Salary report · Chicago, IL

What is the average Plumber salary in Chicago, IL?

Plumbers in Chicago earn a median of $65,200 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $46,900 (25th percentile) to $101,100 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$46,900
Median
$65,200
75th percentile
$83,500
90th percentile
$101,100
YoY change
+4.3%

Plumber salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$42,400
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$65,200
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$83,500
Lead · 8+ yrs
$94,500

How Chicago pay compares

Chicago median$65,200
National median$61,550
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 107)$60,900

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Chicago salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$55K
2022
$58K
2023
$60K
2024
$63K
2025
$65K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 4.3%.

Plumber job market in Chicago

Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. Salaries are competitive without the coastal cost of living.

An estimated 11,300 plumbers work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Install pipes and fixtures
  • Diagnose leaks
  • Repair plumbing systems
  • Read blueprints
  • Estimate jobs

Related job salaries in Chicago

Plumber salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Plumber make in Chicago, IL?+

Plumbers in Chicago earn a median of $65,200 per year — about 6% above the national average of $61,550.

What's the entry-level Plumber salary in Chicago?+

Entry-level Plumbers in Chicago typically earn around $42,400 per year. Salaries scale to about $94,500 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $65,200 a good Plumber salary in Chicago?+

$65,200 is the median, meaning half of Plumbers in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $60,900 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Plumber pay growing in Chicago?+

Plumber salaries in Chicago grew about 4.3% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +6%.

Where do Plumbers in Chicago get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Plumber salary in Chicago is around $101,100. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Chicago?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Chicago median.

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