Plumbers salary in Australia: what you can earn in 2026

What does 'plumbers salary' mean?

When you search for a plumbers salary, you are usually after a real-world figure: how much a plumber takes home each week or year. In Australia, that number depends on whether you look at the median across the industry or the minimum set by the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award. This guide unpacks both, using official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Fair Work Ombudsman, and the Fair Work Commission. We also place the figures against the Salary Index, which sets the national line at 100 for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings.

Median plumber earnings: the big picture

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) reports that the median weekly earnings for full-time plumbers are $1,990 before tax. That figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and covers non-managerial adult employees. Annualised, that is about $103,480 — before super and tax.

To see where that sits on the Salary Index, divide the weekly figure by the national line of $2,083.70 and multiply by 100:

$1,990 ÷ $2,083.70 × 100 = 95.5

So the median plumber earns about 4.5% below the all-occupations average. For context, the national minimum wage (index 48.2) is $1,004.90 per week, and the retail trade industry index is 75.9. Plumbing sits comfortably above those, but below industries like mining (index 154.7) or professional services (index 114.7).

What the median includes

The JSA data cover full-time employees only — 93% of plumbers work full time, well above the all-occupations average of 69%. Average full-time hours are 44 per week, the same as the national average. The median hourly earnings are $47, identical to the all-occupations median. That suggests plumbers' pay is clustered around a similar hourly rate to many other trades, but their higher full-time share lifts weekly earnings.

Award minimum rates for plumbers

If you are starting out or working under the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award (MA000036), your pay is set by classification. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide with rates effective from 1 July 2026, after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase.

Plumbing and mechanical services stream

Classification	Weekly rate	Hourly rate
Level 1(a) (new entrant)	$1,062.71	$27.97
Level 1(b) (after 3 months)	$1,082.71	$28.49
Level 1(c) (after 12 months)	$1,096.41	$28.85
Level 1(d) (fulfilled requirements)	$1,112.01	$29.26
Level 2 (not registered)	$1,201.78	$31.63
Tradesperson Level 1	$1,201.78	$31.63
Tradesperson Level 2	$1,236.98	$32.55
Special Class Level 1	$1,272.08	$33.48
Special Class Level 2	$1,303.78	$34.31
Advanced Level 1	$1,338.98	$35.24
Advanced Level 2	$1,365.78	$35.94

These rates include industry and special allowances. A qualified tradesperson (Level 1) earns $1,201.78 per week, which annualises to $62,492.56 — an index of about 57.7. That is well below the median, because many plumbers work above the award rate through enterprise agreements or market demand.

Sprinkler fitting stream

The award also covers sprinkler fitters, with separate rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide includes those classifications. For the latest, check the pay guides page.

Super and tax on a plumber's salary

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up from 11.5%. For the median plumber earning $103,480, that adds $12,417.60 to the annual package — but it is not take-home pay. The super is paid into a fund and taxed at 15% on entry.

For take-home pay, use the 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding Medicare):

• $0–$18,200: nil
• $18,201–$45,000: 15%
• $45,001–$135,000: 30%
• $135,001–$190,000: 37%
• Over $190,000: 45%

Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A plumber earning the median $103,480 would pay roughly $24,667 in tax plus $2,070 Medicare levy, leaving about $76,743 take-home (ignoring HELP, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge).

Where plumbers work and how it affects pay

JSA data show plumbers are concentrated in construction. That industry has a wide pay range depending on the state. For example, the states page shows Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. A plumber in WA may earn above the national median, while one in Tasmania may earn less. The median age of plumbers is 34 — younger than the all-occupations median of 39 — suggesting many enter the trade early.

How the salary index helps compare

The how the index works page explains that index 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year). By comparing any salary to that line, you can see whether it is above or below the national average. The median plumber at 95.5 is slightly below; an award-level tradesperson at 57.7 is well below. But a plumber with a special class rating or working in a high-demand area could easily exceed 100.

Key takeaways

• The median plumber earns $1,990 per week (index 95.5).
• Award minimums start at $1,062.71 for new entrants and go up to $1,365.78 for advanced tradespeople.
• Super is 12% from July 2026.
• Take-home pay after tax and Medicare on the median is roughly $76,700.
• Actual earnings vary by state, employer, and specialisation.

For more detail on award rates, visit the industries page or the Fair Work Ombudsman's plumbing pay guide. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database also provides the underlying data.