Plumber Salary - Pacific Coast
Oregon and Washington lead the nation, California adds volume
Wage figures reflect all plumbers across all employment types -- union and non-union, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. Union journeymen typically earn above the state median. Non-union residential work typically falls below it. State figures are averages -- wages vary significantly between metro and rural markets within the same state. City-level data coming soon.
The Pacific Coast is the highest-paying region for plumbers and pipefitters in the country. Oregon leads the nation with a median of $97,050, followed by Washington at $81,030 and California at $72,830. Strong 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 high-wage markets driven by remoteness and strong union contracts.
UA density is high across the Pacific Coast. Oregon and Washington are among the most unionized construction markets in the country with UA locals dominating commercial and industrial mechanical work. 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 strong union contracts driven by cost of living and project complexity. The region consistently produces some of the highest UA scale rates in North America.
Cost of living is the significant caveat on Pacific Coast wages. Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco rank among the most expensive metros in the country. The wage premium is real but so is the cost -- a journeyman earning $81K in Washington needs to account for housing costs that are among the highest in the country. Alaska at 129.0 and Hawaii at 184.8 COL present the most 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 one of the best destinations for traveling journeymen in the country. Oregon and Washington UA locals pay some of the highest scale rates in North America and regularly recruit travelers when local manpower is tight. California's size means opportunities vary significantly by market -- Bay Area and LA metro are strong, inland markets less so. Alaska offers exceptional wages and per diem for travelers willing to work remote locations. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro before making the trip.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living -- what your paycheck actually buys relative to the national average.
| 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.