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Plumbing Salary in Arkansas: Is It a Good Career?

Arkansas · 2026 BLS salary data

Plumbing pay in Arkansas

The median wage is $48,660/yr — 24% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Arkansasis one of the lowest-paying states (#51 of 51).

The numbers in Arkansas

Real BLS state-level figures for Plumbing.

Median salary
$48,660/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$39,150 – $60,580
National median
$63,800/yr
Employed in Arkansas
3,370

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Arkansas

Salary alone can mislead — Arkansas costs 13% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
86.9
Nominal median
$48,660
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $55,995
State income tax
Up to 3.9%

Because Arkansas costs 13% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #49 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #51 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do plumbing professionals make in Arkansas?

The median annual wage is $48,660 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $39,150 and $60,580. That's 24% below the national median.

Is Arkansas a good state for plumbing?

By raw pay, Arkansas is one of the lowest-paying states (#51 of 51). Adjusted for cost of living (Arkansas costs 13% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $55,995. Because Arkansas costs 13% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #49 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #51 on raw salary.

Are plumbing professionals in demand in Arkansas?

About 3,370 people work in this field in Arkansas (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +4.5% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Plumbing nationally — Arkansas pay is 24% below the national median. See the full Plumbing career guide →

The verdict

Yes — plumbing offers a paid apprenticeship path, no student debt, and strong recession-resistant demand, with real upside if you start your own business. Not ideal if you want clean, sedentary work.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Paid apprenticeship — little to no debt
  • Recession-resistant, essential demand
  • Strong self-employment / business upside
  • Can't be offshored or fully automated
  • Licensed plumbers command good hourly rates

Cons

  • Physically demanding; awkward, dirty conditions
  • On-call and emergency work is common
  • Licensing requirements vary by state
  • Wear and tear on the body over a career

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • Hands-on problem-solvers
  • Aspiring small-business owners
  • Those who want debt-free entry into a stable trade

✗ Probably not if…

  • People who want clean, sedentary work
  • Those unwilling to be on-call

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Plumbing is worth it — titles link to the original threads.