Plumber Salary in Nashville, TN: $61,615 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time plumber in Nashville, TN earns a median $61,615/year (≈ $29.63/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Once you factor in Nashville's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.3), that paycheck buys what $63,957 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% above the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, plumbers in Nashville, Tennessee, are expected to see a median annual salary of $61,615, slightly trailing the national average of $65,408. This pay range is diverse, spanning from a lower end of $43,725 at the 10th percentile to $85,778 at the 90th percentile, as derived from official BLS OEWS surveys. The trade-off between self-employed contracting and working for an established service plumbing company greatly influences income potential. While self-employed plumbers may experience greater flexibility and potentially higher margins, their income can vary significantly based on contracts and client demand, which can lead to financial uncertainty compared to employed plumbers enjoying more stability.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,725 | $21.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,255 | $24.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,615 | $29.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,982 | $37.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,778 | $41.24 |
Median Salary Position
5.8% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Nashville
In Nashville, TN, the plumber salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $42,053 (2026 est.). At $61,615, the local median is 5.8% below the national median of $65,408.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Nashville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Nashville Plumber Pay Compares
Nashville median: $61,615/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Nashville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $60,170 | +2.40% more |
| National Average | $65,408 | -5.80% less |
Plumbers in Nashville, TN earn a median of $61,615 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.80% lower than the national median of $65,408 and 2.40% above the Tennessee state average of $60,170.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Nashville has a cost of living 3.66% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Nashville, TN has a cost-of-living index of 96.338 (below the national average of 100). A plumber earning $61,615 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,957 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.8% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$49,440
2025 BLS Actual
$60,100
2026 Current Est.
$61,615
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Salary Trajectory for Plumbers in Nashville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49,440 | Actual |
| 2020 | $48,000 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $52,400 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,630 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,870 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,100 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,615 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,167 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Nashville metropolitan area, the median plumber salary grew 21.6% from $49,440 (2019) to $60,100 (2025). At a 2.52% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,167 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,727 (27.76%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Nashville 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $43,725 – $50,255 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,255 – $61,615 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,615 – $76,982 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,982 – $85,778 |
Plumber salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual plumber compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Plumber Job Market in Nashville
The local job market for plumbers in Nashville remains promising, with about 2,760 professionals currently employed in the field. The cost of living index in Nashville stands at 96.338, indicating a more favorable living expense compared to the national average, which can enhance take-home purchasing power for plumbers. Contractors associated with the United Association typically offer higher pay due to union agreements and prevailing wage rates, while non-union plumbers often compete in residential service. Specialty skills, such as medical gas certification, command a premium, as they are in limited supply. To maximize earnings in this market, plumbers should consider pursuing additional certifications and licenses, emphasizing specialties that drive demand, such as industrial maintenance or advanced service plumbing. Building relationships with larger service companies could also lead to more consistent opportunities for increased pay and job security.
More salary data for Nashville, TN:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $60,100 for plumbersin the Nashville metropolitan area. A 2.52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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