous commercial projects around Denver, manage staffing and vendors, and am compensated at a higher manager rate for the workload.
11/07/2025 Plumbing Fabricator / Senior Tech 40.0 h 84,000 $ 84,000 $ 7,000 $ 40.38 $ I run prefabrication for plumbing assemblies and also support field installs; the hybrid role and specialized skillset boost my compensation.
09/25/2025 Master Plumber / Team Lead 40.0 h 89,000 $ 89,000 $ 7,417 $ 42.79 $ I lead a team of plumbers for a regional firm, review plans, and sign off on permit work. My salary reflects master license pay and leadership duties.
06/12/2025 Part-time Plumbing Consultant 32.0 h 42,000 $ 52,500 $ 4,375 $ 25.24 $ I consult part-time on plumbing plans and code compliance while running a separate small business; my hours are intentionally reduced but compensated at a higher per-hour rate.
03/30/2025 Senior Residential Plumbing Specialist 40.0 h 76,000 $ 76,000 $ 6,333 $ 36.54 $ I focus on high-end residential remodels and luxury fixture installations; specialized skills in design coordination and custom work increased my compensation.
01/20/2025 Plumbing Project Manager 40.0 h 98,000 $ 98,000 $ 8,167 $ 47.12 $ I transitioned from field work into project management for a regional contractor, overseeing budgets and client relationships; my pay reflects the managerial responsibility.
11/01/2024 Self-employed Commercial Plumber 45.0 h 112,000 $ 99,556 $ 8,296 $ 47.86 $ I run a commercial-focused contracting business and take significant owner compensation; I also work on-site frequently to control quality and schedules.
08/13/2024 Independent Service Plumber 40.0 h 72,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 $ 34.62 $ I operate as an independent technician doing service calls and smaller installations; I bill hourly and this is my gross before taxes and business expenses.
05/16/2024 Senior Plumbing Supervisor 42.0 h 105,000 $ 100,000 $ 8,333 $ 48.08 $ I manage multiple foremen and coordinate large commercial projects across Denver. It's a management role with responsibilities for budgets and schedules.
03/05/2024 Apprentice Plumber (Net-Zero Projects) 38.0 h 35,500 $ 37,368 $ 3,114 $ 17.97 $ I'm an apprentice working on modern, eco-focused plumbing projects and learning new technologies; pay is slightly higher than older apprenticeships due to demand.
02/26/2024 Commercial Service Technician 40.0 h 72,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 $ 34.62 $ I focus on preventive maintenance and emergency service for commercial clients. My experience and stable contracts helped push my salary above typical residential rates.
09/07/2023 Owner / Lead Plumber - Growing Business 45.0 h 98,000 $ 87,111 $ 7,259 $ 41.88 $ I own a small plumbing company with several employees; I do both administrative work and take key jobs myself. My reported salary includes what I pay myself after business expenses.
06/04/2023 Residential Lead Installer 40.0 h 68,000 $ 68,000 $ 5,667 $ 32.69 $ I lead installation crews for residential new construction, handle material ordering and mentor junior techs. My pay improved as I took on more supervisory tasks.
04/11/2023 Plumbing Estimator / Senior Tech 40.0 h 86,000 $ 86,000 $ 7,167 $ 41.35 $ I work as a senior technician and estimator for a large contractor, preparing bids and overseeing project scope; compensation reflected experience and performance incentives.
01/22/2023 Master Plumber 40.0 h 82,000 $ 82,000 $ 6,833 $ 39.42 $ I'm a licensed master plumber overseeing permit work and designs for residential and commercial jobs. I do not own the company but have senior responsibilities.
12/09/2022 Commercial Retrofit Specialist 40.0 h 79,000 $ 79,000 $ 6,583 $ 37.98 $ I specialize in commercial retrofits and energy-efficient fixture installs; my experience in specialized retrofit work led to higher wages in recent years.
10/30/2022 Commercial Plumbing Lead 44.0 h 75,000 $ 68,182 $ 5,682 $ 32.78 $ I lead crews on commercial healthcare retrofit projects; role included on-site decisions, subcontractor coordination, and long days during critical phases.
05/09/2022 Journeyman Plumber (Mid-level) 40.0 h 61,000 $ 61,000 $ 5,083 $ 29.33 $ I have about eight years' experience primarily in residential service and light commercial work; this was my reported full-time salary.
02/14/2022 Part-time Service Plumber 25.0 h 30,000 $ 48,000 $ 4,000 $ 23.08 $ I work part-time doing weekend service calls and small repairs for extra income while I finish a trade school program. This is my gross annual for those hours.
12/05/2021 Plumbing Foreman 42.0 h 72,000 $ 68,571 $ 5,714 $ 32.97 $ I supervised a crew on commercial installation projects, coordinated schedules, and handled client communications. My hours were longer due to management responsibilities.
08/19/2021 Senior Service Plumber 40.0 h 67,000 $ 67,000 $ 5,583 $ 32.21 $ I was a senior technician handling complex diagnostics and mentoring apprentices at a mid-size company; pay included some performance bonuses.
03/08/2021 Self-employed Plumber (Owner/Operator) 45.0 h 64,000 $ 56,889 $ 4,741 $ 27.35 $ I run my own single-van operation doing service calls and small installs. At the time I reported this I was working long hours to grow the business.
11/03/2020 Project Plumber - Small Business 40.0 h 58,000 $ 58,000 $ 4,833 $ 27.88 $ I worked as the lead plumber on remodel projects for a local contractor; responsibilities included layout and supervising helpers, but I wasn't the business owner.
06/21/2020 Residential Plumbing Technician (Mid-level) 40.0 h 54,000 $ 54,000 $ 4,500 $ 25.96 $ I had about seven years' experience and was doing service installs and diagnosing complex residential systems for a small company.
01/10/2020 Maintenance Plumber 40.0 h 49,500 $ 49,500 $ 4,125 $ 23.80 $ I work in facilities maintenance for an apartment complex handling routine plumbing and minor projects. The role is steady full-time work with benefits.
07/29/2019 Journeyman Plumber (Union) 40.0 h 52,500 $ 52,500 $ 4,375 $ 25.24 $ I was working under a union contractor doing large residential developments; I had about five years' experience and regular overtime opportunities.
02/18/2019 Service Plumber (Part-time) 28.0 h 34,000 $ 48,571 $ 4,048 $ 23.35 $ I work part-time doing callouts and smaller repair jobs; I'm paid hourly and take fewer shifts to accommodate family obligations.
10/02/2018 Commercial Plumber - Early Career 40.0 h 48,000 $ 48,000 $ 4,000 $ 23.08 $ I work primarily on commercial retrofit projects for a mid-size contractor; I had about three years' experience when I reported this salary.
03/15/2018 Journeyman Plumber 40.0 h 45,500 $ 45,500 $ 3,792 $ 21.88 $ I became a journeyman and work full-time on both residential and small commercial jobs. I've been in this role two years and the pay reflects local journeyman rates at the time.
11/20/2017 Apprentice Plumber (Evenings) 30.0 h 29,000 $ 38,667 $ 3,222 $ 18.59 $ I'm a part-time apprentice balancing school and on-the-job training; I work mostly evenings doing prep and assisting on jobs. This is my gross annual pay.
05/03/2017 Residential Service Plumber (Entry) 38.0 h 36,000 $ 37,895 $ 3,158 $ 18.22 $ I was an entry-level service plumber in my first full year after apprenticeship; I travel to customer homes and handle common repairs. Hours are full-time and include occasional overtime.
09/12/2016 Apprentice Plumber 40.0 h 32,500 $ 32,500 $ 2,708 $ 15.63 $ I'm a second-year apprentice working residential service calls for a small contractor. I do basic installs and assist journeymen; I get paid hourly and this is my annual gross for full-time hours.

Job Outlook for Plumbers in Denver, Colorado

Plumbers in Denver, Colorado benefit from a diverse and steady stream of work across residential, commercial, and public-sector settings. The Denver–Aurora–Lakewood metro area continues to add housing and modernize older stock, while ongoing airport, healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects create a consistent pipeline of plumbing needs. Local building codes, Denver’s climate, and strong institutional investment all shape day-to-day demand for skilled tradespeople.

Denver’s housing mix includes many mid-century homes that are frequently remodeled, plus newer multifamily buildings near downtown and along transit corridors. That combination supports both service calls and capital projects. Freeze–thaw cycles, backflow prevention requirements, and water-efficiency upgrades also keep residential and commercial service teams busy throughout the year.

Labor Market

Plumbing employment in Denver is typically resilient because work spans installation, remodels, compliance, and ongoing maintenance. New builds and tenant improvements support commercial and multifamily construction crews, while aging infrastructure, sewer line repairs, and fixture replacements sustain service teams. Denver International Airport’s continuing improvements, hospital and university renovations, school facility upgrades, and code-driven retrofits generally add to demand for licensed plumbers.

Colorado licenses plumbers through the State Plumbing Board, and employers in Denver commonly require an active Colorado journeyman or master license. Work is performed under the International Plumbing Code with state and local amendments, and permits and inspections in the city are handled by Denver’s Community Planning and Development department. Many roles also call for additional credentials such as medical gas installer certification, OSHA-10/30 safety training, or ASSE backflow tester certification—particularly for hospitals, laboratories, and properties regulated by Denver Water’s cross-connection control program.

Training and entry pathways are well established. Apprentices can pursue a union track through UA Local 3 or nonunion programs supported by industry associations such as PHCC Colorado and ABC Rocky Mountain. On the technology side, commercial contractors in Denver increasingly use prefabrication, BIM/VDC coordination, and digital layout tools, so Revit skills and familiarity with total stations can be advantageous. On the service side, hydro-jetting, trenchless sewer repair, and video inspection are common technologies across the metro.

Seasonality is present but often manageable. Cold snaps can spike emergency work related to burst pipes and freeze protection, while summer construction pushes larger projects. Because the metro is geographically spread across Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Westminster, Thornton, Arvada, Centennial, and nearby communities, many jobs involve travel between sites. Background checks and badging can be required for airports, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Major Employers

In Denver, plumbers are hired by a mix of residential service companies, commercial mechanical contractors, and public institutions. Examples include:

  • Residential and service contractors: Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric; Bell Plumbing and Heating; Brothers Plumbing, Heating & Electric; Plumbline Services; Blue Sky Plumbing & Heating; and Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Denver).
  • Commercial and industrial mechanical contractors: RK (RK Mechanical); U.S. Engineering; Murphy Company; MTech Mechanical; Braconier Mechanical & Plumbing; Trautman & Shreve; and McKinstry, which often staff large construction and ongoing facility projects.
  • Public- and institutional-sector employers: City and County of Denver General Services; Denver International Airport (DEN) facilities; Denver Public Schools; Denver Health; the University of Denver facilities team; Denver Water; and regional wastewater agencies such as Metro Water Recovery.

General contractors and developers drive additional demand through subcontracted work on office, multifamily, higher education, and healthcare projects across the metro. Breweries, food-service operators, and life-science labs also contribute to specialized plumbing scopes like grease interceptors, acid waste, and lab-grade water systems.

Career Opportunities

Plumbers in Denver can move among residential service, commercial construction, and facilities maintenance, or specialize in niches that are prominent locally. Common pathways include apprentice to journeyman, then foreman or superintendent on construction crews, or service technician to lead tech and field supervisor in residential and light commercial work. With experience, some professionals transition into estimating, project management, or VDC/BIM coordination for plumbing systems.

Specialty credentials can open doors to higher-responsibility roles:

  • Medical gas installer certifications for hospital and clinic projects.
  • Backflow tester and cross-connection control for compliance-driven work with Denver Water and commercial properties.
  • Trenchless sewer repair, pipe lining, and advanced drain diagnostics for residential and municipal markets.
  • Grease waste and interceptors for restaurants, commissaries, and food processing.

Denver’s push for building performance and conservation often leads to retrofit projects involving water-efficient fixtures, recirculation systems, and controls. The city’s expanding allowance for accessory dwelling units in many neighborhoods can also create small-scale residential build and remodel opportunities that require skilled plumbing layouts and permitting expertise.

Overall, the outlook for plumbers in Denver is generally favorable. A mix of growth, aging infrastructure, and institutional investment sustains demand across economic cycles, offering varied roles for licensed professionals who keep up with code changes, safety practices, and the growing use of technology in both the field and the prefab shop.

Frequently Asked Questions about Plumber in Denver

How much does a Plumber make in Denver?

The average salary for a Plumber in Denver is 70,086 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,840 $ gross per month.

Why are salaries converted to 40 hours?

Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.

Where can I find more salary comparisons for Plumber or Denver?

You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Plumber and the city overview for Denver. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.