78 Plumbing Facts and Statistics You Need to Know in 2025

Plumbing will always be in demand as long as there are leaky pipes. But as an aspiring plumbing business owner or job seeker, you need more than anecdotal evidence before diving into the industry. 

You’re looking for plumbing industry statistics and facts that will show you exactly how saturated the industry is for business owners and whether the job market is good or bad for aspiring plumbers. 

In this article, we’ll look at eye-opening plumbing facts and break down key data to show where the industry stands (and where it’s headed).

Key Findings

• The U.S. plumbing industry is valued at $169.8 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 3.2%. 
• Employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is projected to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033. 
• The shortage of plumbers is expected to reach 550,000 workers by 2027. 
• 83% of U.S. consumers use and read local business reviews on Google.
• Over 50% of consumers decide on a service provider within 4 hours, and 90% expect a response within 24 hours. Businesses require modern tools like plumbing service software to meet changing customer expectations.

Fascinating Plumbing Facts Throughout History

From ancient civilizations to modern high-rises, plumbing has always played a vital role in keeping cities and homes running smoothly. 

Let’s dive into some surprising plumbing facts that highlight how this essential trade has evolved. 

The Birth of Plumbing

Tracing plumbing’s origins requires looking back at the early years of human innovation, where the first aqueducts, sewer systems, and flush toilets laid the foundation for modern sanitation.

• 1700 BC: Plumbers in Crete developed the first known flush toilet system and sewage disposal network.
• 312 BC: Romans constructed Aqua Appia, the first of many aqueducts that would eventually carry 200 million liters of water daily to Rome, revolutionizing water delivery.
• 1596: Sir John Harrington, an English courtier and Queen Elizabeth I’s godson, installed the first flushing toilet in England. 
• 1775: Scottish inventor Alexander Cummings got the first patent for a flush toilet, complete with an S-shaped pipe below the bowl to contain sewer gases.
• 1862: Louis Pasteur established the link between bacteria and disease, laying the groundwork for modern sanitation science.
  

Building America’s Plumbing Backbone

As cities grew and industrialization surged, plumbing systems in America evolved from basic pipework to highly regulated systems designed to protect public health.

• 1652: Boston established the USA’s first city waterworks system, primarily for firefighting purposes.
• 1755: Hans Christopher Christiansen established the first public water system in the U.S. for general household use, supplying centralized water to the community of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
• 1829: Boston’s Tremont Hotel became the first hotel in the U.S. to offer indoor plumbing.
• 1869: Chicago completed its Water Tower, designed to regulate water pressure for the city’s expanding water system. While not the first in the U.S. (the Louisville Water Tower predates it by a few years), it became an iconic symbol after surviving the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
• 1881: The American Water Works Association is founded to promote safe water delivery systems.
• 1883: The National Association of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors (PHCC), then known as the National Association of Master Plumbers (NAMP), held its first official meeting.
• 1906: William Elvis Sloan invented the flushometer, which used water pressure instead of gravity to flush toilets.
• 1926: The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) is founded to set plumbing codes and standards.
• 1937: Alfred M. Moen invented the single-handle mixing faucet, allowing for more precise temperature control.
• 1939: Paul C. Symmons invented the first compensating shower valve to prevent scalding.
• 1973: The American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) issued the ASSE 1016 standard for compensating shower valves.
• 1974: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is enacted, empowering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set national health-based standards for drinking water.
• 1984: NSF International and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established a joint committee to develop health-based standards for materials and products in contact with drinking water, leading to the creation of NSF/ANSI Standard 61 in 1988.
• 1988: The Lead Contamination Control Act became a federal law, setting strict limits on lead in plumbing systems.
• 1991: The EPA issued the Lead and Copper Rule, enforcing lead-free plumbing standards.
• 1992: The Environmental Policy Act (EPAct’92) mandated water conservation standards for toilets, urinals, faucets, and showerheads.
• 1994: The International Code Council (ICC) is established to develop model construction codes, standardizing plumbing practices nationwide.
  

Plumbing in the New Millennium

Plumbing has continued evolving since the start of the new millennium, tapping into sustainability and cutting-edge technology that paved the way for the modern plumbing we embrace today. 

• 2006: California enacted Assembly Bill 1953 (AB 1953), restricting lead content in plumbing fixtures to 0.25%.
• 2006: The EPA launched the WaterSense program, a voluntary labeling initiative designed to help consumers identify water-efficient products and practices.
• 2007: NSF/ANSI 61 added Annex F, further reducing allowable lead levels in plumbing fixtures.
• 2009: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the WaterSense specification for flushing urinals, establishing a maximum flush volume of 0.5 gallons per flush (gpf) to promote water efficiency in commercial and institutional restrooms.
• 2012: Georgia’s Water Stewardship Act mandated water sub-metering in multi-unit buildings, a first for the nation.
• 2014: President Obama signed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) to address aging water infrastructure.
• 2015: The California Energy Commission mandated stringent water-efficiency standards for plumbing products amid severe drought conditions.
• 2021: President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), allocating over $50 billion to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for water infrastructure projects.
• 2023: The INFORM Consumers Act targets counterfeit plumbing products, requiring stricter online sales regulations.

Plumbing Industry Statistics 

In this section, we’ll break down the key statistics that define the state of plumbing in the U.S., revealing where the industry stands and how it’s evolving. 

Plumbing Industry Overview 

The U.S. plumbing industry generates billions in revenue each year, driven by demand for essential services, like repairs, installations, and water-saving upgrades. 

Here’s a closer look at the numbers shaping the plumbing industry today:

• The U.S. plumbing industry is projected to reach $169.8 billion in 2025, growing at an average annual rate of 3.2% over the past five years.
• The U.S. is home to approximately 132,000 plumbing businesses.
• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 970,000 single-family homes completed in 2021, 27,000 had one and a half bathrooms or fewer, while 320,000 had three or more bathrooms.
• Federal funding and pipe replacement projects are driving steady demand for plumbers, creating consistent work opportunities despite fluctuations in the housing market.

Plumbing Innovations and Industry Trends

From smart plumbing systems to water-saving fixtures, the plumbing industry is embracing innovations that improve efficiency and address environmental concerns.

Here’s a look at the trends shaping the future of plumbing in the U.S.

• The U.S. smart bathroom market is projected to grow at an annual growth rate of 10.48% through 2027, with smart faucet sales expected to surge by over 90%.
• According to the 2024 Smart Home Trends report by ASHB (Association for Smarter Homes & Buildings), 31% of homeowners aged 18–34 are willing to pay for smart or green plumbing solutions, compared to just 5% of those aged 65+.
• Replacing old toilets with high-efficiency models can cut water use by 20–60%, saving nearly 13,000 gallons and over $170 annually per household.
• Household leaks can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water annually, with 10% of homes losing 90 gallons or more per day due to dripping faucets, worn toilet flappers, and leaking valves.
• The North American water leak detection and repair market is projected to reach $671.6 million by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 5.3% from 2023 to 2030.
• Installing a greywater system can save homeowners up to 40,000 gallons of water annually by filtering wastewater from showers, bathtubs, and washing machines for garden irrigation.
• Tankless water heaters can be 8% to 34% more energy efficient than traditional storage tank heaters, depending on hot water usage.
• WaterSense, a program by the EPA that labels water-efficient products, helped save 1.2 trillion gallons of water in 2023 alone. Since its launch, the program has saved nearly 8.7 trillion gallons, equivalent to the annual water use of all U.S. households.

Plumbing Workforce Statistics

The U.S. plumbing industry provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of tradespeople across the country. Let’s break down the key statistics that reveal who’s working in the industry and where demand is highest.

• In 2024, there were approximately 636,000 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (aged 16 years and over) employed in the U.S.
• Employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is expected to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033, driven by new construction and maintenance of aging plumbing systems.
• Women make up only 3.2% of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in 2024, while 96.8% of workers in these roles are men.
• The average age of a plumber in the U.S. is 41 years old.
• In 2024, the ethnic breakdown of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was 84.3% White, while the remaining workforce identified as Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, and Asian.
• The Building Equipment Contractors industry employed the most plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (335,050 workers) in 2024, followed by the Utility System Construction niche (15,210 workers) and the Local Government sector (11,360 workers).
• California led the nation in plumbing employment with 45,460 workers in 2024, followed by Texas with 42,290 workers and Florida with 26,730 workers.
• Among metropolitan areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City employed the most plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in 2024, with 21,500 workers. 
• A study by American Home Shield found that Georgia has the highest combined search and service request demand per plumber, with 56.93 searches and job requests per worker, followed by South Carolina (53.81) and West Virginia (53.77).
• In terms of service requests, Texas leads with over 217,000 requests annually, but Georgia tops the list in service demand per plumber with 9.37 requests per worker.
• States with the lowest demand-per-job ratios include New Mexico (2.35), Massachusetts (15.25), and Hawaii (18.08), indicating a more balanced market with higher competition.
• A Lixil-sponsored analysis reports that the U.S. lost $33 billion in 2022 due to a shortage of licensed plumbers, a gap expected to reach 550,000 workers by 2027.

Plumbing Salary and Wage Statistics

Plumbers play a vital role in maintaining essential infrastructure, and their earnings reflect the growing demand for skilled labor. Let’s break down how much plumbers are making and where they’re earning the most.

• The median annual pay for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in 2024 was $62,970 (approximately $30.27 per hour), with top earners making over $90,000.
• Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters’ median annual wage was higher than both the $56,490 average for construction trades workers and the $49,500 average for all occupations.
• In 2025, the average hourly pay for plumbers varies by experience level: Apprentice Plumbers earn $18.05, Journeyman Plumbers earn $29.80, and Master Plumbers earn $33.89.
• Residential plumbers typically earn higher hourly rates for specialized home repairs, while commercial plumbers may have steadier work but lower rates. As of May 2025, the average hourly pay is $34.39 for residential plumbers and $28.28 for commercial plumbers.

• Oregon offers the highest hourly wage at $44.46. Here are the top 5 states by hourly wages for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in 2024: 

• Arkansas has the lowest hourly wage at $24.82. Here are the bottom 5 states by hourly wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in 2024: 

Plumbing Business Marketing Statistics 

Marketing keeps plumbing businesses operational by helping them generate leads and manage online reviews. Here’s a look at how plumbing businesses are reaching customers and what strategies are paying off: 

• 80% of U.S. consumers search online for local businesses weekly, and 32% do so daily.
• 42% of consumers regularly read online reviews when searching for local businesses.
• 83% of consumers use Google to find business reviews, followed by Yelp (44%) and Facebook (40%).
• 40% of consumers say they check at least two sites or platforms before choosing a local business, 
• 42% of searchers click on results within the Google Map Pack when performing local queries.
• 63% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. 
• 67% of U.S. consumers aged 18–24 use Instagram to search for local business information, while 62% use TikTok.
• 63% of consumers lose trust in a business after seeing mostly negative written reviews.
• After reading reviews, 91% of consumers take their next steps, such as visiting the company’s website, premises, or contacting them directly, within channels fully controlled by the business.

Customer Expectations and Behavior

Understanding customer expectations is key to earning consistent repeat business. Here’s what today’s plumbing customers want and how their behavior is shaping the industry.

• More than half of consumers decide on a home services provider within four hours, and 90% expect a response from contractors within 24 hours.
• 40% of U.S. homeowners expect more pressing maintenance issues in the future, with many anticipating plumbing replacements within the next five years.
• In 2025, the average hourly rate to hire a plumber in the U.S. ranges from $45 to $200, with most homeowners paying around $90 per hour.
• 71% of consumers expect personalized interactions from businesses, while 76% feel frustrated when they don’t get them.

Plumbing Business Financial Statistics

Plumbing businesses contribute billions annually through wages, services, and industry-related expenses. Let’s take a look at the financial numbers that define the plumbing sector.

• Over 10% of the plumbing industry’s revenue comes from new housing installations, while the remaining share is generated from residential repairs, nonresidential construction, emergency services, and emerging smart plumbing technologies.
• IBISWorld reports that no single plumbing company generates more than 5% of total industry revenue, with over 50% of establishments employing fewer than four people.
• Plumbing businesses typically maintain gross profit margins between 45% and 65%, with net profit margins ranging from 15% to 25%.
• The average annual revenue for plumbing businesses in the U.S. ranges from $350,000 to $1 million, varying by location and customer base size.

The Bottomline

With the plumbing industry revenue projected to hit billions, the pressure is on for plumbing businesses to keep hiring (and managing) new plumbers. 

But keeping up with the increasing customer demands can be overwhelming without the right tools. This is where plumbing software solutions like Workyard come in handy.  

Workyard’s plumbing software simplifies scheduling, time tracking, and job costing to help your team stay organized and meet customer expectations without the hassle of paperwork. 

Try Workyard free for 14 days