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Plumbing Salary in Maine: Is It a Good Career?

Maine · 2026 BLS salary data

Plumbing pay in Maine

The median wage is $64,000/yr — about the same as the national median. Among U.S. states, Maineranks #25 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Maine

Real BLS state-level figures for Plumbing.

Median salary
$64,000/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$61,300 – $75,720
National median
$63,800/yr
Employed in Maine
2,710

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

What that pay is really worth in Maine

Salary alone can mislead — Maine costs 3% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
97
Nominal median
$64,000
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $65,979
State income tax
Up to 7.15%

Maine's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #30 of 51, down from #25 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 Maine?

The median annual wage is $64,000 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $61,300 and $75,720. That's about the same as the national median.

Is Maine a good state for plumbing?

By raw pay, Maine ranks #25 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Maine costs 3% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $65,979. Maine's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #30 of 51, down from #25 on raw salary.

Are plumbing professionals in demand in Maine?

About 2,710 people work in this field in Maine (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 — Maine pay is about the same as 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.