Plumber Helper Salary in Virginia

$18/hr

Understand Virginia helper wages, compare plumbing work settings and weigh paid hours alongside training and supervision arrangements.

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What Plumber Helpers Earn in Virginia

Virginia employee wages span $14.84–$23.83/hr, with annual figures of $30,860–$49,570 a year. These figures combine plumber helpers with pipelayer, pipefitter and steamfitter helpers. They exclude premium pay and benefits. The experience bands below organize helper wages. Their names do not confer a Virginia plumbing license or set registered-apprentice pay schedules. Ask which helper duties and supervision arrangements accompany the wage, including service travel and material preparation.

Hourly rates by level in Virginia

What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$14.84–$17.11/hr
▼ 1.45% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$17.11–$21.76/hr
▼ 1.45% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$21.76–$23.83/hr
▼ 1.45% from last year

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.

10th
$18
25th
$23
Median
$29
75th
$36
90th
$45
YOU · $28.00
Your percentile
46th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$58,240
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
−$2,080
Below the median

Calculate pay with extra credentials

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0

An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.

American RecruitsEstimate
Journeyman Plumber Helper
Virginia · Day Shift
Base rate$19.44
+ UA Local 10 Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship (journeyperson)$3.60
+ Virginia DPOR Residential Plumber Tradesman License$1.39
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.09
Effective hourly$24.52
Straight · 40 hrs$981
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$294
Weekly gross$1,275
Annualised · 50 weeks
$63,739
8 OT hrs/week · Virginia

Who pays the most in Virginia

These national pipe-trade helper benchmarks distinguish specialist contractors, commercial builders and utility firms when assessing plumbing-support vacancies in Virginia. Match each vacancy to its actual work.

01 / 03$20.29/hr

Building Equipment Contractors

Plumbing and mechanical contractors handle building systems. For Virginia service vacancies, ask how loading, cleanup and movement between calls are paid. Ask whether shifts start at the shop or first job.

+ Plumbing focus
+ Service experience
– Changing locations
– Dispatch changes
02 / 03$18.74/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial building crews coordinate plumbing support with other trades. Discuss who supervises your work and how material deliveries fit construction schedules. Identify pipe materials handled and who directs preparation for each installation stage.

+ Commercial exposure
+ Team coordination
– Schedule pressure
– Trade congestion
03 / 03$21.34/hr

Utility System Construction

Water and sewer projects involve underground systems. Ask whether the Virginia vacancy supports building plumbing, utility pipe crews or both assignments. Discuss trench work and ask which protective arrangements and instruction cover your assigned duties.

+ Infrastructure experience
+ Outdoor work
– Weather exposure
– Excavation hazards

Which states pay plumber helpers the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01California$22.66/hr
  2. 02Virginiathis page$18.36/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
UA Local 10 Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship (journeyperson)+$3.60$7,488$00 weeks
Virginia DPOR Residential Plumber Tradesman License+$1.39$2,891$2725 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.26$541$15916 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.09$187$5917 weeks
Permit-Required Confined Space Entrant/Attendant (8-hr)+$0.07$146$15957 weeks
American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED+$0.03$62$10285 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $18.36/hr.

40 hr week
$734
No OT
50 hr week
$1,010
+$13,770/yr
60 hr week
$1,285
+$27,540/yr
70 hr week
$1,561
+$41,310/yr

Questions workers ask

Does a registered plumbing apprenticeship guarantee raises?▾
Yes, on a written schedule. Virginia Works requires each registered program to set progressively increasing wages tied to skills gained, with periodic reviews. Completing an approved program also exempts you from the DPOR journeyman exam under Va. Code § 54.1-1131.
Must I buy my own safety glasses and gloves?▾
No. Under VOSH, Virginia's state safety program, your employer pays for protective equipment the job requires, such as cut-resistant gloves and goggles for cutting or soldering. Ordinary safety-toe boots and prescription safety glasses worn off the job are exceptions.
Where can I report a wage or overtime dispute in Virginia?▾
You can file a wage claim directly with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI). DOLI enforces payment-of-wage laws and handles unpaid overtime claims earned on or after July 1, 2026.

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Current BLS Virginia employee wages for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-3015; combined pipe-trade helpers, not plumber-only wages, excluding premium pay and benefits.

Last updated October 26, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.