The average salary for a Plumber in Madison is 62,780 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,232 $ gross per month and 30.18 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 29,500 $ to 98,000 $. The analysis is based on 28 salary reports from workers and employers in Madison. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/21/2026 | Senior Plumber / Project Lead | 40.0 h | 90,000 $ | 90,000 $ | 7,500 $ | 43.27 $ | I act as project lead on larger commercial builds, oversee quality control, and mentor junior staff. I'm full-time at a straight 40 hours per week. |
| 04/06/2026 | Journeyman Plumber (Part-time) | 26.0 h | 38,500 $ | 59,231 $ | 4,936 $ | 28.48 $ | I work as a part-time journeyman at about 26 hours per week doing evening and weekend service calls to supplement other income. |
| 01/18/2026 | Commercial Lead Plumber | 40.0 h | 79,000 $ | 79,000 $ | 6,583 $ | 37.98 $ | I lead installation crews on commercial projects and handle coordination with general contractors. I'm full-time and have seen wages rise in the last couple years. |
| 10/01/2025 | Self-Employed Plumber (Owner, Service & Remodel) | 45.0 h | 107,000 $ | 95,111 $ | 7,926 $ | 45.73 $ | I own a small service and remodel outfit with two technicians. I do oversight, high-end installs, and business development; I work long weeks (around 45 hours). |
| 07/09/2025 | Plumbing Foreman | 43.5 h | 84,500 $ | 77,701 $ | 6,475 $ | 37.36 $ | I manage multiple crews on large municipal jobs; my duties include scheduling, safety compliance, and client liaison. I average roughly 43.5 hours each week. |
| 03/27/2025 | Master Plumber / Consultant | 40.0 h | 98,000 $ | 98,000 $ | 8,167 $ | 47.12 $ | I am a master plumber doing consulting and project oversight for complex commercial projects. I work a standard 40-hour week and occasionally bill extra for consulting. |
| 11/19/2024 | Residential Service Plumber (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 36,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I work part-time at about 30 hours per week doing residential service work during daytime hours; I prefer the part-time schedule for family reasons. |
| 08/30/2024 | Apprentice Plumber (Year 3) | 40.0 h | 41,500 $ | 41,500 $ | 3,458 $ | 19.95 $ | I'm in my third year of apprenticeship through a joint program; I now run many service calls independently under mentorship and work a full 40-hour schedule. |
| 04/22/2024 | Journeyman Plumber (Commercial) | 40.0 h | 67,000 $ | 67,000 $ | 5,583 $ | 32.21 $ | I focus on commercial HVAC/plumbing interfaces and pipefitting; I'm full-time and have specialized skills that are in demand in our region. |
| 01/15/2024 | Self-Employed Plumber (Two-Person Shop Owner) | 45.0 h | 93,000 $ | 82,667 $ | 6,889 $ | 39.74 $ | I co-own a two-person plumbing/remodel business. I do field work, client estimates, and run the business; I average about 45 hours a week and this is my gross income. |
| 10/03/2023 | Plumbing Supervisor | 44.0 h | 82,000 $ | 74,545 $ | 6,212 $ | 35.84 $ | I supervise multiple plumbing crews and handle client/municipal coordination for a mid-size contractor. My role is managerial and I average around 44 hours weekly. |
| 06/10/2023 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 61,000 $ | 61,000 $ | 5,083 $ | 29.33 $ | I'm a union journeyman with about eight years experience, doing both residential and small commercial jobs. I'm full-time and receive some overtime throughout the year. |
| 02/21/2023 | Lead Service Plumber | 40.0 h | 70,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I lead a two-person service team focusing on high-end residential clients. I'm full-time and take on the more complex service diagnostics and client communication. |
| 11/14/2022 | Maintenance Plumber | 37.5 h | 52,000 $ | 55,467 $ | 4,622 $ | 26.67 $ | I do maintenance plumbing for a large university facility. My schedule is typically 37.5 hours per week and mostly preventative maintenance and emergency repairs. |
| 07/29/2022 | Plumbing Estimator / Journeyman | 40.0 h | 64,000 $ | 64,000 $ | 5,333 $ | 30.77 $ | I split my time between field work as a journeyman and preparing estimates for projects. I'm full-time at 40 hours and have been in this hybrid role three years. |
| 03/04/2022 | Commercial Plumber | 42.0 h | 75,000 $ | 71,429 $ | 5,952 $ | 34.34 $ | I handle commercial new-build plumbing installations and coordinate with other trades for a regional contractor. I'm experienced and average about 42 hours weekly. |
| 10/11/2021 | Service Plumber (Part-time) | 25.0 h | 28,000 $ | 44,800 $ | 3,733 $ | 21.54 $ | I work part-time (about 25 hours per week) doing service calls for residential customers while pursuing other work; this is my annual gross income. |
| 08/25/2021 | Apprentice Plumber (Year 2) | 40.0 h | 34,500 $ | 34,500 $ | 2,875 $ | 16.59 $ | In my second year of apprenticeship through a local program; I work full-time and have gradually taken on more service work under supervision. |
| 05/17/2021 | Plumbing Foreman | 44.0 h | 68,000 $ | 61,818 $ | 5,152 $ | 29.72 $ | I supervise a crew of five on larger commercial jobs. My role is managerial on-site and I average about 44 hours per week. |
| 11/22/2020 | Master Plumber | 40.0 h | 74,000 $ | 74,000 $ | 6,167 $ | 35.58 $ | I'm a master plumber with 15 years of experience. I oversee commercial installs and sometimes consult on bids for a regional firm; I'm full-time 40 hours. |
| 08/05/2020 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 53,000 $ | 53,000 $ | 4,417 $ | 25.48 $ | I've been a journeyman for five years working mostly commercial service contracts for a mid-sized contractor. I'm full-time at 40 hours. |
| 02/18/2020 | Self-Employed Plumber (Owner) | 45.0 h | 86,000 $ | 76,444 $ | 6,370 $ | 36.75 $ | I run a solo contracting business doing residential remodels and service calls. I work long weeks (about 45 hours) and this is my gross income before business expenses. |
| 09/12/2019 | Lead Plumber | 42.0 h | 62,000 $ | 59,048 $ | 4,921 $ | 28.39 $ | I'm the lead plumber on our residential service crew at a small business. I manage scheduling for two other plumbers and typically work around 42 hours weekly. |
| 04/30/2019 | Plumbing Technician | 38.0 h | 46,500 $ | 48,947 $ | 4,079 $ | 23.53 $ | I work as a plumbing technician for a large property management company; I've been here four years and work about 38 hours a week handling maintenance calls in apartment buildings. |
| 11/09/2018 | Residential Plumber | 32.0 h | 38,500 $ | 48,125 $ | 4,010 $ | 23.14 $ | I do part-time residential repair work while attending trade school; I'm scheduled for 32 hours a week and that is my actual annual pay reported here. |
| 06/20/2018 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 51,000 $ | 51,000 $ | 4,250 $ | 24.52 $ | I'm a journeyman with about six years of experience, working full-time on both residential and light commercial jobs for a medium-size contractor. |
| 10/02/2017 | Service Plumber | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I was hired as a junior service plumber for a small plumbing company; I've been here two years and work a standard full-time schedule handling mostly residential repairs. |
| 03/15/2016 | Plumbing Apprentice (Year 1) | 40.0 h | 29,500 $ | 29,500 $ | 2,458 $ | 14.18 $ | I'm in my first year of an apprenticeship (non-union) doing residential service calls and learning on the job. I'm full-time and work 40 hours a week with occasional overtime on call. |
Madison, Wisconsin’s economy is powered by a mix of state government, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a large healthcare network, and a growing tech and biohealth sector. That combination steadily fuels construction and facility upgrades across the metro area, creating ongoing opportunities for plumbers in both residential and commercial settings. From downtown housing and lab build-outs to suburban growth in Sun Prairie, Verona, Middleton, and Fitchburg, plumbers in the Madison region typically find a consistent pipeline of installation, renovation, and service work.
Local demand is also shaped by climate and building age. Cold winters can drive emergency calls for frozen lines and boiler/hydronic issues, while older homes near campus and around the isthmus often need code-compliant fixture replacements, repipes, and backflow devices. On the commercial side, hospitals, research labs, and high-density multifamily properties require specialized plumbing systems, frequent maintenance, and scheduled shutdown work—keeping licensed plumbers in regular demand.
Madison’s labor market for plumbers is generally tight, reflecting the metro’s low unemployment and steady construction activity. National and statewide outlooks point to stable demand for licensed plumbers, and locally that trend is reinforced by ongoing apartment development, university and healthcare expansions, and tenant improvements for offices, labs, and retail. Major projects led by general contractors often rely on regional plumbing and mechanical subcontractors, and many employers report that apprenticeship graduates move quickly into field roles.
Wisconsin requires state licensure through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), and most new entrants progress via a registered apprenticeship supported by employers and United Association (UA) locals serving the region, such as Plumbers Local 75. City of Madison Building Inspection oversees permits and code enforcement, and knowledge of Wisconsin’s plumbing code (SPS 381–387) is important for employability. Plumbers who hold additional credentials—such as medical gas brazing certification or backflow tester certification—are commonly favored for hospital, laboratory, and large commercial work in the Madison area.
Industry characteristics that shape hiring include routine service demand from student housing turnovers, a strong emphasis on water conservation and cross-connection control for commercial properties, and the frequent use of hydronic and in-floor heating systems. Many employers also utilize building information modeling (BIM) and prefabrication, so familiarity with digital layout tools and coordination practices can be a plus.
Plumbers in Madison, WI are often hired by established local contractors as well as public-sector facility teams. Real organizations that regularly engage plumbing talent include:
Large general contractors with a strong Madison presence—such as J.H. Findorff & Son, Miron Construction, and Mortenson—frequently drive project volume and hire regional plumbing subcontractors for major builds and renovations.
Plumbers in Madison typically find opportunities across residential service, commercial construction, and institutional maintenance. Common paths include:
Overall, the outlook for plumbers in Madison is positive. A resilient local economy, university and healthcare infrastructure, and ongoing residential and commercial development generally support steady hiring. Plumbers who pair state licensure with specialized credentials, strong customer service, and familiarity with modern construction technologies are well positioned to build long-term careers in the Madison area.
The average salary for a Plumber in Madison is 62,780 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,232 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Plumber and the city overview for Madison. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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