The average salary for a Plumber in Philadelphia is 64,992 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,416 $ gross per month and 31.25 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 26,000 $ to 111,111 $. The analysis is based on 42 salary reports from workers and employers in Philadelphia. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/15/2026 | Journeyman Plumber (Residential) | 40.0 h | 60,500 $ | 60,500 $ | 5,042 $ | 29.09 $ | I work full-time on residential new builds and warranty work. I've been a journeyman for six years and recently completed additional certifications. |
| 05/29/2026 | Service Plumber (Independent Contractor) | 44.0 h | 96,000 $ | 87,273 $ | 7,273 $ | 41.96 $ | I operate as an independent contractor taking service contracts and emergency work. I manage my schedule and subcontract when necessary; income reflects busy demand. |
| 03/11/2026 | Commercial Plumbing Superintendent | 44.0 h | 112,000 $ | 101,818 $ | 8,485 $ | 48.95 $ | I am superintendent overseeing multiple large commercial sites and coordinate with owners and general contractors. This is a leadership role with extended hours. |
| 01/07/2026 | Service Plumber | 40.0 h | 66,000 $ | 66,000 $ | 5,500 $ | 31.73 $ | I primarily do emergency and diagnostic work for residential accounts. Full-time, with premium pay for after-hours and weekend calls. |
| 11/19/2025 | Plumbing Estimator (Senior) | 40.0 h | 84,500 $ | 84,500 $ | 7,042 $ | 40.63 $ | I've been estimating large commercial plumbing contracts for eight years. This is a full-time salaried role with performance bonuses tied to bid success. |
| 09/02/2025 | Self-employed Plumbing Contractor (Part-owner) | 44.0 h | 104,000 $ | 94,545 $ | 7,879 $ | 45.45 $ | I co-own a midsize plumbing business; I split my time between fieldwork and business development. My reported salary includes owner compensation and bonuses. |
| 07/14/2025 | Apprentice Plumber | 40.0 h | 37,500 $ | 37,500 $ | 3,125 $ | 18.03 $ | I'm a third-year apprentice working on both residential and light commercial jobs. Full-time with employer-supported schooling and incremental raises. |
| 05/28/2025 | Lead Residential Plumber | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I lead a crew for high-end residential remodels, coordinating subcontractors and client sign-offs. Full-time, been in this role for four years. |
| 03/05/2025 | Plumbing Project Manager | 40.0 h | 99,000 $ | 99,000 $ | 8,250 $ | 47.60 $ | I manage large plumbing projects from bidding through closeout. My role is more administrative now but I still visit sites regularly; salaried full-time. |
| 02/20/2025 | Plumbing Installer | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I install fixtures and work on kitchen/bath remodels full-time. I've been doing installs for five years and my efficiency has improved my pay slightly. |
| 01/16/2025 | Commercial Service Specialist | 40.0 h | 67,500 $ | 67,500 $ | 5,625 $ | 32.45 $ | I do preventative maintenance and emergency service for commercial clients. Full-time role with on-call rotation and some weekend coverage. |
| 12/01/2024 | Senior Plumber / Project Lead | 42.0 h | 98,000 $ | 93,333 $ | 7,778 $ | 44.87 $ | I lead plumbing scopes on complex rehab and new construction projects. I'm senior-level, manage subcontractors, and still get hands-on when needed. |
| 10/22/2024 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 61,200 $ | 61,200 $ | 5,100 $ | 29.42 $ | I've been a journeyman for seven years doing retrofit and remodel work. This full-time job has steady hours and decent overtime during busy months. |
| 08/09/2024 | Master Plumber / Small Business Owner | 44.0 h | 118,000 $ | 107,273 $ | 8,939 $ | 51.57 $ | I own a small plumbing business with three employees. I do both management and fieldwork; my salary reflects owner draws and hours spent running the business. |
| 05/11/2024 | Part-time Plumbing Technician | 25.0 h | 26,000 $ | 41,600 $ | 3,467 $ | 20.00 $ | I work part-time handling low-priority maintenance calls at night and weekends while studying. I bill hourly but this is my primary income during school break periods. |
| 02/27/2024 | Commercial Plumbing Lead | 42.0 h | 94,000 $ | 89,524 $ | 7,460 $ | 43.04 $ | I lead plumbing installations on commercial high-rise projects. I coordinate trade partners and manage a small crew; hours exceed standard full-time during peak. |
| 10/19/2023 | Self-employed Service Plumber | 45.0 h | 91,000 $ | 80,889 $ | 6,741 $ | 38.89 $ | I run a one-person service company with subcontracted help during busy months. I handle billing, emergency calls, and customer acquisition. |
| 08/03/2023 | Maintenance Plumber (Part-time) | 28.0 h | 30,000 $ | 42,857 $ | 3,571 $ | 20.60 $ | I work part-time maintaining plumbing in a university residence system and pick up extra shifts during move-in. I prefer the schedule while I study part-time. |
| 06/30/2023 | Licensed Plumber (Union) | 40.0 h | 78,500 $ | 78,500 $ | 6,542 $ | 37.74 $ | I'm a union plumber working primarily on municipal projects. The wage and benefits are good and I've been in the trade for eleven years. |
| 04/04/2023 | Apprentice Plumber | 40.0 h | 34,500 $ | 34,500 $ | 2,875 $ | 16.59 $ | I'm in my second year as an apprentice; I install piping and assist on larger jobs. Full-time and enrolled in night classes for certification. |
| 01/12/2023 | Residential Service Plumber | 40.0 h | 57,000 $ | 57,000 $ | 4,750 $ | 27.40 $ | I focus on residential service and emergency calls. Full-time position, been at this company for six years and I've increased my call efficiency. |
| 11/21/2022 | Plumbing Supervisor | 40.0 h | 82,000 $ | 82,000 $ | 6,833 $ | 39.42 $ | I supervise multiple crews across projects and handle client coordination. I'm salaried and work normal full-time hours but often check in evenings. |
| 08/14/2022 | Plumbing Contractor (Owner-Operator) | 45.0 h | 125,000 $ | 111,111 $ | 9,259 $ | 53.42 $ | I own and operate a plumbing contracting firm with several crews. I work long hours managing bids, client relationships, and fieldwork; income varies by year. |
| 06/08/2022 | Estimator / Plumber | 40.0 h | 63,000 $ | 63,000 $ | 5,250 $ | 30.29 $ | I transitioned into estimating after years in the field. I still do site visits and prepare bids for commercial jobs; this is a full-time salaried role. |
| 03/17/2022 | Master Plumber | 44.0 h | 88,000 $ | 80,000 $ | 6,667 $ | 38.46 $ | I'm a licensed master plumber overseeing larger projects and mentoring younger techs. I handle permits and client relations and work extended hours when needed. |
| 10/05/2021 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 52,500 $ | 52,500 $ | 4,375 $ | 25.24 $ | I have eight years' experience as a journeyman on both residential and light commercial jobs. Full-time with occasional overtime during peak seasons. |
| 07/14/2021 | Service Plumber (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 27,000 $ | 36,000 $ | 3,000 $ | 17.31 $ | I work part-time doing service calls two to three days a week while I finish a certificate program. I run my own truck on those days and bill hourly. |
| 04/09/2021 | Plumbing Foreman | 42.0 h | 75,000 $ | 71,429 $ | 5,952 $ | 34.34 $ | I'm a foreman for a regional contractor overseeing crews on multifamily projects. I manage payroll and job coordination in addition to hands-on work. |
| 01/27/2021 | Commercial Plumber (Union) | 40.0 h | 82,000 $ | 82,000 $ | 6,833 $ | 39.42 $ | I work union commercial jobs including hospitals and schools. Full-time with good benefits; wages increased after recent union negotiations. |
| 11/30/2020 | Self-employed Plumbing Contractor | 45.0 h | 72,000 $ | 64,000 $ | 5,333 $ | 30.77 $ | I run my own small contracting business and do service calls and small remodels. I work long hours including weekends; I handle scheduling and admin myself. |
| 08/25/2020 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 49,800 $ | 49,800 $ | 4,150 $ | 23.94 $ | I have been a journeyman for five years, mostly doing residential installs and replacements. This is a full-time job with steady hours. |
| 02/18/2020 | Apprentice Plumber (Part-time) | 20.0 h | 16,500 $ | 33,000 $ | 2,750 $ | 15.87 $ | I'm a part-time apprentice working evenings and weekends while attending trade school. I do basic prep work and shadow journeymen. |
| 12/02/2019 | Commercial Plumber | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I handle medium commercial projects and have about nine years' experience. Full-time position; overtime is common during bigger jobs. |
| 06/07/2019 | Lead Plumber | 40.0 h | 61,500 $ | 61,500 $ | 5,125 $ | 29.57 $ | I'm the lead on a small crew at a local contractor. I've got seven years' experience and often coordinate schedules and materials, but I'm not in upper management. |
| 03/15/2019 | Lead Plumber (Small Business) | 40.0 h | 71,000 $ | 71,000 $ | 5,917 $ | 34.13 $ | I lead jobs for a small local contractor and handle onsite decisions. Full-time position and I've been promoted internally over the last five years. |
| 11/14/2018 | Maintenance Plumber | 38.0 h | 41,800 $ | 44,000 $ | 3,667 $ | 21.15 $ | I work full time maintaining plumbing systems in a mid-size apartment complex. I've been in this role for four years and do on-call rotation. |
| 07/29/2018 | Apprentice Plumber (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 19,500 $ | 26,000 $ | 2,167 $ | 12.50 $ | I work part-time as an apprentice while finishing school credits; I assist on calls and do prep work under supervision. |
| 03/21/2018 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 46,200 $ | 46,200 $ | 3,850 $ | 22.21 $ | I became a journeyman three years ago and work full time on remodels and new construction. I don't supervise others but I run my own jobsites occasionally. |
| 09/03/2017 | Service Plumber | 40.0 h | 39,500 $ | 39,500 $ | 3,292 $ | 18.99 $ | I do residential service calls and have been here for two years. It's full-time work and I handle most diagnostic calls on my own now. |
| 04/10/2017 | Plumbing Technician (Retail/Retail Install) | 40.0 h | 43,500 $ | 43,500 $ | 3,625 $ | 20.91 $ | I do in-store fixture installs and light service calls for a regional retailer. It's full-time and steady work but not heavily unionized. |
| 12/28/2016 | Journeyman Plumber | 38.0 h | 59,500 $ | 62,632 $ | 5,219 $ | 30.11 $ | I work full-time on multi-family rehab projects and have nine years in the trade. My schedule is generally 38 hours but I pick up overtime when needed. |
| 05/12/2016 | Apprentice Plumber | 40.0 h | 31,200 $ | 31,200 $ | 2,600 $ | 15.00 $ | I'm an entry-level apprentice; been on the job for 9 months doing installs and learning from a journeyman. This is a full-time position with basic benefits. |
Philadelphia’s built environment and steady pipeline of construction and renovation work generally support consistent demand for licensed plumbers. The city’s housing stock is older than the national average, with many homes and mixed-use buildings constructed before modern plumbing standards. Combined with active healthcare, higher education, and life sciences construction in University City and Center City, this creates a balanced market for both service and project-based plumbing work across the metro.
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects modest growth for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters over the next decade. In Philadelphia, local conditions such as code-driven replacements, tenant improvements, and institutional maintenance often keep hiring stable even when new construction cycles cool.
Philadelphia’s plumbing labor market is shaped by three consistent drivers: aging infrastructure, institutional campuses, and public-works investment. Many commercial and multifamily buildings require ongoing upgrades to fixtures, water heaters, backflow devices, and sanitary and storm systems. The Philadelphia Water Department’s long-term programs around lead service line replacements and green stormwater infrastructure can also spur related private-side work, particularly for contractors who handle laterals, domestic water upgrades, and backflow prevention.
Large hospital and university campuses typically maintain in-house maintenance teams alongside contracted mechanical firms, which helps even out seasonal swings. Winter freeze-thaw cycles can elevate emergency repair calls, while spring and summer are busy for tenant fit-outs and campus projects. Employers often seek plumbers who are comfortable with city permitting, code compliance, brazing and soldering, backflow testing, medical gas (in hospital settings), and reading plans and specs.
Plumbers in Philadelphia are employed by public agencies, universities and hospitals, mechanical contractors, and service companies. Examples include:
Many commercial and institutional roles are union positions. Plumbers in the city are often affiliated with UA Local 690, and large public and private projects commonly staff through union halls and signatory contractors. Apprenticeships typically combine classroom instruction with paid on-the-job training, preparing workers for journeyman and master-level licensing.
Philadelphia offers pathways across residential service, commercial construction, and institutional maintenance:
To pull permits in the city, plumbing work generally must be supervised by a licensed master plumber under Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses & Inspections. Because much work spans the wider metro, a valid driver’s license and willingness to travel across Philadelphia and nearby counties are commonly requested. With ongoing campus expansions, facility upgrades, and infrastructure-related work across the region, plumbers who combine strong technical skills with code knowledge and reliable customer service typically find steady opportunities in Philadelphia.
The average salary for a Plumber in Philadelphia is 64,992 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,416 $ 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 Philadelphia. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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