Plumbing Cost Statistics 2026

The cost of hiring a plumber varies significantly by region, experience level, and urgency. Here are the latest figures from industry sources.

Average plumber hourly rates range from $45 to $200 per hour, with most homeowners paying around $90 per hour on average according to HomeGuide. Service call fees typically run $50 to $150 for the initial visit and inspection, with rates varying by market and travel distance per Modernize.

Emergency plumber rates run significantly higher at $150 to $300 per hour, which is 1.5 to 3 times standard rates. Apprentice plumbers charge $45 to $70 per hour, journeyman plumbers charge $80 to $130 per hour, and master plumbers command $120 to $200 per hour.

The typical total cost for a service call ranges from $120 to $650 depending on region, complexity, and parts needed.

Water heaters are one of the most common plumbing replacements. Here's what the data shows from major industry sources.

Average water heater replacement costs range from $1,200 to $3,500 for most homeowners according to Angi. Standard tank water heaters (40 or 50 gallon models) cost $1,200 to $2,500 installed per NerdWallet. Tankless water heaters cost $1,400 to $5,600 depending on fuel type and installation requirements.

Heat pump and hybrid water heaters cost $2,500 to $4,500 installed. Tank water heaters typically last 8 to 12 years on average, with electric models lasting 10 to 15 years and gas models lasting 6 to 12 years according to Rheem. Tankless water heaters last 15 to 20+ years with proper maintenance, and some last up to 25 years per A.O. Smith.

Labor typically accounts for 30 to 50 percent of total water heater installation cost according to Homewyse.

Water damage is one of the most common and costly homeowner claims. Here are the statistics from insurance industry sources.

Average water damage insurance claims exceed $10,000 and account for 20 percent of all homeowner claims annually according to insurance industry data. Average frozen or burst pipe claims range from $10,000 to $15,000 per CNBC Select.

State Farm reported over 20,000 burst pipe claims totaling more than $628 million during 2024-2025, with average payments exceeding $30,000. Severe water damage claims can exceed $50,000 when flooding destroys flooring, walls, or electrical systems according to Palm Build.

Burst pipe repair costs (separate from damage claims) typically run $200 to $3,000, with typical repairs around $500. Insurance covers water damage but not the pipe repair itself. Ninety percent of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Average flood insurance policy costs run around $540 per year through NFIP. Twenty-five percent of all NFIP flood claims are for homes outside designated high-risk areas.

The plumbing industry employs hundreds of thousands of workers, with wages trending upward due to skilled labor shortages.

Over 500,000 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are currently employed in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 132,000 plumbing businesses employ approximately 736,000 people total per ServiceTitan.

Median annual plumber wage is $62,970 (May 2024 BLS data), or approximately $30.27 per hour. Entry-level plumber salary averages $53,900 median annual ($25.91 per hour) according to Jobber. Experienced plumbers with 2 to 4 years earn around $70,000 median annual ($33.65 per hour), while master plumbers average $80,053 annual ($38.49 per hour).

The highest-paying state is Illinois where plumbers earn a median of $96,200, nearly double West Virginia's $49,630 median per ServiceTitan. Projected job growth is 4 percent from 2024 to 2034 (about as fast as average), with approximately 44,000 openings annually according to BLS.

The U.S. plumbing market continues to grow, driven by housing demand and infrastructure needs.

U.S. plumbing market size is projected at $191.4 billion in revenue for 2026 according to Simpro. Market growth rate is 3.1 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over five years.

A projected labor shortage of 550,000 plumbers is expected by 2027, costing the economy approximately $33 billion annually per Jobber. The average plumber age is over 40 years old, contributing to projected workforce shortages according to ServiceTitan.

Emergency call volume represents 70 to 80 percent of plumbing service calls, which are urgent or "can't-wait" situations per FieldCamp. Fourteen percent of plumbing business owners surveyed are currently turning work away due to full schedules according to Simpro.

Job growth through 2033 is expected at 6 percent, adding approximately 26,300 new jobs per Jobber.

The following statistics come from PlumbPro's proprietary network data - the actual prices plumbing contractors pay to acquire qualified customer calls across 12,975 U.S. zip codes. This data is not available elsewhere. Values are presented in ranges to protect the commercial terms of our network partners.

National median contractor bid per qualified call is in the $75-100 range. The highest-value state for plumber calls is Kentucky (in the $150-200 range per call), nearly twice the national median. The most expensive metro market is Colorado Springs at $300+ per call, ~3.5 times the national median and the highest of any U.S. metro.

Lowest-value states are Arkansas and Rhode Island (under $75 per call), less than half the national median. Top 5 states by contractor bid are Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Ohio - all in the $100-200 range.

Our data spans 12,975 zip codes with active plumbing service buyers. State-to-state price variation shows the same qualified call costs contractors ~4 times more in Kentucky than in Arkansas.

Cross-vertical comparison reveals water damage restoration calls (in the $300-400 range) are worth approximately 4 times emergency plumbing calls (in the $75-100 range).

For the complete 50-state and 25-metro breakdown, see our Emergency Plumber Call Value Index at /guides/emergency-plumber-call-value-index.