Key Takeaways
- Wisconsin plumbers earn $56,000-$74,000/yr on average.
- The BLS 2024 national median for plumbers is $62,970/yr; Wisconsin is at or near the median.
- Milwaukee and Madison metro plumbers earn $62,000-$84,000 avg.
- UA Local 75 (Milwaukee) and Local 434 (Madison) offer strong apprenticeship programs.
- Wisconsin requires journeyman and master plumber licenses through the DSPS.
- Commercial and industrial construction along the I-94 corridor drives strong plumbing demand.
Plumber Salary in Wisconsin: 2025 Career Guide
Wisconsin's plumbing market benefits from a diverse economy - strong manufacturing, consistent healthcare construction, and the ongoing residential and commercial build-out in Milwaukee's suburbs and the Madison metro. The state's location as a Great Lakes industrial state means a steady pipeline of commercial and industrial plumbing work at Rockwell Automation, SC Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, and their supplier networks.
This guide covers what plumbers earn in Wisconsin by experience and city, licensing steps, the highest-paying sectors, and career outlook.
Average Plumber Salary in Wisconsin
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, plumbers nationally earned a 2024 median of $62,970 per year. Wisconsin wages are near the national median, with Milwaukee at the top.
- Apprentice plumber: $32,000-$44,000/yr
- Journeyman plumber: $56,000-$72,000/yr
- Master plumber: $70,000-$96,000/yr
- Plumbing foreman: $80,000-$108,000/yr
- UA union journeyman (Milwaukee): $78,000-$100,000/yr with benefits
Plumber Salary by City in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee/Waukesha County: $64,000-$86,000 avg - largest market
- Madison/Dane County: $62,000-$82,000 avg - university and tech
- Green Bay/Brown County: $56,000-$74,000 avg
- Appleton/Fox Valley: $54,000-$72,000 avg
- Racine/Kenosha (Chicago border): $58,000-$78,000 avg - Chicago market influence
- Wausau/Marathon County: $52,000-$68,000 avg
How Wisconsin Compares to Neighbors
- Minnesota: $60,000-$78,000 avg (comparable, Twin Cities premium)
- Illinois: $64,000-$82,000 avg (higher, Chicago market)
- Michigan: $58,000-$76,000 avg (comparable)
- Iowa: $52,000-$68,000 avg (lower)
- Wisconsin: $56,000-$74,000 avg
Wisconsin Plumber License Requirements
Wisconsin licenses plumbers through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS):
- Step 1 - Apprentice: Register with DSPS as a plumbing apprentice. Work under a licensed journeyman or master.
- Step 2 - Journeyman license: 4-year apprenticeship (8,000 hours) + pass the Wisconsin journeyman plumber exam.
- Step 3 - Master plumber license: 1+ year journeyman experience + master exam + insurance and bond.
- Step 4 - Plumbing contractor license: Required to operate a business and pull permits.
Top Plumbing Sectors in Wisconsin
- Manufacturing facilities: Rockwell Automation, Briggs & Stratton, Harley-Davidson, and the broader Wisconsin manufacturing sector employ plumbers for facility maintenance and construction.
- Healthcare construction: Froedtert Health, UW Health, Aurora, and Advocate are building and expanding facilities throughout Wisconsin, creating commercial plumbing work.
- Commercial and industrial: Milwaukee's commercial construction market - hotels, office buildings, breweries (MillerCoors), and data centers - creates steady commercial plumbing work.
- Residential (suburban Milwaukee/Madison): Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee counties around Milwaukee and the western Madison suburbs have consistent new-home construction.
Job Outlook for Plumbers in Wisconsin
The BLS projects 4% growth for plumbers through 2034, consistent with average. Wisconsin's market is steady - not booming, but reliable. The state's healthcare sector is expanding (Advocate Aurora's merger created one of the largest health systems in the US, with major Wisconsin infrastructure), and commercial construction in the Milwaukee and Madison metros remains active. The I-94 corridor between Milwaukee and Chicago is one of the most economically active industrial corridors in the Midwest.
Wisconsin's aging housing stock creates consistent service and remodeling plumbing work. Many Wisconsin homes and commercial buildings are 50-80 years old and require pipe replacement, drain lining, and bathroom/kitchen renovations. This creates a durable market for service-oriented plumbers who build residential maintenance routes.
Is a Plumbing Career Worth It in Wisconsin?
For Wisconsin residents, plumbing is a solid career with strong real wages. The Milwaukee and Madison markets support journeyman and master plumber incomes that allow comfortable homeownership and a good lifestyle in the Midwest's affordable housing environment. Union plumbers in Milwaukee earn total compensation packages that rival professional salaries - $78,000-$100,000 with benefits and pension.
Entrepreneurially-minded master plumbers in Wisconsin's suburban markets (Waukesha, Brookfield, Middleton) can build profitable service businesses. The combination of aging housing stock, active new construction, and a shortage of skilled plumbing service businesses in suburban Wisconsin creates a workable environment for plumbing contractors who deliver reliable service.
Find Plumbing Training in Wisconsin
- UA Local 75 JATC - Milwaukee plumbing apprenticeship
- UA Local 434 JATC - Madison area
- Waukesha County Technical College - Plumbing Technology
- Milwaukee Area Technical College - Plumbing Technology
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (Green Bay) - Plumbing
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wisconsin have a statewide plumber license? Yes. Wisconsin requires journeyman and master plumber licenses issued by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). These licenses are required statewide for plumbing work.
How does the Racine/Kenosha area compare to the rest of Wisconsin for plumbing wages? Racine and Kenosha counties border Illinois and effectively access the Chicago metro market. Plumbing wages in this corridor are 10-15% above the rest of Wisconsin, and many Kenosha-area plumbers work across the state line in Illinois on large commercial projects.
Is UA Local 75 a good apprenticeship in Wisconsin? UA Local 75 in Milwaukee is one of the most respected trade apprenticeships in the state. The 5-year program provides excellent technical training, and union journeyman wages with full benefits significantly exceed non-union compensation in Wisconsin's plumbing market.
Wisconsin Plumbing Contractor Business Opportunities
Wisconsin's plumbing contractor market rewards operators who understand the local economy. Suburban Milwaukee and Madison have seen significant residential construction, and service-oriented plumbing businesses that build recurring maintenance accounts can generate strong, stable revenue. The Fox Valley (Appleton/Neenah) is an underserved market relative to its manufacturing base.
Wisconsin's aging housing stock and active new construction create dual revenue streams for plumbing contractors: service and repair on older residential stock, and new construction rough-in work on suburban developments. Contractors who balance both types of work maintain revenue stability through economic cycles when new construction slows but repair demand increases.
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