Plumber Hourly Pay in McAllen, TX: $22.73 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a plumber working in McAllen, TX runs $22.73 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $47,272 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Weighted against McAllen's regional price level (BEA RPP 85.9, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $26.46 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $28,365 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In McAllen, Texas, plumbers earn a median hourly rate of $22.73, which significantly lags behind the national median of $31.45 per hour. This discrepancy indicates that part-time plumbers working three days a week (approximately 24 hours) could expect to earn about $25,000 annually, a figure that highlights the financial challenges faced by workers in the local plumbing industry. Entry-level plumbers may start as low as $14.97 per hour, while more experienced professionals can earn up to $30.62 per hour. Positions often vary depending on the job setting, whether on commercial and industrial construction sites, during residential service calls, or working in specialized environments like hospital mechanical rooms or sewer line excavation sites. This hourly data is sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, reflecting the realities faced by plumbers in the vibrant labor market of McAllen.
Plumber Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $14.97 | $119.74 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $18.84 | $150.75 |
| Median (P50) | $22.73 | $181.83 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $27.72 | $221.77 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $30.62 | $244.98 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in McAllen
Based on $22.73/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $22.73/hr, a plumber working full-time (40 hr/wk) in McAllen, TX can expect to earn approximately $47,276 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $27,274. With a cost-of-living index of 85.89 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in McAllen.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in McAllen
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $909.15 | $3,940 | $47,276 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $545.49 | $2,364 | $28,365 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $363.66 | $1,576 | $18,910 |
Compare Plumber Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Plumber (McAllen) | $22.73 |
| 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 McAllen, TX earn a median of $47,272 per year (2026 est.), which is 27.73% lower than the national median of $65,408 and 15.10% below the Texas state average of $55,680.
Plumber Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $22.73/hr = $28,365/year (purchasing power: $33,023).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $47,276/year (purchasing power: $55,039).
CoL index: 85.895 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$19.30/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$22.17/hr
2026 Current Est.
$22.73/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+20.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Plumbers in McAllen (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $19.30/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $20.48/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $21.96/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $21.62/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $21.57/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $21.88/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $22.17/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $22.73/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $23.30/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for plumbers in McAllen grew 14.9% from $19.30/hr (2019) to $22.17/hr (2025). At a 2.52% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $23.30/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 McAllen 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 McAllen
Considering part-time positions, those working just 24 hours a week may find limited financial growth compared to full-time plumbers who average about $44,400 annually. Per diem roles, particularly for travel pipefitters and steamfitters, typically yield much higher potential earnings, with daily stipends ranging from $100-$175 in addition to base rates of $40-$65 per hour on out-of-town projects. Service calls in plumbing can command minimum charges of $150-$300, and self-employed plumbers in areas with a higher cost of living are reported to achieve effective rates between $100-$180 per hour. Differences in pay also arise based on employers, with union plumbers often receiving a premium rate compared to their non-union counterparts. Negotiation can play a key role in this sector; plumbers in McAllen may need to weigh the trade-offs of lower hourly wages that come with benefits against higher pay without health coverage. Understanding the local context and market dynamics is essential when determining fair compensation.
More salary data for McAllen, TX:
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 McAllen. 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