Plumber Hourly Pay in Austin, TX: $30.96 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a plumber working in Austin, TX runs $30.96 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,393 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Weighted against Austin's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.1, 2% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.57 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,639 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Austin, the projected plumber hourly pay in 2026 is set at $30.96, which is slightly below the national median hourly rate of $31.45. For part-time plumbers who may work three days a week, this translates to a potential earning of around $2,007 per month, a significant foundation for anyone seeking flexible work arrangements or supplementary income. Within this hourly framework, entry-level positions may start at about $20.11, while experienced plumbers can earn up to $39.88 per hour, offering a range that accommodates various skill levels and experiences. Plumbing work spans diverse environments, including commercial construction sites, residential service calls, and specialized areas such as hospital mechanical rooms and manufacturing facilities, providing ample opportunities for both employed and self-employed contractors to maximize their earnings.
Plumber Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.11 | $160.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.03 | $192.25 |
| Median (P50) | $30.96 | $247.69 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39.29 | $314.29 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $39.88 | $319.04 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Austin
Based on $30.96/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.96/hr, a plumber working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Austin, TX can expect to earn approximately $64,399 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,153. With a cost-of-living index of 98.07 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Austin.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Austin
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,238.44 | $5,367 | $64,399 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $743.06 | $3,220 | $38,639 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $495.38 | $2,147 | $25,760 |
Compare Plumber Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Plumber (Austin) | $30.96 |
| 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 Austin, TX earn a median of $64,393 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.55% lower than the national median of $65,408 and 15.60% above the Texas state average of $55,703.
Plumber Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.96/hr = $38,639/year (purchasing power: $39,401).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,399/year (purchasing power: $65,669).
CoL index: 98.066 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$25.38/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.20/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.96/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+25.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Plumbers in Austin (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.38/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.29/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $27.35/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.80/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.20/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $29.94/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.20/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.96/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.74/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for plumbers in Austin grew 19.0% from $25.38/hr (2019) to $30.20/hr (2025). At a 2.52% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.74/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 Austin 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 Austin
When examining part-time earning potential, a plumber working a 24-hour week could hypothetically earn around $24,084 annually, a figure that varies significantly compared to full-time counterparts. Per diem plumber pay in Austin often exceeds typical local wages, with specialists and travelers in high-demand industrial roles raking in rates between $100 and $175 per day on top of base hourly wages ranging from $40 to $65. Diverse employer types such as union multiple employers, non-union contractors, and large plumbing service companies contribute to variability in hourly rates and benefits. For those in the union, higher hourly wages often come with comprehensive health insurance, while self-employed plumbers may command rates as high as $100 to $180 per hour but without the safety net of employer-sponsored benefits. It’s also common for plumbers working with larger companies like Roto-Rooter to earn commission-based pay, which can augment their hourly wages substantially. Negotiation skills become vital to navigating this complex pay structure effectively in Austin's competitive job market.
More salary data for Austin, 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 Austin. 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