The plumbers who work with motor vehicles earn more than those who work for the local government. Plumbers can lose work time because of downturns in construction activity. Thus, their overall earnings may be lower than these wages suggest. Pay varies by area of the country. For example, wages tend to be higher in the Midwest and West than in the Northeast and South.
Apprentices generally earn about half the wage of skilled workers.
As apprentices gain experience and skills, they receive higher pay. Plumbers may need to provide their own health insurance and retirement plan. Many small companies do not give their employees benefits. There were 11,100 people employed as plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Indiana in 1998. 1,050 people as pipelayers and 1,730 people as plumbers helpers.