Plumber Salary - Midwest
Industrial and manufacturing base with established building trades
Wage figures on this page reflect all plumbers counted by the BLS, across union and non-union work, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. The BLS does not publish a separate journey-level tier. State figures are medians: half of workers earn more, half earn less.
The Midwest is a UA market. Illinois carries a median of $99,950, driven by Chicago UA locals. Minnesota carries $94,410 and Michigan $80,190. The region's industrial base, including manufacturing, power generation, and refineries, creates consistent demand for commercial and industrial pipefitting that keeps employment stable.
The Midwest has UA presence across its major markets. Chicago's UA locals include the plumbers and pipefitters. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan all have UA presence in their major metros. The industrial sector adds another layer: manufacturing facilities, power plants, and chemical plants across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan employ significant numbers of UA pipefitters and steamfitters. Outside the major metros union density drops but remains higher than the Southeast.
The Midwest has a low cost of living for plumbers and pipefitters. Illinois posts a COL index of 95.1 against a $99,950 median. Minnesota sits at 93.4 and Michigan at 93.9, both below-average cost of living. Iowa sits at 88.6 and Kansas at 87.6. The industrial Midwest includes Ohio at 93.7 and Indiana at 88.3.
- →Industrial manufacturing and process piping across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan's manufacturing corridor
- →Power generation and utility facility construction and maintenance across the region
- →EV battery and electric vehicle manufacturing facility construction requiring complex mechanical systems
- →Data center expansion into the Chicago metro and secondary Midwest markets
- →Renewable energy infrastructure: biomass and industrial facilities requiring process piping
Chicago is a destination for traveling journeymen. The market runs hot on major commercial and industrial projects. The industrial corridor across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan creates consistent demand for travelers with industrial pipefitting experience. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Chicago and industrial Midwest openings.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living: what a paycheck buys relative to the national median.
| State | Median Annual | COL Index | Effective Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,950 +$36,150 vs. national | 95.1 | $105,100 +$41,300 vs. national |
| Minnesota | $94,410 +$30,610 vs. national | 93.4 | $101,081 +$37,281 vs. national |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 +$17,410 vs. national | 97.4 | $83,378 +$19,578 vs. national |
| Michigan | $80,190 +$16,390 vs. national | 93.9 | $85,399 +$21,599 vs. national |
| Indiana | $76,320 +$12,520 vs. national | 88.3 | $86,433 +$22,633 vs. national |
| Missouri | $66,790 +$2,990 vs. national | 88.6 | $75,384 +$11,584 vs. national |
| Kansas | $65,220 +$1,420 vs. national | 87.6 | $74,452 +$10,652 vs. national |
| Iowa | $63,890 +$90 vs. national | 88.6 | $72,111 +$8,311 vs. national |
| North Dakota | $63,560 -$240 vs. national | 90.7 | $70,077 +$6,277 vs. national |
| Ohio | $63,330 -$470 vs. national | 93.7 | $67,588 +$3,788 vs. national |
| Nebraska | $60,970 -$2,830 vs. national | 91.3 | $66,780 +$2,980 vs. national |
| South Dakota | $51,620 -$12,180 vs. national | 94.1 | $54,857 -$8,943 vs. national |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - Plumbers - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.