$75–$175 an hour for a licensed plumber on a weekday in 2026, and $100/hr is typical. Most companies also charge a $75–$275 service call (typical $150), often credited to the repair. After hours, weeknights run $125–$300/hr, weekends $150–$350/hr and holidays $200–$450/hr.
Weekday rate: $75–$175/hr, $100/hr typical
Service call: $75–$275, often credited if you go ahead
General plumbing, weekday hourly rate$100/hr$75–$175
Licensed journeyman plumber$90/hr$60–$110
Handyman (minor fixes, no permit work)$75/hr$50–$100
Apprentice (works under a licensed plumber)$70/hr$45–$90
$0$100$200$300$400
Job
Low
Typical
High
General plumbing, weekday hourly rate/hr
$75
$100
$175
Apprentice (works under a licensed plumber)/hr
$45
$70
$90
Licensed journeyman plumber/hr
$60
$90
$110
Master plumber/hr
$80
$120
$200
Handyman (minor fixes, no permit work)/hr
$50
$75
$100
After-hours hourly rate (weeknights)/hr
$125
$175
$300
Service call / trip feeflat
$75
$150
$275
Trip charge outside the service areaflat
$50
$100
$300
Flat-rate small job (clog, toilet, faucet)per job
$100
$225
$400
Yearly maintenance planper year
$100
$200
$300
US prices, November 2026. Low is a simple job in a low-cost area; high is a bigger job or a high-cost city.
02 / By city195 cities priced
Does plumber hourly rates and service call fees change by city?
Yes. The same job costs more where labor and rent cost more. Here's how plumber prices in the biggest US metros compare with the US typical of $100/hr.
Plumber prices in the 12 biggest US metrosEach city's typical plumber price against the US typical of $100/hr.
License level comes first. An apprentice bills about $45–$90/hr, a licensed journeyman $60–$110/hr and a master plumber $80–$200/hr. Most repairs are done by a journeyman; masters pull permits and handle gas, remodels and code problems.
Location comes next. Plumbers in high-wage metros like New York, Seattle and San Francisco charge well above the US typical, and much of the South charges less. Time of day is the third lever: nights, weekends and holidays usually cost 1.5 to 3 times the weekday rate.
02
What the service call fee covers
The service call — $75–$275, typical $150 — pays for the drive and the diagnosis. Some companies fold the first hour of work into it; others charge it on top of the hourly rate. Many credit it to the repair if you say yes to the quote.
Outside a company's normal area, a trip charge of $50–$300 can be added. Ask about both fees on the phone, before anyone drives out.
03
Save money
Hourly or flat-rate: which is cheaper?
For a known small job, a flat price of $100–$400 gives you one number before work starts. An hourly plumber at $100/hr plus a $150 service call comes to about $250 for a one-hour fix. Flat-rate wins when the job might run long; hourly wins when it is quick.
Many companies bill a one-hour minimum, so a 20-minute fix still costs the full hour. Ask whether time is billed in 15-minute steps after the first hour.
04
Save money
How to keep the bill down
Bundle small jobs into one visit so you pay one service call. Book weekdays when the water can be shut off and the problem can wait. Get a written price, with parts listed, before work starts.
Some companies sell a yearly maintenance plan ($100–$300) that waives or discounts the service call or the after-hours fee. It only pays off if you would book at least one visit a year anyway.
05
Licensing and permits
Most states license plumbers, and a few leave it to cities and counties. Water heaters, gas lines and new pipe usually need a permit; a licensed plumber should pull it and list the fee in the quote. A handyman is fine only for small swaps that need no permit.
06
Compare
Four ways plumbers bill — and what to watch for
Most plumbers use one of four ways to bill. Ask which one before anyone drives out.
How they bill
How it works
Best for
Watch for
Hourly + service call
A flat fee to come out, then the hourly rate for time on the job.
Jobs where the cause is not known yet.
A one-hour minimum, and billing in 15- or 30-minute steps.
Service call with the first hour included
One fee covers the drive and the first hour of work.
Quick fixes that take under an hour.
Time after the first hour is billed at the full hourly rate.
Flat rate per job
One set price for the job, no matter how long it takes. Small jobs run $100–$400.
Known jobs: a clog, a flapper, a faucet swap.
You pay the full price even if the job takes 15 minutes.
Time and materials
Hourly labor plus parts, often with a markup on the parts.
Big or hidden jobs, like a leak inside a wall.
No cap on the total. Ask for a written “not to go over” amount.
07
Compare
How billing steps change the bill
This sample uses a $110/hr rate and a $125 service call. It shows how a one-hour minimum and 15-minute steps turn time on the job into dollars.
Time on the job
Time billed
Labor at $110/hr
Total with the $125 service call
20 minutes
1 hour (the minimum)
$110
$235
1 hour 10 minutes
1 hour 15 minutes
$137.50
$262.50
2 hours 5 minutes
2 hours 15 minutes
$247.50
$372.50
Sample numbers only. Our US typical is $100/hr and a $150 service call. If a plumber bills in 30-minute steps, the 1 hour 10 minute job is billed as 1.5 hours.
08
Worked example
Worked example: a leaking shutoff valve under the sink
A sample bill for a weekday repair that takes 90 minutes. This is what each line on the invoice should look like.
Line itemCost
Service call (drive and finding the problem)$125
Labor: 1.5 hours at $110/hr$165
Parts: new shutoff valve and supply line$45
Total$335
Ask for each line before work starts. If the plumber credits the service call to the repair, this bill drops to $210. Compare your numbers with the table above, or paste your quote into the quote checker.
09
Compare
Who to hire: handyman, apprentice, journeyman or master
Hire the lowest level that can do the job by law. That is where the savings are.
Who
Hourly rate
Good for
Licensed?
Handyman
$50–$100/hr
Swapping a flapper, a showerhead or a faucet you bought
No plumbing license. Fine only for small jobs that need no permit.
Apprentice
$45–$90/hr
Helping on bigger jobs
In training. Works under a licensed plumber.
Journeyman plumber
$60–$110/hr
Most repairs: leaks, clogs, toilets, water heaters
Licensed after an apprenticeship and an exam.
Master plumber
$80–$200/hr
Permits, gas lines, remodels, code problems
Licensed after more years of work and a second exam.
Most states and some cities require plumbers to be licensed. Training is usually a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, says the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Check the license number with your state or city before work starts.
10
Why the hourly rate is so much higher than a plumber's pay
The rate you pay is far above what the plumber earns. The median US plumber made $30.67 an hour in May 2025, says the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our US typical rate is $100/hr.
The gap pays for things you don't see. That means the van and fuel, tools, insurance, the license, office staff and drive time between jobs that nobody pays for. A rate well above the wage is normal. What matters is that the price is clear before work starts.
11
Checklist
8 questions to ask on the phone
Ask these before anyone drives out. Write the answers down.
What is your hourly rate on weekdays?
How much is the service call? Is it credited to the repair if I go ahead?
Does the service call include any work time?
Is there a minimum charge? After that, do you bill in 15- or 30-minute steps?
Do you charge for drive time, or for trips to the parts store?
Do you have a flat price for this job? Can I see it before you start?
What time does your after-hours rate start? Does Saturday count?
What is your license number? Will you pull the permit if one is needed?
12
Watch out
Red flags on a plumber's price
Any one of these is a reason to call someone else.
Won't give an hourly rate or a service call price on the phone.
Adds a “diagnostic fee” on top of the service call without telling you first.
Starts work before giving you a price.
Wants cash only, or the full amount before the job starts.
Asks you to get the permit yourself.
Pushes you to decide right now, or knocks on your door saying they are “in the area”.
Can't give a license number you can check.
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General plumbing, weekday hourly rate
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05 / Questions10 answers
Plumber hourly rates and service call fees: FAQ
Why do plumbers charge a service call fee?
It covers the drive and the time spent finding the problem. Expect $75–$275; many plumbers credit it to the repair if you go ahead.
Do plumbers have a minimum charge?
Many do — usually one hour at $75–$175, or the service call itself. A 20-minute fix can cost the same as a full hour, so bundle small jobs.
How much does a master plumber charge per hour?
$80–$200/hr, typical $120/hr. A licensed journeyman is $60–$110/hr and handles most repairs.
Is a handyman cheaper than a plumber?
By the hour, yes: about $50–$100/hr. Use one only for small swaps like a flapper or a faucet you bought. Gas lines, water heaters and new pipe need a licensed plumber in most states.
Is a flat-rate plumber more expensive?
On quick jobs it can be. A flat price of $100–$400 for a small job costs less than hourly billing when the job runs long, and more when it takes 20 minutes.
How much does a plumber charge for 2 hours?
Two hours of labor at $75–$175/hr, plus a service call of $75–$275. If the service call includes the first hour, you pay for one more hour only. Parts are extra.
Do plumbers charge for travel time?
Most cover the drive with the service call ($75–$275). Homes outside the normal area can pay a trip charge of $50–$300. A few bill drive time by the hour, so ask.
Do plumbers give free estimates?
Some do, mostly for planned jobs like a water heater or a repipe. For a repair, most charge the service call to come out and find the problem. Ask before you book.
How much does a plumber earn per hour?
The median US plumber made $30.67 an hour in May 2025 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). The rate you pay, $75–$175/hr, also covers the van, tools, insurance and unpaid drive time.
When do after-hours plumbing rates start?
It depends on the company. Most charge more in the evening, on weekends and on holidays. Weeknight rates run $125–$300/hr. Ask what time the higher rate starts. See our emergency plumber guide for weekend and holiday prices.
These are independent estimates from national cost guides, published contractor price lists, city permit schedules and federal wage data for plumbers. No plumber can pay to change them, so always get a couple of quotes. Last reviewed November 2026. Read the full methodology →