Plumbing Industry Statistics and Trends to Know for 2024 (and Beyond)

1. The plumbing industry is on the rebound

Despite a slowdown in growth over the last few years, the plumbing industry statistics show strong figures in overall market value, active businesses, and a surge in the job market in the coming years.

• The U.S. plumbing market is currently valued at $126.4 billion 
• There are currently 113,000 plumbing businesses in the United States
• The plumbing consumer market grew 3.2% per year between 2017 and 2022
• The plumbing job market is expected to grow by 2% from 2022 to 2032

READ MORE: How to price plumbing jobs: an easy formula to create fast estimates

2. Plumbing job salary and outlook

The plumbing labor statistics highlight a large workforce primarily made up of men. To improve employee retention, you’ll need to offer competitive salaries. If you’re thinking about adding to your team, these are the stats you need to know:

• The plumbing industry in the U.S. currently employs 564,000 people
• A plumber in the United States earns, on average, $54,605 per year or $22.64 per hour
• 96.5% of plumbers in the U.S. are men, while 3.5% of plumbers are women

READ MORE: How to write a plumber job description and attract qualified candidates

While the plumbing industry is booming, the talent shortage continues to be a problem for construction industries looking to fill open positions. 

And as more and more plumbers reach retirement age, you can expect the labor shortage to be an issue for years to come.

• Approximately 42,600 plumbing, pipefitting, and steamfitting jobs are projected each year for the next decade
• The U.S. is expected to be short 550,000 plumbers by 2027 
• By 2024, the percentage of plumbers over the age of 55 is expected to reach nearly 25%

READ MORE: 57 plumbing interview questions to find top plumbers

3. Customers expect personalized customer service

When a customer invests in your plumbing business, they’re looking for more than just a job well done. They’re looking for personalized customer service that makes them feel like they’re your number one and encourages them to recommend your business to family and friends.

Not convinced? These stats prove why customer service continues to dominate the plumbing industry statistics and trend list—and how personalized customer service can benefit your plumbing business:

• 66% of customers expect businesses to understand their unique service needs
• 89% of customers are more likely to request another service after a good customer service experience
• You can improve your job win-rate by 8% when you offer personalized customer service

READ MORE: How this plumber reduced costly callbacks by over 50% with Jobber

4. Customers want convenient online payment options

When it’s time to pay for your plumbing services, customers are looking for an easy online alternative to taking out cash or writing a check. Here are the stats you need to know for online payments:

• Online payments grew to 40% of all payments processed in 2023
• 21% of skilled tradespeople offer customers third-party financing options

5. Smart plumbing fixtures are gaining popularity 

The demand for smart technology, and specifically smart plumbing fixtures, in the United States is booming and for good reason. They’re designed to not only make home life more convenient, but to also improve water conservation and energy usage at the same time.

Here are some stats on smart plumbing fixtures:

• Smart plumbing fixtures will be valued at $6.6 billion by the year 2027
• The smart toilet market is expected to reach 12.9 billion by 2026
• The smart bathroom market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.25% from 2020 to 2027

Some popular smart plumbing fixtures include:

• Voice-activated faucets that allow you to turn taps on and off without touching the handle
• Smart shower heads that are voice-activated and can be programmed with the preferred water temperature and steam preferences for each household member
• Smart irrigation systems that collect data from weather forecasts and sensors to turn sprinklers on only when needed
• Smart toilets that will automatically open, flush, and self-clean (advanced toilets may also offer heated seats, air drying, and motion-activated lights)
• WiFi water filtration to help you keep track of your water filtration system from your mobile device and turn your water off from anywhere in case of a leak

READ MORE: 30 of the best plumbing tools to get the job done

6. Water leak detection devices help avoid leaks

A leaking pipe or faucet can lead to flooded basements and expensive repair bills.

Smart water leak detection devices help monitor any potential leaks and notify homeowners by text or email before any damage is done.

Here are three reasons you should be installing leak detection systems for your customers:

• Residential water leaks waste almost 1 trillion gallons of water across the US each year
• A leaky faucet can waste 3,000 gallons of water a year
• The average insurance claim for residential water damage is $11,098

7. Greywater plumbing systems are becoming more common

Greywater is the lightly used water from sinks, showers, washing machines, and bathtubs. Greywater systems help reuse this water for irrigation.

Educating your customers about greywater plumbing systems can benefit the environment, reduce water consumption, and save them money.

Start by offering customers these stats:

• Greywater systems can help you save up to 40,000 gallons of water each year
• Running one load of clothing through a washing machine can produce 15 to 40 gallons of grey water—enough to keep most trees or plants alive year-round
• In California, homeowners can save more than $220 a year by adding a greywater system

READ MORE: Types of plumbers: 6 different plumbers, services, and salaries

8. Tankless water heaters replace traditional water heaters

Unlike traditional water heaters that are designed to heat large amounts of water regardless of how much you actually use, tankless water heaters will only provide hot water on an as-needed basis.

Check out these water heater stats:

• Water heating accounts for 20% of your home’s energy use
• Tankless water heaters can be 24–34% more energy efficient than traditional water heaters, significantly reducing water usage
• In 2022, U.S. shipments of residential gas storage water heaters decreased by 13%
• Tankless water heaters can last more than 20 years, compared to storage water heaters that will need to be replaced after 10 to 15 years

READ MORE: Best app options for plumbing contractors

9. Digital marketing helps to reach new customers online 

To reach more customers and grow your plumbing business, you’ll want to build a plumbing website, create an SEO strategy, and invest in plumbing ads.

Don’t believe us? Here are a few stats that prove why you should be marketing your plumbing business online:

• Businesses that offer online booking options receive 24% more customer calls
• 51% of customers use mobile searches to discover a new business
• 54% of customers research plumbing services online before scheduling an appointment

READ MORE: 13 plumbing marketing ideas to get more business

10. Online reviews improve your brand’s reputation

The demand for plumbers is growing, but so is the competition. Getting positive reviews from happy customers is an essential way to boost your brand’s reputation and win more plumbing business. Here’s why:

• 77% of customers read online reviews when searching for a local business
• In a survey of 626 Americans, 92% of respondents consider online reviews before hiring a local home service business
• In the same survey, 63% responded that they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations