Statewide pay Government data
Plumbers in Washington, DC earn a statewide median of $101,020 a year, 64% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #1 of 50 states and DC. About 1,010 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near Washington, DC
See all states on the plumber overview.
Pay by city Government data
BLS publishes plumber pay for 1 Washington, DC metro: Washington.
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| WashingtonWASHINGTON, DC · DC | $71,860 | $65,997 | 9,420 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
The job (national)
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 6.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year. Typical training: apprenticeship.
Nationally, plumbers have 144 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 1.7× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is being struck by or caught in objects and equipment.
What the work is like Government data
How often plumbers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes medium preparation (vocational training or an apprenticeship, often 1–2+ years).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Getting started: registered apprenticeship Government data
Most plumbers train through a paid apprenticeship: you work and earn under experienced pros while taking classes, and pay usually rises as you progress. 727,586 people were active registered apprentices nationwide in FY2026, up 87% since FY2016, and construction is the largest field with 290,043 of them (40%), according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Search apprenticeship openings ↗Find training programs & sponsors ↗
Official U.S. Department of Labor tools at Apprenticeship.gov. Counts: DOL Apprentices by State dashboard, FY2026 (all occupations).
Licensing in Washington, DC Official source
The main state licensing office in Washington, DC is the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. It can point you to the right license for plumbers.
Official Washington, DC licensing site ↗
Requirements for plumbers vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 9.2% of wage and salary workers in Washington, DC were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#23 of 51 states and D.C.), and 10.7% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only plumbers.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Cities in Washington, DC
All trades in Washington, DC.