Plumber Hourly Pay in St. Joseph, MO: $33.66 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a plumber working in St. Joseph, MO runs $33.66 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $70,011 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Weighted against St. Joseph's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.4, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $38.96 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $42,004 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Joseph, Missouri, plumbers earn a median hourly rate of $33.66, which is slightly higher than the national median of $31.45. This competitive rate reflects the high demand for skilled tradespeople in various settings, including residential service calls, commercial and industrial construction sites, and hospital mechanical rooms. For those working part-time, say three days a week, this hourly pay translates to about $27,000 annually, which could be a viable income for many. The range for plumbers varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting around $23.49 and experienced professionals reaching up to $57.46 per hour, making it essential for both new and seasoned plumbers to understand their worth based on experience and specialties, particularly in areas like medical gas work or backflow prevention.
Plumber Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.49 | $187.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.15 | $201.19 |
| Median (P50) | $33.66 | $269.26 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $47.74 | $381.95 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $57.46 | $459.70 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Joseph
Based on $33.66/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $33.66/hr, a plumber working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Joseph, MO can expect to earn approximately $70,007 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $40,389. With a cost-of-living index of 86.38 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Joseph.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Joseph
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,346.29 | $5,834 | $70,007 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $807.78 | $3,500 | $42,004 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $538.52 | $2,334 | $28,003 |
Compare Plumber Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Plumber (St. Joseph) | $33.66 |
| Electrician (National Avg) | $31.97 |
| HVAC Technician (National Avg) | $28.47 |
| Pipefitter / Steamfitter (National Avg) | $32.85 |
| Construction Laborer (National Avg) | $22.95 |
Plumbers in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $70,011 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.04% higher than the national median of $65,408 and 5.40% above the Missouri state average of $66,424.
Plumber Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $33.66/hr = $42,004/year (purchasing power: $48,626).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $70,007/year (purchasing power: $81,044).
CoL index: 86.382 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$29.36/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$32.83/hr
2026 Current Est.
$33.66/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Plumbers in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29.36/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.61/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.96/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $26.45/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.08/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.63/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $32.83/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33.66/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.51/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for plumbers in St. Joseph grew 11.8% from $29.36/hr (2019) to $32.83/hr (2025). At a 2.52% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.51/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem plumbers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.52% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Plumber in St. Joseph
Exploring earning potential for plumbers reveals interesting dynamics, particularly for those working part-time or on a per-diem basis. A plumber working 24 hours a week may take home approximately $27,000, whereas full-time plumbers could net significantly more, depending on their hours and employer type. Per diem plumbers in St. Joseph, often hired for out-of-town industrial projects, can earn $100-$175 per day in addition to base rates which might range from $40-$65 per hour. Self-employed plumbers also have lucrative opportunities, regularly clearing $100-$180 per hour in high-cost areas. Different employers contribute to this variation; union contractors often offer benefits to compensate for slightly lower hourly pay, while open-shop contractors and large service companies may attract interest due to potential commission-based raises. Negotiating effectively is critical for plumbers in St. Joseph, whether it’s pitching for higher rates or securing health insurance, as the labor market shifts amidst an aging workforce and evolving plumbing infrastructure.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Samuel Torres, CWP
Career Analyst
Samuel Torres has 10 years of experience in plumbing. He specializes in residential plumbing systems. He has worked with several home improvement companies.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for plumbers in St. Joseph. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.52%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for plumbers (SOC 47-2152).
Compiled and verified by Samuel Torres, CWP, a licensed plumber with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov