Plumber Salary - Southeast
Large employment base, right-to-work states, wages near or below national median
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 Southeast is a volume market for plumbers and pipefitters with wages consistently below the national median. Florida and Texas account for the bulk of employment, driven by population growth and construction demand, but both pay well below the $63,800 national median. Virginia is the notable exception, pulled upward by the Northern Virginia and DC metro markets. The region's right-to-work environment keeps wages lower but construction demand remains strong.
UA union density is low across most of the Southeast. Right-to-work legislation dominates the region and non-union mechanical contractors handle most residential and light commercial work. UA locals exist in major metros -- Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Miami -- but market share is limited. Industrial work -- refineries, power plants, and petrochemical facilities along the Gulf Coast -- is more heavily unionized and pays significantly above the state median. For most of the Southeast, non-union contractors set the market rate.
The Southeast is the most affordable region in the country for plumbers. Most states carry COL indices between 85 and 97. Tennessee at 88.9, Georgia at 90.6, and Arkansas at 89.1 offer the lowest cost of living in the region. The affordability advantage partially compensates for below-median wages -- a journeyman plumber earning $58,600 in Tennessee has more purchasing power than the same wage in Massachusetts. Virginia at 99.1 is near the national average, pulled higher by Northern Virginia's housing market.
- →Massive residential construction across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas driving consistent plumbing demand
- →Petrochemical, refinery, and LNG facility construction along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast requiring industrial pipefitting
- →Manufacturing facility construction across Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas -- automotive, EV battery plants require complex mechanical systems
- →Healthcare and hospital construction across major Southeast metros driving commercial plumbing demand
- →Data center construction in Northern Virginia and Atlanta requiring sophisticated mechanical and process piping
The Southeast offers high work volume but wages below what travelers can earn in union markets. Gulf Coast industrial work -- particularly Texas and Louisiana petrochemical and refinery projects -- is the standout exception, with industrial pipefitter rates well above the state median and significant per diem available on remote projects. Northern Virginia data center work has drawn mechanical contractors from across the country. For travelers prioritizing steady work over top dollar, the Southeast has consistent demand. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Gulf Coast industrial opportunities.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $64,160 +$360 vs. national | 92.5 | $69,362 +$5,562 vs. national |
| Louisiana | $63,680 $-120 vs. national | 91.1 | $69,901 +$6,101 vs. national |
| Virginia | $60,470 $-3,330 vs. national | 99.1 | $61,019 $-2,781 vs. national |
| Alabama | $58,670 $-5,130 vs. national | 85.0 | $69,024 +$5,224 vs. national |
| Tennessee | $58,600 $-5,200 vs. national | 88.9 | $65,917 +$2,117 vs. national |
| Georgia | $57,200 $-6,600 vs. national | 90.6 | $63,135 $-665 vs. national |
| North Carolina | $57,080 $-6,720 vs. national | 96.6 | $59,089 $-4,711 vs. national |
| West Virginia | $56,980 $-6,820 vs. national | 87.9 | $64,824 +$1,024 vs. national |
| Mississippi | $55,480 $-8,320 vs. national | 86.2 | $64,362 +$562 vs. national |
| South Carolina | $53,940 $-9,860 vs. national | 91.9 | $58,694 $-5,106 vs. national |
| Florida | $52,910 $-10,890 vs. national | 100.7 | $52,542 $-11,258 vs. national |
| Arkansas | $48,660 $-15,140 vs. national | 89.1 | $54,613 $-9,187 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.