SOC 47-2152 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · 10 metro areas compared
In Detroit, MI the median wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters reaches $86,370 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Detroit, MI the median wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters reaches $86,370 a year. That is 35.4% more than the national median of $63,800. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $61,190 and $99,650. The lowest tenth earn under $48,250, while the highest tenth earn more than $107,780.
The area has 5,520 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.97 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Kalamazoo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $90,730. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 151st of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,250 | −24.4% |
| 25th | $61,190 | −4.1% |
| Median (50th) | $86,370 | +35.4% |
| 75th | $99,650 | +56.2% |
| 90th | $107,780 | +68.9% |
| Mean | $81,710 | +28.1% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $86,370 goes as far as $89,782 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 40.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$86,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,782US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $86,370 a year, 35.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,250 to $107,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,520 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kalamazoo, at $90,730.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $86,370, or $41.53 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $63,800, so pay in Detroit, MI is 35.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Detroit, MI earns more than $107,780 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,250 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kalamazoo, at $90,730 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,520 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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