Plumber/pipefitter demographics and statistics in the US
Plumber/pipefitter demographics research summary. Zippia estimates plumber/pipefitter demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our plumber/pipefitter estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about plumber/pipefitters after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 190,272 plumber/pipefitters currently employed in the United States.
- 2.5% of all plumber/pipefitters are women, while 97.5% are men.
- The average plumber/pipefitter age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of plumber/pipefitters is White (65.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.2%), Black or African American (9.1%) and Unknown (4.2%).
- Plumber/pipefitters are most in-demand in San Diego, CA.
- The automotive industry is the highest-paying for plumber/pipefitters.
- 2% of all plumber/pipefitters are LGBT.
On this page
Plumber/pipefitter demographics by:
Plumber/pipefitter gender statistics
2.5% of plumber/pipefitters are women and 97.5% of plumber/pipefitters are men.
- Male, 97.5%
- Female, 2.5%
Plumber/pipefitter gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 97.5% |
| Female | 2.5% |
Plumber/pipefitter gender pay gap
Women earn $1.02 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$53,617
Female income
$54,519
Plumber/pipefitter gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in plumber/pipefitter positions over time. Currently, 2.5% of plumber/pipefitters are female.
Plumber/pipefitter gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 98.36% | 1.64% |
| 2011 | 98.59% | 1.41% |
| 2012 | 98.26% | 1.74% |
| 2013 | 97.77% | 2.23% |
| 2014 | 98.24% | 1.76% |
| 2015 | 98.43% | 1.57% |
| 2016 | 97.97% | 2.03% |
| 2017 | 98.67% | 1.33% |
| 2018 | 97.66% | 2.34% |
| 2019 | 97.85% | 2.15% |
| 2020 | 97.53% | 2.47% |
| 2021 | 97.50% | 2.50% |
Plumber/pipefitter related jobs gender ratio
We compared plumber/pipefitters 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% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
| Plumber/Pipefitter | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Plumber/pipefitter demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among plumber/pipefitters is White, which makes up 65.6% of all plumber/pipefitters. Comparatively, 18.2% of plumber/pipefitters are Hispanic or Latino and 9.1% of plumber/pipefitters are Black or African American.
- White, 65.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.2%
- Black or African American, 9.1%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- Asian, 1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Plumber/pipefitter race
| Plumber/pipefitter race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.2% |
| Black or African American | 9.1% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| Asian | 1.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Plumber/pipefitter race and ethnicity over time
See how plumber/pipefitter racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Plumber/pipefitter race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.41% | 10.18% | 1.32% | 13.91% |
| 2011 | 70.38% | 10.22% | 1.67% | 14.72% |
| 2012 | 69.70% | 10.74% | 1.49% | 15.09% |
| 2013 | 71.10% | 10.07% | 1.29% | 14.48% |
| 2014 | 69.97% | 10.52% | 1.37% | 15.33% |
| 2015 | 69.92% | 10.30% | 1.49% | 15.61% |
| 2016 | 68.83% | 10.24% | 1.52% | 16.50% |
| 2017 | 69.29% | 10.33% | 1.54% | 16.02% |
| 2018 | 69.29% | 9.61% | 1.33% | 16.71% |
| 2019 | 70.53% | 9.26% | 1.86% | 15.44% |
| 2020 | 67.93% | 9.62% | 1.93% | 15.37% |
| 2021 | 65.61% | 9.09% | 1.86% | 18.20% |
Plumber/pipefitter wage gap by race
According to our data, white plumber/pipefitters have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american plumber/pipefitters have the lowest average salary at $51,939.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $54,914 |
| White | $57,007 |
| Black or African American | $51,939 |
| Asian | $52,447 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $51,960 |
Average plumber/pipefitter age
See how the average age of plumber/pipefitters varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Plumber/pipefitter 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/pipefitter age breakdown
The average age of plumber/pipefitters is 40+ years years old, representing 55% of the plumber/pipefitter population.
Plumber/pipefitter age breakdown
| Plumber/Pipefitter Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 55% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 18% |
Plumber/pipefitter educational attainment
The most common degree for plumber/pipefitters is high school diploma, with 42% of plumber/pipefitters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 13%.
- High School Diploma, 42%
- Associate, 24%
- Bachelor's, 13%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Plumber/pipefitters by degree level
| Plumber/pipefitter degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 42% |
| Associate | 24% |
| Bachelor's | 13% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Plumber/pipefitter jobs you might like
Plumber/pipefitter wage gap by degree level
According to the data, plumber/pipefitters with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $59,105 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, plumber/pipefitters earn a median annual income of $54,371 compared to $52,188 for plumber/pipefitters with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $52,188 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,371 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $59,105 |
Plumber/pipefitter employment statistics
Most plumber/pipefitters work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where plumber/pipefitters work
Below, you can see the size of companies where plumber/pipefitters work.
Plumber/pipefitter jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 24% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 14% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 17% |
Plumber/pipefitter jobs by company type
Employees with the plumber/pipefitter job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most plumber/pipefitters prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Plumber/pipefitter jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 17% |
| Private | 74% |
| Government | 3% |
Plumber/pipefitter jobs by industry
The most common industries for plumber/pipefitters are construction, professional and manufacturing.
Plumber/pipefitter industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 26% |
| Professional | 16% |
| Manufacturing | 10% |
| Fortune 500 | 9% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Education | 5% |
| Transportation | 4% |
| Energy | 4% |
| Government | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Plumber/pipefitter turnover and employment statistics
Plumber/pipefitter unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for plumber/pipefitters between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Plumber/pipefitter unemployment rate by year
| Year | Plumber/pipefitter 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/pipefitter tenure
The average plumber/pipefitter stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,463 plumber/pipefitters resumes in Zippia's database.
Plumber/pipefitter tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 21% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 18% |
Plumber/pipefitter LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of plumber/pipefitters 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Door Liner | 1.40% | 1,157 |
| Sheet Rock Installer | 1.75% | 16,963 |
| Plumber/Pipefitter | 2.08% | - |
| House Mover Helper | 2.24% | 39,331 |
| Junior Trouble Shooter | 2.76% | 10,821 |
| Hardwood Floor Sander | 3.39% | 16,335 |
| Sheet Metal Foreman | 4.07% | 8,442 |
Similar plumber/pipefitter jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Door Liner | 1.40% | 1,157 |
| Sheet Rock Installer | 1.75% | 16,963 |
| House Mover Helper | 2.24% | 39,331 |
| Junior Trouble Shooter | 2.76% | 10,821 |
| Hardwood Floor Sander | 3.39% | 16,335 |
| Sheet Metal Foreman | 4.07% | 8,442 |
Foreign languages spoken by plumber/pipefitters
The most common foreign language among plumber/pipefitters is Spanish at 69.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Dakota at 7.7% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 7.7%.
- Spanish, 69.2%
- Dakota, 7.7%
- Portuguese, 7.7%
- Cheyenne, 7.7%
- French, 7.7%
Plumber/pipefitter languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 69.2% |
| Dakota | 7.7% |
| Portuguese | 7.7% |
| Cheyenne | 7.7% |
| French | 7.7% |
