Plumber Hourly Pay in State College, PA: $28.37 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a plumber working in State College, PA runs $28.37 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $59,011 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Weighted against State College's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.8, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $29.32 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,402 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
A plumber in State College, Pennsylvania, earns a median hourly rate of $28.37, which falls short of the national median of $31.45. This discrepancy can impact part-time workers, especially those operating three days a week, as they may miss out on the higher pay prevalent in other regions. Typical plumbing settings in State College, including commercial construction sites, residential service calls, and hospital mechanical rooms, offer varied job scopes that can affect earnings. Moreover, the hourly pay scale ranges from $21.97 for entry-level positions to $46.59 for top earners, illustrating a substantial opportunity for growth as plumbers gain experience and credentials in specialties such as medical gas installation or backflow prevention. This data reflects the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) research based on the 2025 numbers, projected to 2026.
Plumber Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.97 | $175.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.29 | $186.34 |
| Median (P50) | $28.37 | $226.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.68 | $253.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $46.59 | $372.68 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in State College
Based on $28.37/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.37/hr, a plumber working full-time (40 hr/wk) in State College, PA can expect to earn approximately $59,004 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,041. With a cost-of-living index of 96.76 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in State College.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in State College
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,134.69 | $4,917 | $59,004 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $680.81 | $2,950 | $35,402 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $453.88 | $1,967 | $23,602 |
Compare Plumber Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Plumber (State College) | $28.37 |
| 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 State College, PA earn a median of $59,011 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.78% lower than the national median of $65,408 and 7.40% below the Pennsylvania state average of $63,726.
Plumber Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.37/hr = $35,402/year (purchasing power: $36,587).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $59,004/year (purchasing power: $60,978).
CoL index: 96.762 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.41/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.67/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.37/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+19.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Plumbers in State College (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.41/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $31.31/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.36/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.61/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.86/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.94/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.67/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.37/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.08/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for plumbers in State College grew 13.4% from $24.41/hr (2019) to $27.67/hr (2025). At a 2.52% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.08/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 State College 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 State College
In analyzing part-time earning potential, a plumber working 24 hours a week can expect a gross income significantly lower than one employed full-time. For instance, working three days a week translates to an annual income well below that of a full-time counterpart, who would be engaged 40 hours weekly. For those interested in per diem roles, travel pipefitters can make between $100 to $175 in daily stipends plus base pay of $40-$65 per hour on industrial projects. Self-employed plumbers can command higher per-hour rates, often reaching effective earnings of $100-$180, particularly in high-cost-of-living areas. Hourly rates also differ by employer type: unionized contractors typically offer premiums due to union agreements, while non-union contractors might attract talent with advantageous commission structures. Negotiating hourly pay can entail weighing benefits against pay rates, prompting some plumbers to prioritize health insurance over higher wages without benefits, ultimately shaping their career decisions in plumbing roles throughout State College, PA.
More salary data for State College, PA:
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 State College. 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