Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters salary in Memphis, TN
Median pay for plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters in Memphis, TN: $54,650/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $37,090 – $74,280 · about 1,700 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($59,690) by −$5,040 (-8%).
What it's really worth in Memphis
With Memphis's cost of living at 92 (US=100), that $54,650 has the buying power of about $59,436 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $62,178 · median home $247,229 · median rent $1,441/mo.
How Memphis ranks for this job
On raw pay, Memphis, TN is 120th of the 187 metros we hold plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters wages for. Once Memphis's cost of living is applied, it ranks 99th.
Pay here goes further than the headline number suggests — Memphis is one of the places where plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters gain ground in real terms, because local costs are low relative to what the job pays.
What that salary buys in Memphis
A median home in Memphis, TN costs $247,229 — about 4.5× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,441/mo works out at 32% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Memphis.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Memphis | Rent vs Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $101,560 | +86% | 1.6× |
| Kennewick, WA | $97,150 | +78% | 1.2× |
| Minneapolis, MN | $96,200 | +76% | 1.2× |
| Duluth, MN | $88,000 | +61% | 1× |
Same job elsewhere in TN
| Metro | Median pay | vs Memphis | Rent vs Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $55,630 | +2% | 1.2× |
| Kingsport, TN | $52,230 | −4% | 0.9× |
| Chattanooga, TN | $51,120 | −6% | 1.1× |
| Clarksville, TN | $49,840 | −9% | 0.9× |
Staying in TN keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters around Memphis
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Smith & Nephew · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Memphis
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 187 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.