Plumber demographics and statistics in the US
Plumber demographics research summary. Zippia estimates plumber demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our plumber estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about plumbers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 261,194 plumbers currently employed in the United States.
- 3.5% of all plumbers are women, while 96.5% are men.
- The average plumber age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of plumbers is White (63.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.2%), Black or African American (9.5%) and Unknown (4.2%).
- Plumbers are most in-demand in Raleigh, NC.
- Seattle, WA pays an annual average wage of $83,601, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women plumbers earned 102% of what men earned.
- Montana is the best state for plumbers to live.
- Plumbers are 84% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Plumber demographics by:
Plumber gender statistics
3.5% of plumbers are women and 96.5% of plumbers are men.
- Male, 96.5%
- Female, 3.5%
Plumber gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 96.5% |
| Female | 3.5% |
Plumber gender pay gap
Women earn $1.02 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$55,692
Female income
$56,530
Plumber gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in plumber positions over time. Currently, 3.5% of plumbers are female.
Plumber gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 97.69% | 2.31% |
| 2011 | 98.01% | 1.99% |
| 2012 | 97.56% | 2.44% |
| 2013 | 96.88% | 3.12% |
| 2014 | 97.54% | 2.46% |
| 2015 | 97.79% | 2.21% |
| 2016 | 97.16% | 2.84% |
| 2017 | 98.13% | 1.87% |
| 2018 | 96.72% | 3.28% |
| 2019 | 96.99% | 3.01% |
| 2020 | 96.54% | 3.46% |
| 2021 | 96.50% | 3.50% |
Plumber related jobs gender ratio
We compared plumbers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Plumber | 96% | 4% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Plumber demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among plumbers is White, which makes up 63.2% of all plumbers. Comparatively, 20.2% of plumbers are Hispanic or Latino and 9.5% of plumbers are Black or African American.
- White, 63.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.2%
- Black or African American, 9.5%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- Asian, 1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Plumber race
| Plumber race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 63.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.2% |
| Black or African American | 9.5% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| Asian | 1.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Plumber race and ethnicity over time
See how plumber racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Plumber race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.97% | 10.60% | 1.34% | 15.88% |
| 2011 | 67.94% | 10.64% | 1.69% | 16.69% |
| 2012 | 67.26% | 11.16% | 1.51% | 17.06% |
| 2013 | 68.66% | 10.49% | 1.30% | 16.45% |
| 2014 | 67.53% | 10.94% | 1.38% | 17.30% |
| 2015 | 67.48% | 10.72% | 1.51% | 17.58% |
| 2016 | 66.39% | 10.66% | 1.53% | 18.47% |
| 2017 | 66.85% | 10.75% | 1.55% | 17.99% |
| 2018 | 66.85% | 10.03% | 1.34% | 18.68% |
| 2019 | 68.09% | 9.68% | 1.87% | 17.41% |
| 2020 | 65.49% | 10.04% | 1.95% | 17.34% |
| 2021 | 63.17% | 9.52% | 1.87% | 20.17% |
Plumber wage gap by race
According to our data, white plumbers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american plumbers have the lowest average salary at $54,130.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $56,897 |
| White | $58,834 |
| Black or African American | $54,130 |
| Asian | $54,604 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $54,150 |
Average plumber age
See how the average age of plumbers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Plumber age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | |
| Unknown | 39 | |
| Asian | 43 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | |
| White | 41 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Plumber age breakdown
The average age of plumbers is 40+ years years old, representing 55% of the plumber population.
Plumber age breakdown
| Plumber Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 55% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 18% |
Plumber educational attainment
The most common degree for plumbers is high school diploma, with 53% of plumbers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- High School Diploma, 53%
- Associate, 15%
- Diploma, 12%
- Bachelor's, 12%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Plumbers by degree level
| Plumber degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 53% |
| Associate | 15% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Bachelor's | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Plumber jobs you might like
Plumber wage gap by degree level
According to the data, plumbers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $60,768 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, plumbers earn a median annual income of $56,393 compared to $54,362 for plumbers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $54,362 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $56,393 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $60,768 |
Plumber employment statistics
Most plumbers work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where plumbers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where plumbers work.
Plumber jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 11% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 24% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 31% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 17% |
| > 10,000 employees | 6% |
Plumber jobs by company type
Employees with the plumber job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most plumbers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Plumber jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 6% |
| Private | 84% |
| Government | 5% |
Plumber jobs by industry
The most common industries for plumbers are construction, professional and retail.
Plumber industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 34% |
| Professional | 16% |
| Retail | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Government | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Education | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Plumber turnover and employment statistics
Plumber unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for plumbers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Plumber unemployment rate by year
| Year | Plumber unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.79% |
| 2011 | 15.00% |
| 2012 | 11.39% |
| 2013 | 9.55% |
| 2014 | 7.35% |
| 2015 | 5.14% |
| 2016 | 5.26% |
| 2017 | 4.56% |
| 2018 | 3.84% |
| 2019 | 3.70% |
| 2020 | 5.64% |
| 2021 | 6.78% |
Average plumber tenure
The average plumber stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 32,723 plumbers resumes in Zippia's database.
Plumber tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 25% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Plumber LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of plumbers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Mason | 1.40% | 229 |
| Drywall Taper | 1.75% | 13,470 |
| Plumber | 2.08% | - |
| Mortar Worker | 2.24% | 19,800 |
| Electrical Sign Servicer | 2.76% | 32,322 |
| Marble Mason | 3.39% | 223 |
| Sheet Metal Mechanic | 4.07% | 35,242 |
Similar plumber jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Mason | 1.40% | 229 |
| Drywall Taper | 1.75% | 13,470 |
| Mortar Worker | 2.24% | 19,800 |
| Electrical Sign Servicer | 2.76% | 32,322 |
| Marble Mason | 3.39% | 223 |
| Sheet Metal Mechanic | 4.07% | 35,242 |
Foreign languages spoken by plumbers
The most common foreign language among plumbers is Spanish at 72.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.1% and German is the third-most popular at 4.2%.
- Spanish, 72.2%
- French, 6.1%
- German, 4.2%
- Portuguese, 3.2%
- Polish, 1.9%
- Other, 12.4%
Plumber languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 72.2% |
| French | 6.1% |
| German | 4.2% |
| Portuguese | 3.2% |
| Polish | 1.9% |
| Other | 12.4% |
