Plumber Salary in Houston
Metro area wage data for plumbers and pipefitters from the BLS OEWS program, May 2025.
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 area median. Non-union residential work typically falls below it.
Petrochemical and industrial facility work drive Houston's plumber market alongside a largely non-union workforce.
Houston's plumber market is driven heavily by petrochemical, refinery, and industrial facility work. UA Local 68 covers Harris County plumbers, distinct from UA Local 211 which covers pipefitters. Union density is limited outside of industrial sectors, and most residential and commercial plumbing is non-union. Industrial plumbers with specialty skills in oil and gas facilities command a significant premium.
- →UA Local 68 covers Harris County plumbers
- →Petrochemical and refinery work drives industrial plumber premium
- →No state income tax partially offsets lower nominal wage
UA Local 68 journeyman plumber Journey-Level Rate
Union scale reflects the UA Local 68 journeyman plumber journey-level rate under the current collective bargaining agreement. The BLS area median reflects all plumbers across all employment types and experience levels.
| Training Center | Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee (HAPJAC) |
| Address | 454 Link Road, Houston, TX 77061 |
| Phone | (713) 861-3202 |
| Minimum Score | No minimum |
Applying to UA Local 68?
The aptitude test is required for all applicants to UA Local 68. See what to expect and how to prepare.
What to expect →All plumbers — union and non-union, all experience levels
All plumbers — union and non-union, all experience levels. Wage figures only, employer-paid benefits, pension contributions, and health and welfare are not included.
| Annual Median Wage | $61,300 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $63,860 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $29.47 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $30.70 |
| Total Employed | 10,980 |
| Area Type | Metropolitan Area |
Journey-level rates sourced directly from local collective bargaining agreements across the country's major construction markets. Union density and market conditions vary significantly by region.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - SOC 47-2152 (Plumbers and Pipefitters) - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
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