Plumber Salary in Maine

Key Takeaways

• Maine plumbers earn $52,000-$68,000/yr on average.
• The BLS 2024 national median for plumbers is $62,970/yr; Maine runs slightly below with strong real purchasing power.
• Portland and southern Maine plumbers access Boston market influence with lower cost of living.
• Maine requires journeyman and master plumber licenses through the Maine Plumbers Examining Board.
• Tourism and hospitality infrastructure drives significant commercial plumbing work in coastal Maine.
• Maine has no major metro but steady year-round demand from residential, commercial, and seasonal construction.

Plumber Salary in Maine: 2025 Career Guide

Maine's plumbing market reflects the state's distinctive character - a mix of year-round residential and commercial work anchored in Portland and Augusta, and significant seasonal demand from the state's massive tourism and hospitality sector. Coastal resorts, vacation properties, ski lodges, and commercial hospitality facilities all require ongoing plumbing maintenance and seasonal start-up work that creates consistent employment for licensed plumbers throughout the state.

This guide covers what plumbers earn in Maine by experience and region, licensing requirements, the highest-paying sectors, and career outlook.

Average Plumber Salary in Maine

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, plumbers nationally earned a 2024 median of $62,970 per year. Maine wages are below the national median but reflect the state's lower cost of living.

• Apprentice plumber: $28,000-$40,000/yr
• Journeyman plumber: $48,000-$64,000/yr
• Master plumber: $62,000-$84,000/yr
• Plumbing foreman/superintendent: $72,000-$96,000/yr
• Plumbing contractor (business owner): $80,000-$140,000+ gross

Plumber Salary by Region in Maine

• Portland/Cumberland County: $58,000-$78,000 avg - largest market, Boston-influenced
• South Portland/Biddeford/Saco: $54,000-$72,000 avg
• Augusta/Kennebec County: $50,000-$66,000 avg - state government and healthcare
• Bangor/Penobscot County: $48,000-$64,000 avg - second-largest market
• Coastal/seasonal areas (Bar Harbor, Rockland, Boothbay): $52,000-$70,000 avg - premium for seasonal hospitality work

How Maine Compares to New England Neighbors

• Massachusetts: $68,000-$88,000 avg (significantly higher, Boston market)
• New Hampshire: $56,000-$72,000 avg (slightly higher)
• Vermont: $52,000-$68,000 avg (comparable)
• Connecticut: $68,000-$88,000 avg (significantly higher)
• Maine: $52,000-$68,000 avg

Maine Plumber License Requirements

Maine requires plumber licensing through the Maine Plumbers Examining Board:

• Step 1 - Apprentice registration: Register with the Maine Plumbers Examining Board as a licensed plumber's apprentice.
• Step 2 - Journeyman plumber license: 4 years (8,000 hours) of apprenticeship + pass the Maine journeyman exam.
• Step 3 - Master plumber license: 1 additional year of journeyman experience + master exam + liability insurance and bond.
• Step 4 - Plumbing contractor license: Required to operate a plumbing business in Maine.

Highest-Paying Plumbing Sectors in Maine

• Hospitality and resort plumbing: Maine's tourism industry - including Kennebunkport, Bar Harbor, the Sugarloaf and Sunday River ski resorts, and hundreds of lodges and inns - creates specialized seasonal commercial plumbing work. Plumbers with commercial experience in resort infrastructure earn premium wages.
• Healthcare facilities: MaineHealth, Northern Light Health, and Central Maine Healthcare employ plumbers for hospital construction, renovation, and maintenance.
• Marine and waterfront: Maine's boatbuilding heritage and active commercial fishing industry create demand for marine plumbing specialists in coastal communities.
• Residential construction: Portland's ongoing growth and southern Maine's status as an affordable alternative to Boston drive steady new-home plumbing work.

Job Outlook for Plumbers in Maine

The BLS projects 4% job growth for plumbers through 2034, consistent with average. Maine's market is smaller than most states but steady. The state's aging housing stock creates consistent renovation and repiping work. Maine's population has been growing slightly - particularly Portland and its suburbs - as remote workers relocate from Boston and New York seeking lower costs.

The retirement wave is particularly acute in Maine's trades - the state has an older-than-average workforce, and many experienced plumbers are approaching retirement. This creates meaningful advancement opportunities for younger licensed plumbers entering the Maine market over the next decade.

Is a Plumbing Career Worth It in Maine?

For Maine residents, plumbing offers a solid path to a comfortable livelihood. While absolute wages are below Boston metro levels, Maine's cost of living advantage is significant. A master plumber earning $80,000 in Portland has strong purchasing power - home ownership, comfortable lifestyle, and meaningful savings are achievable at those income levels in Maine's market.

Plumbing contractors in Maine who build service businesses in the Portland-to-Biddeford corridor have consistently strong demand. The combination of an aging housing stock needing regular service work and consistent new construction along the southern Maine coast creates a sustainable business environment.

Find Plumbing Training in Maine

• UA Local 716 JATC - Maine plumbing and pipefitting apprenticeship (Portland)
• Southern Maine Community College - Plumbing and Heating Technology
• Eastern Maine Community College (Bangor) - Plumbing program
• Maine apprenticeship programs through independent contractors
• CareerCenter Maine - workforce funding for trade training (maine.gov/labor)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a licensed plumber in Maine? The full path from starting an apprenticeship to journeyman license is 4-5 years. Adding a pre-apprenticeship trade school program extends the total timeline to 5-6 years, all while earning wages during the apprenticeship phase.

Is Portland Maine a good city for plumbing careers? Yes. Portland is Maine's largest and fastest-growing city and offers the strongest plumbing job market in the state. The city's commercial growth, restaurant and hospitality sector, and status as a regional healthcare hub (MaineHealth) create consistent demand for licensed plumbers.

Does Maine have strong union plumbing? UA Local 716 serves Maine's plumbing and pipefitting market. Union density is lower than Massachusetts but union wages and benefits in Portland are competitive. Most large commercial projects in Portland use union plumbing contractors.