Plumber salary in West Virginia: what plumbers earn in 2026
Plumbers in West Virginia earn a median of $56,980 a year — $6,820 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 West Virginia?
The median wage for plumbers in West Virginia is $56,980 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $6,820 below the national median of $63,800, putting West Virginia 45th of 51 jurisdictions on plumber pay. About 1,830 plumbers work in the state.
| Measure | West Virginia | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $56,980 | $63,800 |
| Plumbers employed | 1,830 | 465,840 |
| Rank on pay | 45th of 51 | — |
| Rank on workforce size | 43rd 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 West Virginia
West Virginia 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 1,830 plumbers in the state, West Virginia 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 $56,980 as your floor.
How West Virginia compares on plumber pay
The states closest to West Virginia on median plumber pay:
- Plumber salary in Georgia — $57,200 (8,930 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in North Carolina — $57,080 (14,510 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in Mississippi — $55,480 (3,360 plumbers)
- Plumber salary in South Carolina — $53,940 (5,770 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia?+
The median wage for plumbers in West Virginia is $56,980 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $6,820 below the national median of $63,800. Half of plumbers in West Virginia earn more than that figure and half earn less.
How many plumbers work in West Virginia?+
West Virginia employs about 1,830 plumbers, out of roughly 465,840 nationally — one of the smallest workforces in the country, ranking 43rd 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 $56,980 enough to hire a plumber in West Virginia?+
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.