Plumber & Steamfitter
Install and repair piping systems that carry water, steam, gas and waste.
Plumbers and steamfitters in the New York metro area earned an average of $90,820 a year in 2025 (median $78,610), according to BLS — 5% above the $86,310 average for all occupations. On New York City public-work contracts, the Comptroller's schedule sets the Plumber rate at $76.30 an hour plus $45.15 in benefit supplements for 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026 — a window that has since ended; the rate in force now comes from a later step or a newer Comptroller schedule, not shown here.
Two Different Pay Figures
The BLS average describes what plumbers and steamfitters across the metro area earned. The prevailing wage is a legal floor for one kind of work — New York City public-work contracts — paid as an hourly wage plus a separate supplement for benefits. Neither is a quote for any particular job. Rates below are the first step recorded from the Comptroller's 2025–26 schedule; where that window has ended, the rate in force now is a later step or a newer schedule — check the Comptroller's site before relying on a figure.
| Classification | Wage | Supplements | Total /hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlumberPlumbers Local #1 · 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026 · window ended | $76.30 | $45.15 | $121.45 |
| SteamfitterLocal #638-B · 7/1/2025 – 1/18/2026 · window ended | $61.80 | $61.89 | $123.69 |
Getting In
Plumbing · ~6,000 members
Chartered 1889. Represents NYC plumbers and apprentices, including medical gas and backflow certification specialties.
(718) 738-7500 · 50-02 5th Street, 2nd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101
Open City Postings
City of New York civil-service postings whose titles match this trade — related roles such as inspectors included.
- Plumbing InspectorDepartment Of Buildings · from $62,244
Busiest Plumbing Firms in NYC
By DOB permits on file. A measure of how much work a firm files, not whether it is hiring or employs union members.
- 1Par Plumbing Co., Inc11,640 permits
- 2The Plumbing Company Inc7,492 permits
- 3Duo Plumbing & Heating Corp6,776 permits
- 4Orbit Plbg & Htg Inc6,670 permits
- 5C & T Plumbing & Htg Inc5,803 permits
- 6Orion Plumbing & Htg Corp4,700 permits
- 7Varsity Plbg And Htg Inc4,580 permits
- 8Pace Plumbing Corp4,279 permits
Common Questions
- How much do plumbers and steamfitters make in NYC?
- Plumbers and steamfitters in the New York metro area earned an average of $90,820 a year in 2025 (median $78,610), according to BLS — 5% above the $86,310 average for all occupations. On New York City public-work contracts, the Comptroller's schedule sets the Plumber rate at $76.30 an hour plus $45.15 in benefit supplements for 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026 — a window that has since ended; the rate in force now comes from a later step or a newer Comptroller schedule, not shown here.
- What is the prevailing wage for plumbers and steamfitters on NYC public work?
- Plumber (Plumbers Local #1): $76.30 an hour plus $45.15 in supplements, a total of $121.45, for 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026 (that window has ended). Steamfitter (Local #638-B): $61.80 an hour plus $61.89 in supplements, a total of $123.69, for 7/1/2025 – 1/18/2026 (that window has ended). Source: NYC Comptroller's schedule published Jan 19, 2026; some rates step up later in the schedule period.
- Which union represents plumbers and steamfitters in New York City?
- UA Local 1 — The Plumbers of New York City (Plumbing; ~6,000 members). Unions generally train new members through registered apprenticeships — see the union's own site for how and when it takes applications.
- Are there City of New York jobs for plumbers and steamfitters?
- Yes — 1 related civil-service posting is open with City agencies right now, including Plumbing Inspector at Department Of Buildings.
Other Construction Careers
Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metro Area, 2025, SOC 47-2152 (bls.gov). Public-work rates: NYC Comptroller construction prevailing wage schedule, published Jan 19, 2026 (PDF). Union details: the union's own site, verified Aug 7, 2026. Open postings: NYC Jobs, live. Firms: NYC DOB Permit Issuance, by permits on file.