The average salary for a Plumber in Pittsburgh is 61,976 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,165 $ gross per month and 29.80 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 30,000 $ to 106,667 $. The analysis is based on 33 salary reports from workers and employers in Pittsburgh. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/01/2026 | Plumbing Business Owner | 45.0 h | 120,000 $ | 106,667 $ | 8,889 $ | 51.28 $ | I own and operate a licensed plumbing company with about 20 employees. My time is split between field oversight, business development, and admin, averaging 45 hours weekly. |
| 06/25/2026 | Journeyman Plumber (Union) | 40.0 h | 70,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I'm a union journeyman working on larger public and private projects. I work a standard 40-hour week, and union wages/benefits are part of the compensation. |
| 05/28/2026 | Self-Employed Service Specialist | 40.0 h | 76,000 $ | 76,000 $ | 6,333 $ | 36.54 $ | I run a solo service business focusing on high-end residential systems. I'm full-time at 40 hours and have built steady recurring clients. |
| 04/20/2026 | Plumbing Project Manager | 42.0 h | 95,000 $ | 90,476 $ | 7,540 $ | 43.50 $ | I manage multiple commercial plumbing projects as a project manager for a regional contractor. My role is managerial and I usually work about 42 hours each week. |
| 03/03/2026 | Master Plumber (Estimator / Project Lead) | 40.0 h | 88,000 $ | 88,000 $ | 7,333 $ | 42.31 $ | I am a master plumber who also leads estimating and project coordination for large jobs. I work a standard 40-hour week with occasional nights for bid preparation. |
| 01/14/2026 | Service Plumber (Overtime Heavy) | 44.0 h | 68,000 $ | 61,818 $ | 5,152 $ | 29.72 $ | I primarily do emergency and after-hours service calls, averaging 44 hours a week including overtime. My pay reflects the heavy call volume. |
| 11/21/2025 | Owner / Operator | 45.0 h | 110,000 $ | 97,778 $ | 8,148 $ | 47.01 $ | I run a growing plumbing and mechanical company with about 12 employees. I work around 45 hours a week overseeing operations, sales, and project delivery. |
| 08/05/2025 | Residential Plumbing Lead | 40.0 h | 70,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I lead a residential team, handle complex remodels, and mentor apprentices. I work 40 hours per week and manage client-facing responsibilities. |
| 05/29/2025 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 61,000 $ | 61,000 $ | 5,083 $ | 29.33 $ | I work as a journeyman in new construction with a large contractor. I have nine years experience and a steady 40-hour workweek. |
| 02/18/2025 | Commercial Service Technician | 40.0 h | 65,000 $ | 65,000 $ | 5,417 $ | 31.25 $ | I service commercial HVAC and plumbing systems for institutional accounts. I'm full-time at 40 hours and have advanced training in commercial systems. |
| 11/12/2024 | Plumbing Supervisor | 43.0 h | 76,000 $ | 70,698 $ | 5,891 $ | 33.99 $ | I supervise multiple project sites for a regional construction firm and handle staffing and quality control. I typically put in 43 hours a week. |
| 08/30/2024 | Self-Employed Plumbing Contractor | 45.0 h | 92,000 $ | 81,778 $ | 6,815 $ | 39.32 $ | I own a five-person plumbing company doing both service and commercial projects. I work long weeks around 45 hours managing jobs, clients, and accounting. |
| 05/07/2024 | Master Plumber / Estimator | 40.0 h | 78,000 $ | 78,000 $ | 6,500 $ | 37.50 $ | I split time between field supervision and estimating for a mid-size contractor. I'm full-time at 40 hours and hold a master license. |
| 01/22/2024 | Residential Service Plumber (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 36,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I do part-time evening service for a small company, averaging 30 hours a week while finishing school. I handle diagnostics and small repairs. |
| 10/11/2023 | Commercial Plumbing Lead | 42.0 h | 72,000 $ | 68,571 $ | 5,714 $ | 32.97 $ | I'm the lead on large commercial accounts and manage a crew while still doing hands-on installs. I generally work around 42 hours per week. |
| 07/26/2023 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 59,000 $ | 59,000 $ | 4,917 $ | 28.37 $ | I work as a journeyman on multifamily construction projects for a larger company. I have seven years experience and a steady 40-hour schedule. |
| 03/08/2023 | Plumbing Estimator | 38.0 h | 68,000 $ | 71,579 $ | 5,965 $ | 34.41 $ | I estimate plumbing scopes and coordinate bids for a regional contractor. I'm in an office role with occasional site visits and work about 38 hours weekly. |
| 11/19/2022 | Service Plumber | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I do advanced service, diagnostics, and repairs for high-end residential clients. I'm full-time at 40 hours and have about ten years experience. |
| 08/10/2022 | Owner / Operator | 45.0 h | 85,000 $ | 75,556 $ | 6,296 $ | 36.32 $ | I run a small plumbing business with three employees. I handle business development, fieldwork, and administrative duties and typically work 45 hours a week. |
| 02/27/2022 | Master Plumber | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I'm a licensed master plumber doing project estimating and complex installs for a mid-size company. I work a 40-hour week but sometimes stay late for proposals. |
| 11/02/2021 | Plumbing Supervisor | 44.0 h | 67,000 $ | 60,909 $ | 5,076 $ | 29.28 $ | I supervise a team of plumbers and coordinate projects across multiple sites. I'm in a leadership role and work about 44 hours per week handling both field and administrative tasks. |
| 03/14/2021 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I work for a large contractor on mixed residential and commercial jobs. I have eight years in the trade and work a regular 40-hour week with occasional OT. |
| 10/21/2020 | Service Plumber (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 28,000 $ | 37,333 $ | 3,111 $ | 17.95 $ | I'm part-time covering service calls in the evenings and Saturdays. I average about 30 hours per week and do not receive benefits. |
| 06/09/2020 | Commercial Plumber | 40.0 h | 51,000 $ | 51,000 $ | 4,250 $ | 24.52 $ | I work full-time on commercial plumbing installations for a regional company. I have six years experience and work a standard 40-hour schedule. |
| 11/05/2019 | Apprentice Plumber | 40.0 h | 34,000 $ | 34,000 $ | 2,833 $ | 16.35 $ | I'm in a formal apprenticeship program through a small contractor and work 40 hours a week. I do installs and classroom training as part of the program. |
| 07/18/2019 | Plumbing Foreman | 42.0 h | 57,500 $ | 54,762 $ | 4,563 $ | 26.33 $ | I'm a foreman on commercial jobs with responsibility for a crew of four. I typically work around 42 hours a week and handle scheduling and on-site coordination. |
| 03/29/2019 | Service Technician | 37.5 h | 39,000 $ | 41,600 $ | 3,467 $ | 20.00 $ | I do service and emergency calls for a small plumbing company. I'm full-time at about 37.5 hours per week and have three years experience. |
| 10/02/2018 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I'm a journeyman employed by a medium-sized contractor focusing on commercial retrofit projects. I work 40 hours a week and occasionally put in overtime paid separately. |
| 04/16/2018 | Self-Employed Plumber | 45.0 h | 48,000 $ | 42,667 $ | 3,556 $ | 20.51 $ | I operate my own one-person business doing service and small remodel jobs. I typically work long weeks, around 45 hours, and handle all scheduling and paperwork myself. |
| 12/11/2017 | Residential Plumber (Part-time) | 22.5 h | 22,000 $ | 39,111 $ | 3,259 $ | 18.80 $ | I work part-time as a residential plumber doing weekend service calls and some weekday afternoons. I've been in this role two years but only average about 22.5 hours per week. |
| 09/20/2017 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I am a journeyman with a local non-union contractor. I work 40 hours a week on new construction and service work. I have four years experience and no direct reports. |
| 11/03/2016 | Service Plumber | 38.0 h | 36,000 $ | 37,895 $ | 3,158 $ | 18.22 $ | I was hired as a residential service plumber, working mostly service calls and small repairs. I'm full-time at 38 hours per week and have about two years experience. |
| 08/12/2016 | Apprentice Plumber | 40.0 h | 30,000 $ | 30,000 $ | 2,500 $ | 14.42 $ | I'm an entry-level apprentice and started on the tools after vocational school. I work 40 hours a week for a small residential contractor and my duties are basic installs and learning from journeymen. |
Pittsburgh’s built environment gives plumbers steady, year-round work. The city’s housing stock is older than the national average, so service and replacement of aging galvanized and cast-iron piping, sewer laterals, and fixtures are common. At the same time, hospitals, universities, and tech-driven office projects continue to renovate and build, creating ongoing demand for commercial plumbing and medical-gas specialists. Local infrastructure programs led by the region’s water and sewer agencies further reinforce a stable pipeline of projects.
Licensing and permitting are distinctive here. In Allegheny County, plumbing work is regulated by the Allegheny County Health Department, which oversees permits and licenses for journeyman and master plumbers. Contractors also follow the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code and local inspection processes. Employers in Pittsburgh often look for candidates familiar with these requirements, along with backflow prevention testing and other specialty certifications.
The Pittsburgh metropolitan area tends to support three major segments for plumbers: residential service and remodel, commercial/institutional construction, and facilities maintenance. Residential demand is buoyed by ongoing rehabilitation in neighborhoods like Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, the East End, and parts of the South Hills. Homeowners frequently upgrade bathrooms, replace old supply lines, and address sewer issues caused by tree roots and aging clay or cast-iron laterals. The region’s hills, basements, and wet-weather patterns also mean work related to sump pumps, backflow, and stormwater management is common.
Commercial and institutional plumbing remains active due to the city’s “eds and meds” economy. Large health systems and universities in Oakland and throughout Allegheny County regularly renovate labs, patient care areas, residence halls, and utilities. These projects typically require plumbers with experience in medical gas, acid waste, hydronic heating, and code-heavy environments. Ongoing development in the Strip District and Hazelwood Green adds tenant-improvement and ground-up opportunities.
Public infrastructure programs further support demand. The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority continues water main upgrades, lead service line replacements, and stormwater initiatives across the city. The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is advancing long-term work to reduce sewer overflows. While some of this activity centers on civil contractors, it often creates downstream demand for building connections, meter stations, backflow assemblies, and plumbing tie-ins handled by licensed plumbers.
Like many U.S. regions, Pittsburgh employers report that experienced, licensed plumbers and strong apprentices are sought after. Union and non-union shops are both active. The region is served by Plumbers Local Union No. 27, whose apprenticeship and ongoing training help meet commercial and industrial needs.
Plumbers in Pittsburgh can find opportunities with a mix of service companies, mechanical contractors, major institutions, and public authorities. Examples include:
Many small and mid-sized contractors in Allegheny County also hire regularly for residential service techs, commercial construction plumbers, and backflow testers.
Plumbers in Pittsburgh can move into a variety of roles depending on interest and credentials:
Employers in Pittsburgh typically value a clean driving record, the ability to pass background checks for hospital and campus work, OSHA safety training, and strong customer communication skills. Familiarity with Allegheny County plumbing permits and inspection processes is a plus. Given the city’s combination of aging buildings and ongoing institutional investment, the outlook for licensed plumbers remains positive, with consistent hiring across service, construction, and maintenance settings.
The average salary for a Plumber in Pittsburgh is 61,976 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,165 $ 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 Pittsburgh. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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