Plumber salary in Australia
Plumbing is a skilled trade with strong demand across Australia, but how does a plumber’s pay stack up against the national full-time average? The most current national benchmark is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, which puts full-time adult ordinary-time earnings at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the figure we use as the reference line on this site.
For plumbers specifically, the best available measure is the median full-time weekly earnings reported by the ABS in its Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) and published by Jobs and Skills Australia. That median is $1,990 a week, which works out to roughly $103,480 a year (multiplying by 52 weeks). This is about $4,872 a year less than the national full-time average. Keep in mind that a median is different from an average: half of full-time plumbers earn less than $1,990 a week, half earn more. The median is a more typical figure than the average, which can be pulled up by very high earners.
Award rates for plumbers
Plumbers and fire sprinkler fitters are covered by the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award (MA000036). Fair Work publishes pay guides that set minimum weekly and hourly rates. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the award rates include:
- Plumbing and mechanical services tradesperson level 1: $1,201.78 a week ($31.63 an hour)
- Plumbing and mechanical services tradesperson level 2: $1,236.98 a week ($32.55 an hour)
- Tradesperson – special class level 1: $1,272.08 a week ($33.48 an hour)
- Tradesperson – special class level 2: $1,303.78 a week ($34.31 an hour)
- Advanced tradesperson level 1: $1,338.98 a week ($35.24 an hour)
These are minimum rates and include industry allowances. Many plumbers, especially those with experience or in high-demand areas, earn well above these award minima. The median of $1,990 a week is about 65% above the tradesperson level 1 rate, reflecting the gap between award minimums and market rates.
Take-home pay: a resident’s sketch
To give a sense of what a plumber earning the median keeps after tax, we apply the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy. For a gross annual salary of $103,480:
- Tax-free threshold: first $18,200 taxed at 0%
- Next $26,800 (up to $45,000) taxed at 15% = $4,020
- Next $58,480 (up to $103,480) taxed at 30% = $17,544
- Total income tax: $21,564
- Medicare levy (2% of taxable income): $2,070
- Total tax: $23,634
- After-tax income: about $79,846 a year, or $1,535 a week
This is a simplified calculation. It does not include the low-income tax offset, the Medicare levy surcharge (if applicable), or deductions for tools, travel, or union fees. A plumber earning the national full-time average of $108,352 would pay roughly $25,237 in tax and Medicare, leaving about $83,115 a year.
How plumber pay varies by state
The national full-time average masks significant differences across states and territories. Here are the state full-time adult ordinary-time averages from the ABS (May 2026), annualised:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
A plumber in Western Australia or the ACT is likely to earn more than one in Tasmania or South Australia, reflecting both local demand and cost of living. The median plumber figure of $103,480 sits close to the national average but is below the averages in NSW, WA, and the ACT. You can explore state-by-state comparisons on our States and territories page.
Where plumber pay fits on the line
The national average line is $108,352 a year. The median plumber at $103,480 sits about 4.5% below that line. However, because the median is not the average, many plumbers – especially those in supervisory roles, with specialist endorsements, or in remote areas – earn above the line. The award minimums are far below the line, but few experienced plumbers work for award rates alone.
For a broader view of how different occupations compare, see our Job medians page. You can also Place a salary on the line to see where your own pay sits relative to the national full-time average.
Key points to remember
- The national full-time average (ABS, May 2026) is $2,083.70 a week / $108,352 a year.
- The median full-time plumber earns $1,990 a week / $103,480 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, May 2025).
- Award minimums range from $1,201.78 to $1,338.98 a week (Fair Work, from 1 July 2026).
- After tax, a plumber on the median takes home roughly $1,535 a week.
- State averages vary; Western Australia and the ACT are highest.
This site uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings as its reference line. All figures are before tax unless stated otherwise. For more detail on how we calculate these figures, see How the figures are set.