Plumber Salary - Pacific Coast
High-cost coastal markets with significant employment volume
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 Pacific Coast is a high-paying region for plumbers and pipefitters. Oregon carries a median of $97,050, Washington $81,030, and California $72,830. UA presence, active commercial construction markets, and industrial pipefitting demand drive wages well above the national median across the region. Alaska and Hawaii operate as distinct markets driven by remoteness.
UA density is high across the Pacific Coast. California is more mixed, heavily unionized in the Bay Area and LA metro, less so in the Central Valley and inland regions. Alaska and Hawaii maintain union contracts driven by cost of living and project complexity.
Cost of living on the Pacific Coast is high. Alaska at 129.0 and Hawaii at 184.8 COL present extreme dynamics. Travelers should run the numbers carefully before committing to a long haul on the Pacific Coast.
- →Data center construction concentrated in the Pacific Northwest requiring sophisticated mechanical and process piping systems
- →Semiconductor and high-tech manufacturing facility construction in Oregon and Washington
- →Grid modernization and industrial facility construction across California, Oregon, and Washington
- →Ongoing commercial construction in Seattle, Portland, and the Bay Area metro
- →Alaska's oil, gas, and mining sectors creating sustained industrial pipefitting demand
The Pacific Coast is a destination for traveling journeymen. Oregon and Washington UA locals regularly recruit travelers when local manpower is tight. California's size means opportunities vary significantly by market. Alaska has remote work locations for travelers. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro before making the trip.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $97,050 +$33,250 vs. national | 109.6 | $88,549 +$24,749 vs. national |
| Alaska | $93,920 +$30,120 vs. national | 129.0 | $72,806 +$9,006 vs. national |
| Washington | $81,030 +$17,230 vs. national | 114.6 | $70,707 +$6,907 vs. national |
| Hawaii | $78,060 +$14,260 vs. national | 184.8 | $42,240 -$21,560 vs. national |
| California | $72,830 +$9,030 vs. national | 140.5 | $51,836 -$11,964 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.