Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,200 or more. The middle half of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Chicago earn between $74,300 and $122,540.
- $54K10th
- $74K25th
- $103KMedian
- $123K75th
- $127K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,430 | $8,036 | $46.36 |
| Median | $103,380 | $8,615 | $49.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,300 | $6,192 | $35.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $122,540 | $10,212 | $58.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Chicago earn 3% more than the Illinois average ($93,400) and 34% more than the U.S. average ($72,170). At the median the gap is +62% against the U.S. median of $63,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $96,430 | $103,380 | $53,960 | $127,200 | 12,750 |
| Illinois | $93,400 | $99,950 | $50,250 | $126,430 | 16,750 |
| United States | $72,170 | $63,800 | $44,150 | $108,420 | 465,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $96,430, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $72,036 a year, or $6,003 a month and $2,771 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $73,806 | $6,150 |
| Working in IL | $72,036 | $6,003 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $96,430 buys what about $93,084 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$96,430
- Rockford$89,830
- Champaign$89,200
- Springfield$87,330
- Peoria$85,040
- Kankakee$82,810
- Decatur$82,490
- Bloomington$76,600
All Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($114,280).
- San Jose, CA$114,280
- Bellingham, WA$102,860
- Portland, OR$100,710
- Chicago, IL$96,430
- Seattle, WA$96,250
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Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make an hour in Chicago?
$46.36 an hour on average, and $49.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $72,036 a year ($6,003 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,430.
Do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2152; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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