Plumbing Apprentice / Plumber's Helper: metro pay ranking

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Skilled Trades Headhunters compares published medians for SOC 47-3015 Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, not estimated offers for this particular title.

Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?

This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.

Highest and lowest published metro medians
Metro	Median	Employment	Location quotient	Trade median / all-occupations median
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$65,600	280	0.47	0.90
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$63,210	90	1.49	1.22
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$52,000	4,360	1.61	0.85
Urban Honolulu, HI	$52,000	120	0.94	0.91
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$51,940	100	1.37	0.95
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$51,350	430	0.63	0.69
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$49,660	320	0.48	0.97
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$47,710	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.92
Anchorage, AK	$47,290	50	1.08	0.79
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$47,100	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.99
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$46,990	380	1.21	0.93
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$46,950	290	0.91	0.94
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$46,940	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.80
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$46,840	920	1.03	0.66
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$46,780	640	0.36	0.84
Jackson, TN	$46,650	50	1.95	1.04
Syracuse, NY	$46,610	100	1.18	0.88
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$46,540	960	2.48	0.93
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$46,420	340	3.29	1.00
Oklahoma City, OK	$46,290	260	1.34	0.98
Reno, NV	$46,290	80	1.02	0.93
Cleveland, OH	$46,280	260	0.89	0.92
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$46,110	210	0.6	0.76
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$46,010	100	1.06	0.88
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$45,990	430	1.12	0.78
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$45,930	120	1.53	0.90
Akron, OH	$45,870	70	0.77	0.94
Madison, WI	$45,760	60	0.55	0.79
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$45,660	80	0.77	0.91
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$45,500	160	0.67	0.82
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$45,340	110	1.07	0.75
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$45,200	440	2.28	0.93
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$45,030	130	0.27	0.72
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	$45,030	50	1.54	0.95
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$45,020	440	2.09	0.87
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$44,960	80	0.87	0.94
Topeka, KS	$44,880	40	1.14	0.91
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$44,750	1,500	1.6	0.91
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$44,580	420	0.5	0.82
Knoxville, TN	$44,550	180	1.51	0.95
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$44,510	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.90
Mobile, AL	$44,500	160	3.24	0.95
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$44,360	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.67
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$44,320	590	1.6	0.78
Fresno, CA	$44,190	70	0.54	0.94
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$44,010	170	1.29	0.75
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$43,790	200	1.33	0.86
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$43,680	2,330	2.02	0.85
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$43,680	50	0.22	0.81
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$43,350	60	1.85	0.96
Asheville, NC	$43,040	140	2.74	0.92
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$43,010	180	1.61	0.88
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$43,000	150	1.86	0.88
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$42,630	220	3.13	0.87
Albuquerque, NM	$42,210	170	1.49	0.88
Florence, SC	$42,120	40	1.56	0.97
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	$41,600	100	1.81	0.90
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$41,510	190	1.07	0.89
Odessa, TX	$41,280	50	2.04	0.85
Corpus Christi, TX	$41,270	140	2.61	0.91
Columbus, OH	$41,030	200	0.64	0.80
Wilmington, NC	$40,670	150	2.67	0.89
Naples-Marco Island, FL	$40,570	100	2.04	0.85
Rocky Mount, NC	$40,570	50	3.28	0.92
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$40,440	80	1.05	0.88
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$40,300	50	0.57	0.82
Boise City, ID	$40,120	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.82
Tulsa, OK	$40,080	260	2	0.86
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$39,710	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.73
Waco, TX	$39,710	70	1.91	0.86
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$39,700	380	2.96	0.84
Tuscaloosa, AL	$39,660	30	1	0.88
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$39,650	1,100	1.33	0.77
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$39,520	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.64
Killeen-Temple, TX	$39,510	90	2.02	0.85
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$39,380	610	1.88	0.84
Burlington, NC	$39,250	70	3.49	0.89
Pittsburgh, PA	$39,190	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.79
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$39,130	160	3.42	0.80
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$39,080	110	1.11	0.82
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$39,020	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.76
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$38,930	760	1.85	0.80
Columbia, SC	$38,830	140	1.28	0.84
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$38,710	250	2.05	0.83
Winchester, VA-WV	$38,710	50	2.48	0.82
Winston-Salem, NC	$38,710	180	2.27	0.83
Rochester, NY	$38,500	150	1.03	0.75
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$38,480	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.85
Jackson, MS	$38,400	110	1.46	0.90
Baton Rouge, LA	$38,310	600	5.14	0.79
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	$38,310	150	5.28	0.88
Lubbock, TX	$38,300	60	1.32	0.91
Fayetteville, NC	$38,220	80	2.23	0.84
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$38,170	120	1.56	0.82
Victoria, TX	$38,170	30	3.07	0.89
Wichita, KS	$38,040	90	1.05	0.80
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$38,030	500	1.24	0.82
Appleton, WI	$37,990	30	0.98	0.76
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$37,990	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.73
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$37,990	90	1.91	0.87
Omaha, NE-IA	$37,990	50	0.35	0.77
Richmond, VA	$37,990	370	1.94	0.74
Longview, TX	$37,960	90	2.73	0.84
Charlottesville, VA	$37,950	40	1.33	0.69
Canton-Massillon, OH	$37,940	30	0.71	0.83
Savannah, GA	$37,870	120	2.16	0.80
College Station-Bryan, TX	$37,770	70	1.89	0.85
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	$37,730	80	1.94	0.99
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$37,610	190	1.99	0.79
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$37,520	1,260	1.56	0.77
Birmingham, AL	$37,440	180	1.24	0.78
Abilene, TX	$37,160	50	2.23	0.84
Athens-Clarke County, GA	$36,930	70	2.45	0.90
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$36,920	150	2.22	0.80
Jacksonville, FL	$36,810	410	1.9	0.75
Lake Charles, LA	$36,800	170	5.73	0.81
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$36,780	80	1.52	0.77
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$36,760	200	2.33	0.79
Tyler, TX	$36,730	90	2.72	0.86
Alexandria, LA	$36,720	70	4.36	0.90
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$36,680	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.80
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL	$36,550	40	2.2	0.80
Sumter, SC	$36,450	50	5.24	0.85
San Angelo, TX	$36,430	30	2.16	0.84
Lynchburg, VA	$36,380	40	1.47	0.79
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	$36,280	170	3.66	0.81
Macon-Bibb County, GA	$36,240	50	1.81	0.80
Albany, GA	$36,220	40	2.68	0.83
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$36,140	40	0.89	0.81
Rapid City, SD	$36,110	60	2.7	0.78
Tallahassee, FL	$36,100	50	0.96	0.78
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$36,070	70	0.84	1.01
Tucson, AZ	$35,920	60	0.58	0.75
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$35,630	380	1.74	0.72
Amarillo, TX	$35,610	80	2.17	0.80
Warner Robins, GA	$35,470	40	1.72	0.73
Roanoke, VA	$35,360	60	1.43	0.75
Cedar Rapids, IA	$35,320	40	1.01	0.72
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$35,190	230	0.7	0.75
El Paso, TX	$35,080	120	1.27	0.89
Monroe, LA	$35,010	70	2.66	0.92
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	$34,500	120	4.9	0.76
Gainesville, FL	$34,380	50	1.12	0.73
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA	$32,000	30	2.4	0.76
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$26,040	380	1.95	0.88

The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.

Where does this trade pay most relative to local wages?

Occupation median divided by the same area's all-occupations median
Area	Wage ratio	Median	Location quotient
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	1.22	$63,210	1.49
Jackson, TN	1.04	$46,650	1.95
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	1.01	$36,070	0.84
Greensboro-High Point, NC	1.00	$46,420	3.29
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	0.99	$37,730	1.94
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	0.99	$47,100	Not published by BLS
Oklahoma City, OK	0.98	$46,290	1.34
Florence, SC	0.97	$42,120	1.56
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	0.97	$49,660	0.48
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	0.96	$43,350	1.85
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	0.95	$51,940	1.37
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	0.95	$45,030	1.54
Mobile, AL	0.95	$44,500	3.24
Knoxville, TN	0.95	$44,550	1.51
Fresno, CA	0.94	$44,190	0.54
Akron, OH	0.94	$45,870	0.77
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	0.94	$44,960	0.87
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	0.94	$46,950	0.91
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	0.93	$45,200	2.28
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	0.93	$46,990	1.21
Reno, NV	0.93	$46,290	1.02
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	0.93	$46,540	2.48
Cleveland, OH	0.92	$46,280	0.89
Rocky Mount, NC	0.92	$40,570	3.28
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	0.92	$47,710	Not published by BLS
Asheville, NC	0.92	$43,040	2.74
Monroe, LA	0.92	$35,010	2.66
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	0.91	$45,660	0.77
Corpus Christi, TX	0.91	$41,270	2.61
Lubbock, TX	0.91	$38,300	1.32
Urban Honolulu, HI	0.91	$52,000	0.94
Topeka, KS	0.91	$44,880	1.14
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	0.91	$44,750	1.6
Alexandria, LA	0.90	$36,720	4.36
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	0.90	$65,600	0.47
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	0.90	$44,510	Not published by BLS
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	0.90	$45,930	1.53
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	0.90	$41,600	1.81
Jackson, MS	0.90	$38,400	1.46
Athens-Clarke County, GA	0.90	$36,930	2.45
Burlington, NC	0.89	$39,250	3.49
Wilmington, NC	0.89	$40,670	2.67
El Paso, TX	0.89	$35,080	1.27
Victoria, TX	0.89	$38,170	3.07
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	0.89	$41,510	1.07
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	0.88	$26,040	1.95
Lexington-Fayette, KY	0.88	$43,000	1.86
Syracuse, NY	0.88	$46,610	1.18
Albuquerque, NM	0.88	$42,210	1.49
Tuscaloosa, AL	0.88	$39,660	1
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	0.88	$40,440	1.05
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	0.88	$38,310	5.28
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	0.88	$46,010	1.06
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	0.88	$43,010	1.61
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	0.87	$37,990	1.91
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	0.87	$42,630	3.13
Raleigh-Cary, NC	0.87	$45,020	2.09
Waco, TX	0.86	$39,710	1.91
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	0.86	$43,790	1.33
Tyler, TX	0.86	$36,730	2.72
Tulsa, OK	0.86	$40,080	2
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	0.85	$38,480	Not published by BLS
Sumter, SC	0.85	$36,450	5.24
Odessa, TX	0.85	$41,280	2.04
College Station-Bryan, TX	0.85	$37,770	1.89
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	0.85	$43,680	2.02
Naples-Marco Island, FL	0.85	$40,570	2.04
Killeen-Temple, TX	0.85	$39,510	2.02
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	0.85	$52,000	1.61
Longview, TX	0.84	$37,960	2.73
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	0.84	$39,700	2.96
Abilene, TX	0.84	$37,160	2.23
Fayetteville, NC	0.84	$38,220	2.23
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	0.84	$39,380	1.88
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	0.84	$46,780	0.36
San Angelo, TX	0.84	$36,430	2.16
Columbia, SC	0.84	$38,830	1.28
Winston-Salem, NC	0.83	$38,710	2.27
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	0.83	$38,710	2.05
Albany, GA	0.83	$36,220	2.68
Canton-Massillon, OH	0.83	$37,940	0.71
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	0.82	$45,500	0.67
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	0.82	$39,080	1.11
Stockton-Lodi, CA	0.82	$40,300	0.57
Winchester, VA-WV	0.82	$38,710	2.48
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	0.82	$44,580	0.5
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	0.82	$38,170	1.56
Boise City, ID	0.82	$40,120	Not published by BLS
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	0.82	$38,030	1.24
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	0.81	$43,680	0.22
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	0.81	$36,140	0.89
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	0.81	$36,280	3.66
Lake Charles, LA	0.81	$36,800	5.73
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	0.80	$39,130	3.42
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL	0.80	$36,550	2.2
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	0.80	$36,920	2.22
Macon-Bibb County, GA	0.80	$36,240	1.81
Savannah, GA	0.80	$37,870	2.16
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	0.80	$36,680	Not published by BLS
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	0.80	$46,940	Not published by BLS
Columbus, OH	0.80	$41,030	0.64
Amarillo, TX	0.80	$35,610	2.17
Wichita, KS	0.80	$38,040	1.05
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	0.80	$38,930	1.85
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	0.79	$37,610	1.99
Pittsburgh, PA	0.79	$39,190	Not published by BLS
Madison, WI	0.79	$45,760	0.55
Lynchburg, VA	0.79	$36,380	1.47
Baton Rouge, LA	0.79	$38,310	5.14
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	0.79	$36,760	2.33
Anchorage, AK	0.79	$47,290	1.08
Birmingham, AL	0.78	$37,440	1.24
Rapid City, SD	0.78	$36,110	2.7
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	0.78	$45,990	1.12
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	0.78	$44,320	1.6
Tallahassee, FL	0.78	$36,100	0.96
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	0.77	$39,650	1.33
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	0.77	$37,520	1.56
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	0.77	$36,780	1.52
Omaha, NE-IA	0.77	$37,990	0.35
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA	0.76	$32,000	2.4
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	0.76	$39,020	Not published by BLS
Appleton, WI	0.76	$37,990	0.98
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	0.76	$46,110	0.6
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	0.76	$34,500	4.9
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	0.75	$35,190	0.7
Jacksonville, FL	0.75	$36,810	1.9
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	0.75	$44,010	1.29
Tucson, AZ	0.75	$35,920	0.58
Rochester, NY	0.75	$38,500	1.03
Roanoke, VA	0.75	$35,360	1.43
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	0.75	$45,340	1.07
Richmond, VA	0.74	$37,990	1.94
Gainesville, FL	0.73	$34,380	1.12
Warner Robins, GA	0.73	$35,470	1.72
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	0.73	$37,990	Not published by BLS
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	0.73	$39,710	Not published by BLS
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	0.72	$45,030	0.27
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	0.72	$35,630	1.74
Cedar Rapids, IA	0.72	$35,320	1.01
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	0.69	$51,350	0.63
Charlottesville, VA	0.69	$37,950	1.33
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	0.67	$44,360	Not published by BLS
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	0.66	$46,840	1.03
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	0.64	$39,520	Not published by BLS

Closest proxy Our title "Plumbing Apprentice / Plumber's Helper" is reported by BLS as SOC 47-3015 Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. Closest proxy: Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. This published occupation covers only part of Plumbing Apprentice / Plumber's Helper; do not treat it as a quoted range for the complete role.

National percentile table Methodology