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$72,000 USD is the average salary for a Plumber in Texas. This guide covers what licensed plumbers earn across all experience levels, from apprentice to master, and how pay varies across Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and El Paso. Pay differs based on licensing under the TDLR system, project type, and union status, with significant gaps between entry-level residential roles and high-demand industrial or petrochemical work.
Your TDLR license tier is the single biggest pay lever in Texas plumbing -- it determines which jobs you can work and whether a contractor can legally put you on a permitted job.
$42,000 - $58,000 USD
Registered apprentices work under supervision on residential and light commercial sites, with pay climbing toward $58K as documented hours accumulate toward the journeyman exam.
$58,000 - $80,000 USD
Licensed journeymen can work independently on permitted jobs, making this the first real market-rate tier -- industrial and union roles at the top of this band pay $38-$44/hr.
$78,000 - $95,000 USD
Crew-lead roles on commercial or industrial projects where you own scheduling, inspections, and junior plumber oversight -- petrochemical shutdown specialists in this tier consistently clear $90K+.
$88,000 - $115,000 USD
Master license holders can pull permits, supervise unlimited journeymen, and legally operate their own contracting business in Texas -- the top 10% exceed $115K through business ownership or industrial contracts.
Most Texas plumbers plateau because their resume lists job duties rather than licensed scope, project types, and inspection outcomes -- contractors and municipalities pay for documented regulated work, not years on the tools. Changing how your experience reads on paper often moves the offer before you change anything else.
Texas contractors and municipalities read dozens of plumber resumes per week -- the ones that win top offers name licensed scope, project types, and documented inspection outcomes, not just job duties. Yotru's resume tools help you reframe your experience in the language that moves offers from mid-band to the top of the range shown on this page.
Higher-paying candidates typically show:
Houston pays the highest median plumber salaries in Texas -- around $66,000 for journeymen -- driven by the petrochemical and port industrial complex along the Ship Channel, where industrial pipefitters clear $32-$50/hr.
DFW is the most active commercial construction market in Texas with sustained demand from corporate relocations, data centers, hospital expansions, and residential growth in Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper pushing journeyman rates to $26-$42/hr.
Austin's tech sector construction boom -- Samsung's fab in Taylor, Tesla Gigafactory, Apple's campus -- drives high-value commercial and industrial plumbing work paying $26-$40/hr for journeymen, with industrial fab work up to $52/hr.
San Antonio's market combines residential growth, public water infrastructure programs tied to the Edwards Aquifer Authority, and military base facility work -- a solid mid-market with lower cost of living than DFW or Austin.
Fort Worth benefits from DFW metro spillover demand, industrial park growth, and logistics center construction -- journeyman rates align closely with Dallas and are supported by several active UA locals.
El Paso is the lowest-paying major Texas market for plumbers, reflecting lower cost of living and a residential-heavy project mix, but cross-border industrial projects and border infrastructure work can push experienced journeymen above the median.
Texas plumbing is overtime-heavy -- Indeed reports average overtime of $6,750 per year on top of base for Houston and Dallas plumbers. Industrial shutdown and turnaround work (refineries, chip fabs) pays premium daily rates during scheduled maintenance periods, which can add $10,000-$20,000 to annual cash earnings for journeymen who pursue them.
Texas is a right-to-work state, but UA trade union locals operate actively in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. Union wages run $5-$12/hr higher than non-union scale and include defined benefit pension plans and healthcare, adding meaningful total compensation that base salary alone does not reflect. Non-union contractors often counter with overtime flexibility and faster advancement to foreman roles.
Texas requires TDLR licensure for all working plumbers -- out-of-state licenses are not automatically reciprocated. Out-of-state applicants must document equivalent apprenticeship hours and pass Texas exams, which can delay hiring timelines by weeks to months. Candidates who proactively present their out-of-state credentials in mapped, TDLR-equivalent language on their resume move through contractor screening faster.
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Answers to the most common questions about Plumber compensation in Texas.
Plumber salaries in Texas range from approximately $42,000 for registered apprentices to $115,000+ for master-licensed plumbers working industrial or commercial contracts. The statewide average across all license tiers sits around $58,000-$72,000 per year depending on the source and role definition. Pay varies significantly by city, license tier, project type, and union status.
Houston consistently pays the highest median plumber salaries in Texas, driven by petrochemical and port industrial demand along the Ship Channel. Industrial pipefitters in the Houston corridor earn $32-$50/hr, with annual earnings regularly exceeding $90,000-$110,000 for experienced workers on shutdown contracts. Dallas-Fort Worth ranks second due to high commercial construction volume.
A journeyman plumber in Texas earns between $58,000 and $80,000 per year in base salary, with Glassdoor reporting a 25th-to-75th percentile range of $73,000-$124,000 including total compensation. Union journeymen in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio earn toward the top of that range due to the $5-$12/hr union premium. Industrial journeymen on petrochemical sites can exceed $90,000.
Yes. Texas requires licensure through the TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) for all working plumbers. License tiers include apprentice, journeyman, and master, each requiring documented experience hours, passing a written exam, and ongoing continuing education. Out-of-state licenses are not automatically recognized and must be converted through TDLR equivalency review.
Union plumbers in Texas typically earn $5-$12 per hour more than non-union peers on base wages, plus defined benefit pension contributions and employer-paid healthcare. In DFW and Houston, that premium translates to $10,000-$25,000 more in total annual compensation depending on hours worked. UA trade union locals operate in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
Journeyman plumbers in Texas typically earn $58,000-$80,000 per year while master plumbers earn $88,000-$115,000 or more. The master license also allows the holder to pull permits independently, supervise unlimited journeymen, and legally operate a plumbing contracting business, which is why business-owning master plumbers can earn well above the reported salary range. Salary.com projects the journeyman-to-master step adds roughly 12% in base pay alone.
Yes -- Texas adds more residents annually than any other state, creating durable demand for licensed plumbers across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The state has no income tax and a business-friendly environment favorable to independent contractors and small plumbing businesses. However, out-of-state plumbers must re-license through TDLR, and documenting equivalent experience proactively is essential to avoid delays in being hired at the appropriate tier.
It typically takes 4-5 years to become a licensed journeyman plumber in Texas, combining trade school with the apprenticeship hours required to sit for the TDLR journeyman exam. Advancing to master plumber requires an additional 4 years of journeyman-level experience before you can sit for the master exam. Total time from start to master license is typically 8-10 years.
Explore how plumber compensation compares to other skilled trades and construction roles in Texas and beyond.
| Job title | Apprentice (1st-2nd year) | Apprentice (3rd-5th year) / Pre-Journeyman | Journeyman Electrician | Master / Industrial Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $38K - $50K USD | $50K - $65K USD | $65K - $90K USD | $83K - $105K+ USD |
| HVAC Technician | $45,000 - $58,000 CAD | $58,000 - $78,000 CAD | $78,000 - $95,000 CAD | $95,000 - $107,000 CAD |
| Construction Labourer | $29,000 - $36,000 USD | $36,000 - $44,000 USD | $44,000 - $51,000 USD | $51,000 - $57,000 USD |
| Plumber | $36K - $52K CAD | $60K - $80K CAD | $78K - $95K CAD | $88K - $105K CAD |
| Truck Driver | $42,000 - $58,000 USD | $58,000 - $80,000 USD | $80,000 - $100,000 USD | $100,000 - $120,000 USD |
| Maintenance Technician | $44K - $57K CAD | $57K - $72K CAD | $72K - $88K CAD | $88K - $95K+ CAD |
| Welder | $42K - $55K CAD | $55K - $72K CAD | $72K - $83K CAD | $83K - $90K+ CAD |
Explore additional guides to maximize your earning potential and advance your plumbing career in Texas.
Learn proven strategies to negotiate your plumbing salary effectively and secure the compensation that matches your experience level and licensing tier.
Read article →Discover how to structure a compelling trades resume that highlights your plumbing certifications, apprenticeship progression, and project experience to attract higher-paying positions.
Read article →Understand the current job market dynamics and hiring patterns across Texas to identify which cities and sectors offer the strongest demand and compensation for plumbers.
Read article →Review comparable salary data across skilled trades in North America to contextualize Texas plumber earnings and identify peer benchmarks for your licensing level.
Read article →Salary data was gathered from multiple public compensation platforms and trade-focused career resources publishing 2025-2026 Texas plumber salary data, cross-referenced against BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and city-level aggregates to produce the ranges shown on this page.
Quotes reflect community discussion on compensation, licensing, and market conditions gathered from public forums and review platforms through early 2026.
“Got my journeyman ticket last year and jumped $10/hr overnight -- Texas licensing is real money”
Confirms the licensed-vs-unlicensed pay gap is steep in Texas; the journeyman exam is a direct wage lever, not just a credential.
“Houston shutdown work pays crazy -- did a 6-week turnaround last spring and cleared more than some guys make all year”
Validates that industrial shutdown and turnaround contracts in the Houston petrochemical corridor represent a significant earnings spike for experienced journeymen.
“Non-union here but the union guys at the same site are making $12/hr more with full benefits -- hard to ignore”
Illustrates the real-world union premium in Texas and the total compensation gap that base salary comparisons alone do not capture.
“DFW market is still hot -- I got three offers in a week after my master license came through”
Reflects strong demand for master-licensed plumbers in the DFW commercial construction market and the speed at which licensed candidates receive offers.
“Moving here from Ohio -- TDLR reciprocity is basically nonexistent, budget time to re-test”
A practical warning for out-of-state plumbers: Texas does not offer automatic license reciprocity, and candidates must plan for TDLR re-examination before they can work legally.
“The semiconductor fab work near Taylor is the best-paying construction gig I have ever been on”
Corroborates data showing that specialized fab and industrial work near Austin pays top-of-market rates, well above standard residential or commercial plumbing.
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Salary.com - Plumber and Journeyman Plumber salary data for Texas, February 2026 Salary.com Texas Plumber
ZipRecruiter - Licensed Plumber and Master Plumber salary in Texas, March-April 2026 ZipRecruiter Texas Plumber
Glassdoor - Plumber and Journeyman Plumber salary submissions in Texas, February-March 2026 Glassdoor Texas Plumber
Hardhat Careers - Plumber Salary in Texas, median and city data, February 2026 Hardhat Careers Texas Plumber
Education Directory - Plumber Salary in Texas: Statewide Earnings and Top Paying Markets, 2026 Education Directory Texas Plumber
Indeed - Plumber salary in Houston TX and Dallas TX, March 2026 Indeed Houston Plumber