Commercial Plumber Salary: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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The median annual wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $103,380 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers in this occupation and area earned between $74,300 and $122,540. This is the broader occupation used for Commercial Plumber, not a separately surveyed rate for that title or credential.
Broader occupation Our title "Commercial Plumber" is reported by BLS as SOC 47-2152 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. BLS groups Commercial Plumber within Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
For Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN annual median is $39,580 above the national median of $63,800 (62.0%).
Annual wages: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152)
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, annual wages: 10% earned less than $53,960, half earned less than the median of $103,380, 90% earned less than $127,200 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,960 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $74,300 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $103,380 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $122,540 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $127,200 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $96,430 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152)
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $25.94, half earned less than the median of $49.70, 90% earned less than $61.15 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25.94 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $35.72 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $49.70 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $58.91 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $61.15 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $46.36 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
National comparison
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,150 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $50,190 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $63,800 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $85,110 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $108,420 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $72,170 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-2152 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
What BLS wages measure. OEWS estimates describe straight-time gross wages, not just base salary and not total compensation. They include commissions and production bonuses. They exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. Discuss travel, per diem, tool and truck allowances separately. Percentiles describe the occupation's wage distribution, not seniority, plant size, job complexity or credentials. Licensing, union agreements and prevailing-wage obligations depend on the work and assignment; these figures do not establish a premium for them.
Official BLS wage definitions | Source dates and methodology
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Plumbing Foreman (47-1011)Plumbing General Foreman (47-1011)Plumbing Superintendent (11-9021)What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber), the published median for SOC 47-2152, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, is $103,380 per year. The middle half of the Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) wage distribution runs from $74,300 to $122,540, a width of $48,240 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
Against the United States estimate, the Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) median is $39,580 above the national median of $63,800. For Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), Kankakee, IL reports $81,620 per year, $21,760 below Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN; For Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), Niles, MI reports $59,810 per year, $43,570 below Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The neighbors used for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) are the nearest metro representative points with a released median, using Census geography, not a commuting or cost-of-living adjustment.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, read alongside Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber), are Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution at $115,310 per year (NAICS 221100); Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $106,550 per year (NAICS 324000); Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $106,550 per year (NAICS 324100). Those Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) median was $98,890 per year in May 2024, compared with $103,380 in May 2025, a published difference of $4,490. That Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $98,890 and $103,380 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before using $103,380 per year from Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) to calibrate an offer, separate on-call duties, overtime, travel reimbursement, tool replacement and any truck allowance separately; prevailing wage and union requirements must be checked against the actual assignment. The Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) BLS comparison measures straight-time gross wages, including commissions and production bonuses, but excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) is broader: BLS groups Commercial Plumber within Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. When calibrating a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) opening, the work checks include License; cast iron, copper, PEX, press-fit piping; ask for evidence of that scope instead of using a percentile as a substitute for qualification. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) buyer?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) has a published middle-half band of $74,300 to $122,540, a width of $48,240 per year, with median $103,380. An offer inside that Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber)?
Kankakee, IL and Niles, MI are the nearest published metro reference points used for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber). Comparing those Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters tables with the $103,380 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber)?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) uses national industry rows for SOC 47-2152, not local sector-specific wages. Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution leads the selected sortable rows at $115,310 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber).
What changed between the releases for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber)?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) moved from $98,890 in May 2024 to $103,380 in May 2025. These Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (reference for Commercial Plumber) published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 47-2152. Published annual median: $98,890 (May 2024) and $103,380 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.