Wisconsin · BLS OEWS May 2025
Plumber salary in Wisconsin: $81,210 median, no degree required
Nobody's software update fixes a burst supply line. Plumbers in Wisconsin pull a median of $81,210 a year, and the top end reaches $120,070. I have opened up enough walls in 20 years of remodeling to tell you plumbing work never runs out: old homes, new code, water heaters, repipes. It cannot be offshored and it is a long way from being automated. Training is a paid 4-to-5-year apprenticeship, so while the college route digs a $37,850 debt hole, an apprentice plumber in Wisconsin is stacking paychecks. After 10 years the gap in our model is $434,467 in the plumber's favor.
Reviewed by Brad Zemke, third-generation tradesman, 20+ years in the field.
Plumber pay in Wisconsin
BLS OEWS May 2025 · 10,210 employed
| Wage level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $50,020 | $24.05/hr |
| 25th percentile | $61,430 | $29.53/hr |
| Median wage | $81,210 | $39.04/hr |
| 75th percentile | $103,560 | $49.79/hr |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $120,070 | $57.73/hr |
The 10-year picture
Plumber vs college in Wisconsin
- Plumber, 10 years in
- $755,909
- cumulative earnings minus training costs
- College path, 10 years in
- $321,441
- avg degree, $37,850 debt, $11,568 interest paid
- Head start
- $434,467
- trade path is in the black by year 1; college by year 6
Cumulative earnings net of education costs and loan interest; taxes and living costs excluded from both paths. Full math and sources on the methodology page.
The apprenticeship
How you get in
Expect a 4-to-5-year paid apprenticeship in Wisconsin, through a UA local or an open shop, mixing on-the-job hours with classroom code training. Starting pay runs about half of journeyman scale with annual bumps. Many programs cost almost nothing; you are an employee, not a student.
Training cost in our model: $7,500. First-year pay near $40,605.
Licensing
What WI requires
Plumbing is licensed nearly everywhere, and Wisconsin will require journeyman licensure after your apprenticeship, with a master plumber track above that. Licensed trades protect their wage floor. Verify hour counts and exam details with Wisconsin's board.
FAQ
Plumber questions, answered straight
How much do plumbers make in Wisconsin?
The median plumber wage in Wisconsin is $81,210 a year ($39.04/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The top 10% earn $120,070 or more. Entry-level pay starts around $50,020.
Is becoming a plumber worth it compared to college in Wisconsin?
On the 10-year math, yes. Our model puts a Wisconsin plumber at $755,909 in cumulative net earnings after 10 years, versus $321,441 for the average bachelor's path. That is a $434,467 head start, mostly because you earn while you train instead of paying tuition for four years.
How many plumbers work in Wisconsin?
BLS counts 10,210 employed plumbers in Wisconsin as of the May 2025 OEWS survey.
Is plumbing hard on your body?
It is physical work, no way around that. Crawl spaces, lifting, awkward positions. That is part of why it pays $81,210 at the median in Wisconsin. Smart plumbers move into supervision, inspection, or their own shop as they get older, and the license makes that path real.
Can plumbing be replaced by AI?
No. You cannot install a water heater over the internet. Trades that require hands on real buildings are the most automation-resistant jobs in the economy, which is exactly why a lot of Gen Z is looking at them.
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Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2152, 10,210 employed in Wisconsin. ROI model assumptions and sources: methodology.