Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
The median pay for a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Illinois is $99,950/year ($48.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $106,500 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Illinois?
About plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, local pay runs about 57% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Illinois offers a genuinely strong financial position for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitterss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $103K | +3% | 12,750 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $96K | -4% | 390 |
| Springfield | $94K | -6% | 220 |
| Rockford | $94K | -6% | 440 |
| Peoria | $85K | -15% | 560 |
| Kankakee | $82K | -18% | 110 |
| Bloomington | $78K | -22% | 180 |
| Decatur | $77K | -23% | 180 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,015/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 57% above the national median — $100K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Illinois pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +57%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Illinois?
The median is $99,950 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,250, and experienced plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $126,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,146/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 22.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary is worth about $106,500 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.