Plumber salary in Rhode Island: what plumbers earn in 2026
Plumbers in Rhode Island earn a median of $76,470 a year — $12,670 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 Rhode Island?
The median wage for plumbers in Rhode Island is $76,470 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $12,670 above the national median of $63,800, putting Rhode Island 15th of 51 jurisdictions on plumber pay. About 1,820 plumbers work in the state.
| Measure | Rhode Island | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $76,470 | $63,800 |
| Plumbers employed | 1,820 | 465,840 |
| Rank on pay | 15th of 51 | — |
| Rank on workforce size | 44th 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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island 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 only 1,820 plumbers in the state, Rhode Island 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 $76,470 as your floor.
How Rhode Island compares on plumber pay
The states closest to Rhode Island on median plumber pay:
- Plumber salary in New York — $77,490 (23,210 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Connecticut — $77,280 (5,410 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Indiana — $76,320 (11,280 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in California — $72,830 (47,660 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?+
The median wage for plumbers in Rhode Island is $76,470 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $12,670 above the national median of $63,800. Half of plumbers in Rhode Island earn more than that figure and half earn less.
How many plumbers work in Rhode Island?+
Rhode Island employs about 1,820 plumbers, out of roughly 465,840 nationally — one of the smallest workforces in the country, ranking 44th 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 $76,470 enough to hire a plumber in Rhode Island?+
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.