Most plumbers are stuck making $50K-$60K while doing backbreaking work that nobody else wants to do. You're dealing with sewage backups, emergency calls at 2 AM, and crawling through spaces that would make most people quit on the spot. Meanwhile, there are plumbers out there clearing $100K+ doing the same trade.
Here's how to become one of them.
Move Into Commercial and Specialized Work
Residential plumbing keeps you busy but it doesn't make you rich. The money is in commercial work, industrial facilities, and specialized systems. Medical gas installation in hospitals pays $15-$20 more per hour than fixing toilets in houses because it requires specific certifications and the stakes are higher.
Industrial pipefitting, fire suppression systems, and backflow testing all command premium rates. Why? Fewer plumbers can do it, and when these systems fail, it costs companies serious money. Get trained in these areas and your value shoots up immediately.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbers working in specialized commercial sectors earn 35-45% more than those doing residential service calls. That's the difference between $55K and $90K right there.
Stack Certifications That Pay
Your journeyman license got you started. Your master's license proves you know your stuff. But if you want top-tier pay, you need the credentials that make you irreplaceable.
ASSE 6010 for medical gas? That certification alone can bump you $8-$12 per hour because hospitals legally need certified installers. Backflow prevention certification opens commercial testing contracts. Welding tickets get you into industrial plants. Green plumbing credentials matter for new construction projects focused on sustainability.
Most quality employers will cover certification costs. If yours won't, that tells you everything about whether they're investing in you or just using you.
Actually Negotiate Your Pay
The skilled trades shortage is real. Companies need experienced plumbers badly. You have way more leverage than you think—most guys just don't use it.
Before accepting any job offer, research what commercial plumbers with your experience make in your market. Then ask for more than the first number they give you. Negotiate sign-on bonuses, tool allowances, company vehicles, guaranteed overtime rates, and per diem for travel work.
One solid negotiation when changing jobs can add $15K-$25K annually to your income. According to Harvard Business Review, employees who negotiate their initial offer increase their lifetime earnings by an average of $500,000 to $1 million. That's real money that compounds over your entire career. Don't leave it on the table because you were too uncomfortable to ask.
Choose Your Employer Carefully
Some plumbing companies will grind you down for $20 an hour with no benefits while you use your own tools and truck. Others pay $45-$50 per hour, provide full benefits, company vehicles, continuing education, and clear paths to lead plumber or foreman positions.
Commercial contractors and union shops have the profit margins to pay you properly because they're billing clients $200+ per hour. Residential shops billing $85 an hour can't afford to pay you $45. It's simple math.
Work for companies that bill high-value clients and you'll get paid accordingly. Work for low-budget outfits and you'll stay broke no matter how skilled you are.
Position Yourself Where Opportunities Are
The highest-paying plumbing jobs don't show up on Indeed next to Walmart listings. They get filled through specialized recruiting and trade-specific job platforms where serious companies look for serious plumbers.
BCRecruits.com was built specifically for skilled trades. It's where commercial plumbing companies, industrial contractors, and union shops post positions they're willing to pay top dollar for. No fluff. No retail jobs. Just real opportunities for real tradesmen.
Need to level up your certifications? Check out our Virtual Trade School for training that translates directly into higher pay.
The Blue Collar Recruiter works directly with top plumbing companies nationwide, matching experienced plumbers with positions that actually pay what you're worth. They understand the trade, they know the market, and they negotiate on your behalf.
Bottom Line
Doubling your income as a plumber comes down to this: specialize in high-paying work, get the certifications that matter, negotiate every opportunity, and work for employers who value skilled labor.
You already know how to plumb. Now get paid like you do.
Ready to make the move? Check out high-paying plumbing positions on BCRecruits.com or contact us to discuss your next career opportunity.