Plumber salary in Kentucky: what plumbers earn in 2026
Plumbers in Kentucky earn a median of $64,160 a year — $360 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 Kentucky?
The median wage for plumbers in Kentucky is $64,160 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $360 above the national median of $63,800, putting Kentucky 24th of 51 jurisdictions on plumber pay. About 6,360 plumbers work in the state.
| Measure | Kentucky | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $64,160 | $63,800 |
| Plumbers employed | 6,360 | 465,840 |
| Rank on pay | 24th of 51 | — |
| Rank on workforce size | 26th 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 Kentucky
Kentucky pays plumbers above the national median, which means the wage bar to be competitive here is set higher than the headline national figure suggests. Kentucky sits 26th in the country by workforce size — a mid-sized pool, deep enough to hire from consistently but not so deep that a slow process goes unpunished.
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 $64,160 as your floor.
How Kentucky compares on plumber pay
The states closest to Kentucky on median plumber pay:
- Plumber salary in Kansas — $65,220 (4,590 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Delaware — $64,720 (1,590 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Maine — $64,000 (2,710 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Iowa — $63,890 (5,730 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky?+
The median wage for plumbers in Kentucky is $64,160 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $360 above the national median of $63,800. Half of plumbers in Kentucky earn more than that figure and half earn less.
How many plumbers work in Kentucky?+
Kentucky employs about 6,360 plumbers, out of roughly 465,840 nationally — a mid-sized workforce by national standards, ranking 26th 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 $64,160 enough to hire a plumber in Kentucky?+
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.