Plumber Hourly Pay in Traverse City, MI: $31.10 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a plumber working in Traverse City, MI runs $31.10 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,690 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Weighted against Traverse City's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.4, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.31 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,819 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Plumbers in Traverse City, Michigan, can expect a median hourly rate of $31.10 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $31.45. This rate caters to a variety of work settings including residential service calls, commercial construction, and industrial maintenance, reflecting the flexibility of the trade. For those working part-time, say on a three-day workweek, this translates to potential earnings of approximately $1,493 weekly before deductions, while per-diem plumbers might leverage additional daily allowances on out-of-town projects. Hourly wages can vary significantly in Traverse City; entry-level plumbers start at around $20.67, whereas seasoned professionals get paid as much as $47.02. The figures presented are from official BLS hourly data, emphasizing the economic viability of pursuing a plumbing career in the region.
Plumber Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.67 | $165.34 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.39 | $203.15 |
| Median (P50) | $31.10 | $248.84 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.38 | $355.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $47.02 | $376.13 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Traverse City
Based on $31.10/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.10/hr, a plumber working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Traverse City, MI can expect to earn approximately $64,698 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,325. With a cost-of-living index of 93.37 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Traverse City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Traverse City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,244.18 | $5,391 | $64,698 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $746.51 | $3,235 | $38,819 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $497.67 | $2,157 | $25,879 |
Compare Plumber Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Plumber (Traverse City) | $31.10 |
| 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 Traverse City, MI earn a median of $64,690 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.10% lower than the national median of $65,408 and 19.30% below the Michigan state average of $80,161.
Plumber Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.10/hr = $38,819/year (purchasing power: $41,574).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,698/year (purchasing power: $69,290).
CoL index: 93.372 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.23/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.34/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.10/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+21.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Plumbers in Traverse City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.23/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.79/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.48/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.58/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.27/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.85/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.34/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.10/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.89/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for plumbers in Traverse City grew 15.7% from $26.23/hr (2019) to $30.34/hr (2025). At a 2.52% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.89/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 Traverse City 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 Traverse City
For part-time plumbers, working only three days a week at 24 hours total, the annual income can significantly vary compared to full-time counterparts. A part-time plumber earning the median rate would take home roughly $77,036 annually, while full-time plumbers may generate close to $64,690 under full-time employment. Many per-diem or agency plumbers working on traveling jobs typically earn significant compensation, with day rates ranging from $100 to $175 on top of base hourly rates between $40 and $65. In diversity of employment types, hourly rates among different plumbing sectors in Traverse City can differ widely, with union-level contractors offering a 30-50% premium over non-union service jobs. Plumbers with special certifications, like medical gas or backflow prevention, often command higher hourly pay as well. Negotiating effectively can benefit plumbers in Traverse City, particularly when considering the trade-off between salary and benefits; some opt for slightly lower hourly rates to ensure health insurance and retirement plans while others pursue higher pay with fewer perks. Understanding the various employer types and their respective wage structures is essential for any plumber navigating their career in the area.
More salary data for Traverse City, MI:
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 Traverse City. 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, 2-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