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In 2024, 1% of plumbers in the U.S. earned over $250,000, per @kyle_e_walker's…

2026-08-06 · 21:43 UTC ·@kyle_e_walker ·1 min read

Brief

Kyle E. Walker argues that although 1% of U.S. plumbers made more than $250,000 in 2024, those figures reflect owner/master-plumber businesses rather than the average residential plumber. He respects the trade but rejects the idea plumbers broadly out-earn Ivy League grads, provides code to reproduce his chart (gist.github.com/walkerke/782…), and counters a viral $250k–$300k claim.

Why it matters

In 2024, 1% of plumbers in the U.S. earned over $250,000, per @kyle_e_walker's data.

Key details

  • Walker argues those top earners are likely master plumbers who own their companies (not the typical residential plumber) and insists plumbers generally do not out-earn Ivy League graduates; he links reproducible code at gist.github.com/walkerke/782… and rebuts a viral claim that plumbers 'clear $250k–$300k'.
Source evidence

Why are we doing the plumber salary discourse again?

In 2024, 1 percent of plumbers in the US made over $250k.

Sure, maybe you could clear that if you are a master plumber who owns your own company.

But that is probably not the plumber who shows up to your house.

I have the utmost respect for plumbers. They have helped me with stressful situations at my house many times.

But they are not out-earning Ivy League grads.

Here's the code to make the chart, run the numbers: gist.github.com/walkerke/782…

Codie Sanchez (@Codie_Sanchez)

Ivy league grads when they realize their plumber is clearing $250k-$300k/year with no college debt or unpaid internships.

Video

— https://nitter.net/Codie_Sanchez/status/2085432515850916293#m