Plumber Salary - Southwest
Sustained construction growth across four states
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 Southwest is a volume market for plumbers with wages below the national median. Texas alone employs over 44,000 plumbers, but the state median of $59,840 sits below the national median. Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma follow similar patterns. The region is growing quickly, driven by population growth and energy sector activity, but wages haven't kept pace with demand.
The Southwest is predominantly non-union territory for plumbing and mechanical work. Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico are all right-to-work states with limited UA market share outside major metros. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Phoenix all have UA locals but non-union mechanical contractors handle most residential and light commercial work. Industrial work along the Texas Gulf Coast, including refineries, petrochemical plants, and LNG facilities, is more heavily unionized.
The Southwest offers below-average cost of living across most of the region. Oklahoma sits at 83.5. Texas at 90.7 and New Mexico at 89.9 are well below the national average. Arizona at 107.6 is the outlier, driven by rapid housing appreciation in the Phoenix metro.
- →Massive residential and commercial construction across Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth metros
- →Petrochemical, refinery, and LNG facility construction along the Texas Gulf Coast requiring industrial pipefitting
- →Semiconductor fabrication plant construction in Arizona requiring ultra-pure water and process piping systems
- →Data center expansion across Dallas and Phoenix requiring mechanical infrastructure
- →Population growth driving consistent residential plumbing demand across all four states
The Southwest offers high work volume. Texas Gulf Coast industrial work, including petrochemical and refinery projects, is the exception. Phoenix is active on commercial construction. For travelers prioritizing steady work the Southwest has consistent demand. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Gulf Coast industrial opportunities in Texas.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $62,070 -$1,730 vs. national | 107.6 | $57,686 -$6,114 vs. national |
| New Mexico | $61,440 -$2,360 vs. national | 89.9 | $68,343 +$4,543 vs. national |
| Texas | $59,840 -$3,960 vs. national | 90.7 | $65,976 +$2,176 vs. national |
| Oklahoma | $57,970 -$5,830 vs. national | 83.5 | $69,425 +$5,625 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.