Plumber Salary in Elkhart, IN: $66,361 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time plumber in Elkhart, IN earns a median $66,361/year (≈ $31.90/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Once you factor in Elkhart's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.3), that paycheck buys what $73,469 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 16.0% below the Indiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Elkhart, Indiana, plumbers can expect a median annual salary of $66,361 in 2026, indicating a healthy market for those in this trade. The salary range spans from $46,575 at the 10th percentile to $106,682 at the 90th percentile, highlighting the potential for higher earnings through specialized skills and certifications. These figures, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, reflect the growing demand for plumbing services in the area. With a backdrop of an increasing emphasis on specialty credentials such as medical gas and backflow prevention, plumbers in Elkhart are well-positioned to capitalize on a lucrative and expanding job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,575 | $22.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,552 | $25.26 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $66,361 | $31.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $98,255 | $47.24 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $106,682 | $51.29 |
Median Salary Position
1.46% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Elkhart
In Elkhart, IN, the plumber salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $60,107 (2026 est.). At $66,361, the local median is 1.46% above the national median of $65,408.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Elkhart: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Elkhart Plumber Pay Compares
Elkhart median: $66,361/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Elkhart Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Average | $79,001 | -16.00% less |
| National Average | $65,408 | +1.46% more |
Plumbers in Elkhart, IN earn a median of $66,361 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.46% higher than the national median of $65,408 and 16.00% below the Indiana state average of $79,001.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Elkhart has a cost of living 9.67% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Elkhart, IN has a cost-of-living index of 90.325 (below the national average of 100). A plumber earning $66,361 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,469 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.71% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,540
2025 BLS Actual
$64,730
2026 Current Est.
$66,361
2019–2027 Growth
+7.1%
Salary Trajectory for Plumbers in Elkhart (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,540 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,470 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,820 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,380 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,110 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,340 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,730 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66,361 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68,033 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Elkhart metropolitan area, the median plumber salary grew 1.9% from $63,540 (2019) to $64,730 (2025). At a 2.52% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,033 by 2027 — a total increase of $4,493 (7.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elkhart 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) | $46,575 – $52,552 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,552 – $66,361 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $66,361 – $98,255 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $98,255 – $106,682 |
Plumber salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual plumber compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Plumber Job Market in Elkhart
Currently, around 400 plumbers are employed in Elkhart, navigating a local job market characterized by a cost-of-living index of 90.325, which suggests that purchasing power in the area is favorable compared to national averages. Employers in the region vary widely in terms of pay structures, with union plumbing contractors typically offering the highest wages among local options, often driven by the premium associated with pipefitting and steamfitting credentials. Self-employed plumbers tend to experience variable earnings due to fluctuating project availability and task complexity. In this competitive landscape, plumbers can maximize their pay by pursuing specialty certifications, acquiring licenses, and considering opportunities with larger service companies that might offer attractive commission structures. Ultimately, the spread in pay largely hinges on the skills plumbers bring to the table, along with their adaptability to the ongoing shifts within the industry.
More salary data for Elkhart, IN:
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 $64,730 for plumbersin the Elkhart 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