Plumbers in Michigan: licensing, jobs, pay and local data

12,830 people work as plumbers in Michigan, and the median pay is $77,030 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).

The Census Bureau counts 2,661 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractor businesses with employees in Michigan (2023 County Business Patterns).

That is 5.8 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 7.7 nationally.

Michigan ranks 13 of 51 states for median pay in this trade.

It ranks 47 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.

Figures last updated on .

Jobs
12,830
Median pay, a year
$77,030
Businesses with employees
2,661

Plumbers in Michigan: businesses and jobs

Census Bureau 2023; Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024
MichiganUnited States
Businesses with employees2,661111,207
Their employees30,5461,214,761
Annual payroll$2,318,259,000$89,519,407,000
Payroll per employee$75,894$73,693
Businesses per 10,000 homes5.87.7
Jobs12,830455,940
Jobs per 1,000 jobs2.92—
Location quotient (1.00 = the national share)0.991.00

A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.

What plumbers earn in Michigan

May 2024, US Bureau of Labor Statistics
MichiganUnited States
Median pay, a year$77,030$62,970
Median pay, an hour$37.03$30.27
10th percentile$41,710$40,670
25th percentile$50,150$48,860
75th percentile$91,590$81,900
90th percentile$100,620$105,150
Average pay, a year$72,830$69,940

Plumbers by county in Michigan

Businesses with employees, 2023 County Business Patterns
CountyBusinesses with employeesTheir employeesBusinesses per 10,000 homes
Oakland County3704,9986.6
Wayne County3013,2933.8
Macomb County2612,8557.0
Kent County2034,1597.5
Ottawa County1008338.5
Livingston County9070211.2
Genesee County841,9754.6
Washtenaw County708034.4
Allegan County5931511.2
Kalamazoo County591,8575.1
Berrien County564387.2
Ingham County524894.1
St. Clair County512927.0
Saginaw County507015.8
Jackson County464376.6
Muskegon County424085.6
Grand Traverse County365407.7
Calhoun County342625.7
Lapeer County342479.2
Monroe County343785.1
Eaton County333236.9
Clinton County314439.3
Emmet County2622011.8
Midland County242406.5
Lenawee County231195.3
Shiawassee County231337.6
Bay County201254.1
Isabella County181546.3
Barry County17866.1
Charlevoix County17859.6
Marquette County172075.1
Antrim County14657.9
Ionia County14765.6
Iosco County14517.0
Branch County13606.2
Hillsdale County13656.0
Huron County13916.4
Leelanau County13328.2
Otsego County13728.7
Delta County12776.0
St. Joseph County122994.4
Van Buren County12603.2
Cheboygan County11426.2
Mason County11766.3
Montcalm County111683.9
Benzie County10308.1
Chippewa County10544.9
Dickinson County10617.2
Houghton County10915.3
Sanilac County10854.6
Alpena County9645.7
Kalkaska County9827.7
Newaygo County9933.6
Cass County8483.1
Gladwin County8384.7
Gratiot County8405.0
Manistee County8425.1
Roscommon County8373.4
Oceana County7274.5
Montmorency County6186.7

Showing the 60 counties with the most businesses, of 74.

The homes behind the work in Michigan

Estimate (90% margin of error)
MichiganUnited States
Homes built before 194014.6% (±0.1 points)11.7%
Homes lacking complete plumbing0.4% (±0.1 points)0.4%
Homes in buildings of 20 or more units5.6% (±0.1 points)10.3%
Households that rent26.8% (±0.2 points)34.8%

Licenses for plumbers in Michigan

Michigan sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license Michigan requires and the agency that issues it.

Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.

Federal rules and model codes for plumbers

These federal rules apply to this work in every state, and the model codes below are adopted state by state; each is linked to its official text.

Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.

Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.

What you can do on Seayora in Michigan

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Questions about Michigan

How much do plumbers make in Michigan?

The median pay for plumbers in Michigan is $77,030 a year, against $62,970 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).

How many plumbers work in Michigan?

12,830 people work as plumbers in Michigan, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.

How many plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractor businesses are in Michigan?

The Census Bureau counts 2,661 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractor businesses with employees in Michigan (2023 County Business Patterns).

Do plumbers need a license in Michigan?

Michigan sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license Michigan requires and the agency that issues it.

Sources

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.

Figures last updated on .

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