Plumber salary in North Dakota: what plumbers earn in 2026
Plumbers in North Dakota earn a median of $63,560 a year — $240 below 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 North Dakota?
The median wage for plumbers in North Dakota is $63,560 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $240 below the national median of $63,800, putting North Dakota 28th of 51 jurisdictions on plumber pay. About 1,620 plumbers work in the state.
| Measure | North Dakota | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $63,560 | $63,800 |
| Plumbers employed | 1,620 | 465,840 |
| Rank on pay | 28th of 51 | — |
| Rank on workforce size | 46th 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 North Dakota
North Dakota pays plumbers below the national median. That reads as an advantage on paper, but your competition for these plumbers is local — you are bidding against the shop down the road, not against the national average. With only 1,620 plumbers in the state, North Dakota has one of the smallest pools in the country. In a market this thin, a single competitor hiring aggressively moves the whole local rate, and passive candidates matter more than job posts.
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 $63,560 as your floor.
How North Dakota compares on plumber pay
The states closest to North Dakota on median plumber pay:
- Plumber salary in Iowa — $63,890 (5,730 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Louisiana — $63,680 (8,360 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Ohio — $63,330 (16,390 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Colorado — $63,240 (10,080 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota?+
The median wage for plumbers in North Dakota is $63,560 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $240 below the national median of $63,800. Half of plumbers in North Dakota earn more than that figure and half earn less.
How many plumbers work in North Dakota?+
North Dakota employs about 1,620 plumbers, out of roughly 465,840 nationally — one of the smallest workforces in the country, ranking 46th 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 $63,560 enough to hire a plumber in North Dakota?+
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.