Plumber salary in Illinois: what plumbers earn in 2026
Plumbers in Illinois earn a median of $99,950 a year — $36,150 above the national median. State wage and employment data from the BLS, plus what it means if you're hiring.
By Westie · Chief Culture Officer, HireAligned ·
What does a plumber make in Illinois?
The median wage for plumbers in Illinois is $99,950 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $36,150 above the national median of $63,800, putting Illinois 2nd of 51 jurisdictions on plumber pay. About 16,750 plumbers work in the state.
| Measure | Illinois | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $99,950 | $63,800 |
| Plumbers employed | 16,750 | 465,840 |
| Rank on pay | 2nd of 51 | — |
| Rank on workforce size | 5th of 51 | — |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2152 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters).
What that number means if you're hiring in Illinois
Illinois pays plumbers above the national median, which means the wage bar to be competitive here is set higher than the headline national figure suggests. With 16,750 plumbers in the state, Illinois is 5th in the country by workforce size. The pool is deep enough that a role that stays open is usually a process problem, not a supply problem.
Two caveats worth holding onto. The state median is a lagging figure — OEWS data reflects May 2025, and in a market where trades wages have been climbing, a year-old median can already sit under the live rate. And within-state variation between a major metro and a rural county is routinely wider than the gap between two states, so benchmark to the metro you actually hire in and treat $99,950 as your floor.
How Illinois compares on plumber pay
The states closest to Illinois on median plumber pay:
- Plumber salary in District of Columbia — $101,020 (1,010 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Oregon — $97,050 (5,370 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Minnesota — $94,410 (10,720 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Alaska — $93,920 (1,200 plumbers)
For the full ranking of all 51 jurisdictions, see plumber salary by state. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters covers the demand side.
Filling the seat, not just pricing it
Knowing your state's number keeps you from underbidding the market and losing candidates you never heard from. It will not, on its own, fill the truck. The shops that hire fastest in Illinois are the ones already talking to plumbers before a seat opens, so the job starts with a shortlist instead of a blank post and a six-week wait.
That is the always-on approach we run for plumbing and HVAC businesses. See how done-for-you hiring works, or build the pipeline yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average plumber salary in Illinois?+
The median wage for plumbers in Illinois is $99,950 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $36,150 above the national median of $63,800. Half of plumbers in Illinois earn more than that figure and half earn less.
How many plumbers work in Illinois?+
Illinois employs about 16,750 plumbers, out of roughly 465,840 nationally — one of the ten deepest plumber pools in the country, ranking 5th of 51 jurisdictions by workforce size. Pool depth matters more than the headline wage when you are deciding how hard a role will be to fill.
Is $99,950 enough to hire a plumber in Illinois?+
Treat it as a floor rather than a target. The state median is a lagging, statewide figure, and within-state variation between a major metro and a rural county is routinely larger than the gap between two states. Benchmark to the metro you actually hire in, and check your response time before assuming a wage problem — a qualified plumber who waits three days for a callback has usually taken another offer.