Plumber Cost in 2026: Hourly Rates, Flat Fees and Quotes

Last updated October 2026. The prices in this guide are national figures from the cost guides named beside each one, not A&E quotes.

Most plumbers in the U.S. charge about $90 to $125 an hour on average, and current cost guides put the full range between $45 and $225 an hour. A small repair such as a toilet, sink or faucet fix typically lands between $149 and $432 according to Thumbtack's national ranges, and the final bill moves with the time of day, how hard the pipes are to reach, permits and parts.

These are national numbers, dated and named in each table below. A&E does not publish a flat-rate price list for plumbing repairs, and we could not find a published price survey for Gresham or the Columbia River Gorge. So this guide gives you the figures that can be sourced and a way to judge any quote, ours included.

Below you will find hourly rates, common job prices, what pushes a bill up, how to read a quote, red flags, how to check a license in Oregon and Washington, and how A&E handles quotes. Wanting a real price before you call anyone is a fair thing to want, and a good plumber expects the question.

Plumber Cost at a Glance

Every figure comes from a named guide with its update date. Where two guides disagree, both are shown.

Use these as a sanity check on a quote, not as a quote. Your house, your pipes and your plumber set the real number.

How Much Does a Plumber Cost per Hour?

Plan on about $90 to $125 an hour at the average, inside a wider range of $45 to $225. Modernize (updated August 21, 2026) puts the national average at $90 an hour within a range of $45 to $200. Thumbtack (updated July 8, 2026) reports an average hourly range of $90 to $147 and an average of $125, with a low of $50 and a high of $225. The two guides do not match, which is normal. Treat each as a rough guide and not a quote.

Experience moves the rate. Today's Homeowner (updated April 11, 2025, so older than the other guides here) breaks it out this way:

• Apprentice plumbers, $50 to $75 an hour. They work under supervision and are not usually sent out alone.
• Journeyman plumbers, $75 to $120 an hour. Licensed professionals who handle most repairs independently.
• Master plumbers, $120 to $200 an hour. Experienced plumbers for complex or specialized work.

Why a plumber's wage is not the rate you pay

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $30.67 an hour for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (May 2025 data). That is what the worker earns, not what a customer is billed. Your rate also covers the business behind the plumber, and Thumbtack's leak repair guide lists liability insurance, vehicle maintenance and equipment as overhead.

Hourly, Flat-Rate or Per-Job: How Do Plumbers Price the Work?

Plumbers use three pricing styles, and the right one depends on how predictable the job is. Flat rate is not automatically cheaper, and hourly is not automatically a trap. What protects you is knowing which one you are being quoted and exactly what it covers.

For pipe replacement and repair costs by material, A&E's guide to the cost to repair or replace plumbing pipes goes deeper than this page does.

What Do Common Plumbing Jobs Cost?

Small repairs usually run a few hundred dollars and installs run a few thousand, but treat every figure here as a national starting point. Real jobs land outside these ranges at both ends.

The two water heater rows show why a single number is not enough. The guides cover different mixes of tank, tankless and fuel types, and the unit, the venting and the fuel type decide a large part of that bill. Ask which kind of water heater any quote is for.

Do plumbing prices run higher in the Northwest?

For water heaters, yes. This Old House reports that Pacific Northwest installations run up to 45 percent above the national average of $1,950, which it attributes to building codes and higher labor rates, using Home Depot data. That figure covers one job type across a whole region, so read the national ranges above as a starting point and not a forecast of your bill.

What Makes a Plumbing Bill Go Up?

Six things move the total more than the hourly rate does.

• Service call or trip fee. Modernize puts it at $50 to $100 to cover travel and the first inspection. Thumbtack notes that plumbers will often waive the fee if you hire them for the repair, so ask whether it is credited.
• Emergency and after-hours work. Modernize says evening, weekend and holiday calls can add 50 to 100 percent to the hourly rate and puts emergency work at $150 to $300 an hour. Thumbtack says weekend, after-hours or holiday emergencies may be billed at double or triple the usual rate, or about $135 to $190 an hour.
• Minimum charges. Some plumbers charge a minimum to come out for small jobs. Thumbtack's guide cites minimums of $90 and $100 at two companies and explains they cover labor and business overhead.
• Parts and materials. Modernize says small parts such as washers or connectors may add $10 to $50, while upgraded fixtures or larger repair materials can add several hundred dollars. Which part, and who supplies it, changes the total.
• Permits and inspections. This Old House lists $50 to $200 for permits and inspections on a water heater job, especially when the fuel type changes. In Oregon, the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) says only licensed contractors can get the required building permits.
• Access. This Old House adds $200 to $1,000 for an attic water heater installation because of the harder access. A pipe behind tile or drywall takes longer to reach, and someone then has to patch the wall, so ask whether repair of the opening is in the quote.

Winter adds its own risk here. A&E's plumbing services page lists burst and frozen pipes as especially common in the winter months, and a burst pipe at 2 AM is the most expensive time to need a plumber. Our guide to plumbing winterization, DIY or hire a pro covers how to get ahead of it.

How Do You Read a Plumbing Quote?

A good quote lets you see what you are paying for on every line. Modernize advises asking for written estimates that separate labor, materials and any added costs, and Thumbtack advises a written estimate that spells out the hourly labor rate and any surcharges for travel, difficult access or emergency visits. Use this table as a checklist.

Compare quotes line by line, not by the bottom number. A low total with a missing permit, no warranty and no cleanup is a different job than a higher total that includes them.

What Are the Red Flags in a Plumbing Quote?

The biggest red flag is a plumber who cannot or will not show you a license number. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board puts it in one line on its site: "Anyone can pretend to be a contractor. Check licenses." Other warning signs:

• A firm price over the phone for a problem nobody has looked at yet.
• A single lump sum with no breakdown of labor, parts and fees.
• Pressure to decide on the spot, or a price that is good only today.
• A request for a large payment up front, before any work starts.
• A total far below every other quote, with no explanation of what is left out.
• No written warranty, or a warranty described only out loud.
• No paperwork, no invoice or a request for cash only.

Is the Cheapest Plumber Really the Cheapest?

Not usually, once you count a second visit. The useful question about a low quote is what is missing from it. A cheap job done wrong costs you twice, once to do it and once to undo it.

Licensing changes what happens when something goes wrong. The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) says it can help mediate a dispute only if the contractor was licensed, and that licensed contractors can be held accountable if something goes wrong. In Washington, the Department of Labor and Industries plumber certification program page says only L&I-certified plumbers can legally perform plumbing work on someone else's property. Thumbtack also notes that the plumber's bill is small next to repairing water-damaged floors and ceilings, which is the best reason not to wait on a leak.

How Do You Check a Plumber's License in Oregon and Washington?

Look up the license number before you agree to any work, and do it on the state's own site.

In Oregon

Use the CCB license search. According to the Construction Contractors Board (CCB), checking a contractor's license tells you whether the contractor is actively licensed and has a surety bond, whether proof of liability insurance was submitted, whether the contractor carries workers' compensation insurance for its workers, and whether complaints or disciplinary actions were filed in the past 10 years. The CCB also notes that Oregon does not require training for most contractors, but it does for plumbers, electricians and a few other trades. Individual plumbing licenses come from the Building Codes Division, and its license holder search covers business and individual licenses.

In Washington

Use the Department of Labor and Industries Verify tool. L&I says it shows whether a business has an active contractor registration, a valid bond and an active workers' comp account, along with safety violations and lawsuits against the bond (see Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business). The same tool lets you confirm that the person doing plumbing work is certified. The same L&I page adds that property owners may do their own plumbing work on properties they own.

A&E lists Oregon and Washington license numbers in the footer of its website pages. Look us up the same way.

How Does A&E Handle Plumbing Quotes?

We do not post flat rates for plumbing repairs, so there is no price list on our site to quote you. Here is what our site says about how a visit works:

• You start with a service call request. Our plumbing services page says to call or use the online form on our plumbing service call page, and to expect a confirmation call and a proposed appointment time within 1 business day.
• Pricing is stated up front. The service call page opens with "Honest service, upfront pricing, and expert plumbing care," and the plumbing services page says "No surprise fees."
• You get a written quote before the repair starts. Our walkthrough, what happens during an A&E plumbing service, describes the technician diagnosing the problem, explaining the repair and giving you a written quote before work begins.
• Our listed hours are 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. That is the listing for both offices, Hood River at 541-387-3311 and Gresham at 503-618-9646. Our plumbing services page says the team is ready to help with a full-blown emergency. If you are calling outside those hours, ask whether an after-hours charge applies before you book.
• Members get a discount. Our plumbing membership page lists $24.08 a month, an annual plumbing inspection, priority scheduling and 10 percent off repairs, and our plumbing services page adds extended warranties on A&E-installed plumbing equipment.
• Bigger jobs can be financed. Our financing page lists options on approved credit.

Our Gresham page also describes a Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee and an Extended Labor Warranty. Ask to see the written terms for any job, from us or anyone else. We serve the Columbia River Gorge, the Gresham and Portland Metro area and Southern Washington. You can see where on our Oregon and Washington service area pages.

Request an appointment by phone or online, and expect a confirmation call with a proposed time within 1 business day.

How Can You Avoid Overpaying for Plumbing Work?

Ask about fees before the plumber is on the way, not after the invoice. A few habits keep most bills in check:

1. Ask for the fee structure when you book. Ask about a service call fee, whether it is credited to the repair and what the after-hours rate is.
2. Know where your main shutoff is. Thumbtack notes that smaller repairs and very slow leaks can sometimes wait until the next business day. Shutting the water off and booking in regular hours can avoid an after-hours rate when it is safe to wait.
3. Bundle small jobs. If a dripping faucet and a slow drain are both on your list, mention both on one call so any trip fee or minimum is charged once.
4. Get it in writing and compare line by line. For a large job, Modernize recommends at least three written estimates.
5. Ask what could change the price. A plumber can usually tell you what they might find once a wall is open.
6. Fix small leaks early. Thumbtack notes leaky pipes usually get worse over time and can lead to mold and water damage.
7. Look into maintenance. Modernize recommends annual plumbing inspections and says routine maintenance typically costs about $100 to $200. A&E's membership page lists an annual inspection as part of its plan.

What Can a Plumber Cost Guide Not Tell You?

A cost guide gives you a range, and your house decides where in that range you land. Four limits to keep in mind:

• The numbers are national. We found no published price survey for Gresham, Hood River or the Gorge.
• The guides disagree. Hourly averages of $90 and $125 and water heater averages of $1,193 and $1,950 come from similar guides published within about a year of each other. Neither is your quote.
• Many cost guides are also marketplaces. Thumbtack and Modernize both connect homeowners with contractors, which gives them a business interest in the topic, and Today's Homeowner discloses that it receives compensation from companies it features. Check the date on any of them.
• A guide cannot see your pipes. Access, age, material and what is behind the wall get priced on site.

Plumber Cost: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a plumber charge per hour?

National cost guides put the average at about $90 an hour (Modernize, August 2026) to $125 an hour (Thumbtack, July 2026). The full range runs from about $45 to $225 an hour depending on the plumber's experience, the job and the time of day. Hourly rates cover the plumber's time, so parts, permits and any trip fee come on top.

What is a plumber's service call fee?

It is a fee for the trip and the first look at the problem. Modernize puts typical service call fees at $50 to $100, and Thumbtack notes that plumbers will often waive the fee if you hire them for the repair. Ask when you book whether there is a fee and whether it is credited toward the work.

Do plumbers charge more at night and on weekends?

Many do. Modernize says evening, weekend and holiday calls can add 50 to 100 percent to the hourly rate, and Thumbtack says middle-of-the-night calls can sometimes double it. Ask for the after-hours rate before anyone drives out.

Is a flat rate better than an hourly rate?

Neither is better by itself. A flat rate gives you one price for a known job such as clearing a drain, and Modernize puts flat-rate drain cleaning at $100 to $400. Hourly pricing fits open-ended work where nobody can know the cause yet. Whichever you are quoted, ask what is included and what would change the price.

How do I check a plumber's license in Oregon or Washington?

In Oregon, search the company on the Construction Contractors Board license search, and use the Building Codes Division license holder search for individual plumbing licenses. In Washington, use the Department of Labor and Industries Verify tool to check the contractor's registration, bond and workers' comp account and to confirm the plumber is certified. Ask for the license number before you agree to any work.

How many plumbing quotes should I get?

For a large job such as a repipe or a new water heater, Modernize recommends at least three written estimates. Compare them line by line, because two quotes with the same total can cover different work. For an urgent leak, get one itemized price and confirm the fee structure before the plumber starts.

Why is my quote higher than the prices I see online?

Online figures are national averages. Your quote reflects your house, including how easy the pipes are to reach, the age of the plumbing, permits and the parts used. Regional prices can run higher too, since This Old House reports Pacific Northwest water heater installations at up to 45 percent above the national average.

So What Should You Expect to Pay a Plumber?

Expect roughly $90 to $125 an hour, a few hundred dollars for a small repair and a few thousand for an install, with after-hours calls, hard access, permits and parts pushing the total up. Those are national figures, and your quote will reflect your house.

Not knowing what the bill will be is stressful, and asking about price is not rude. Your best protection is a license you have checked yourself, a written quote you can read line by line and a clear answer on fees before work starts.

If you want to go deeper before you call, these pages cover the rest:

• What happens during an A&E plumbing service walks through a visit from first look to cleanup, so you know when the quote arrives.
• The cost to repair or replace plumbing pipes covers pipe jobs by material, which this guide only touches.
• Questions to ask before hiring a plumber gives you a list to use on the phone.
• Plumbers in Gresham, OR lists local companies to start a comparison, ours included.

When you are ready for a price on your own plumbing, tell us what is happening and where.

Request an appointment by phone or online, and expect a confirmation call with a proposed time within 1 business day.