BizMetricsHQ

Industry data hub · 2025–2026 · 380+ plumbing businesses

Plumbers Net Worth: How Much Are Owners Really Worth?

Owner pay typically runs $85K–$165K (median ~$125K) — and a median plumbing business can be worth $700K–$1.1M. See 2026 income, profit, and valuation benchmarks.

Net WorthOwner PayBusiness ValueProfit Margin
Revenue$1.6Mmedian annual revenueView Benchmarks →Net Margin11%median net marginView Benchmarks →Owner Pay / Net Worth$125Kmedian compensationView Benchmarks →Business Equity$700K–$1.1Mtypical shop at ~2.8× SDEView Benchmarks →

Industry Intelligence

Plumbing Industry Scorecard

Overall

Solid

  • Profitability
  • Scalability
  • Startup Difficulty
  • Recurring Revenue
  • Recession Resistance

Industry Snapshot

  • Industry Category
    Home Services
  • Demand Stability
    High
  • Capital Requirement
    Low – Medium
  • Recurring Revenue
    Medium
  • Growth Potential
    High
  • Competition
    High

Benchmark Your Plumbing Business

Compare your company against industry quartiles.

Your overall rating

Average
  • RevenueAverage
  • Net MarginAverage
  • PlumbersAverage
  • Maintenance ContractsAverage

Source: BizMetricsHQ 380+ plumbing businesses (2025–2026). Methodology

Plumbing Industry Insights

What makes plumbing economics different from other home service trades.

  • Plumbers net worth = pay + business equity

    Plumbers net worth is usually two numbers: owner compensation ($85K–$165K typical, median ~$125K) plus the equity in the shop. A median plumbing business near $320K SDE often values around $700K–$1.1M at ~2.8× — far more than wage-only comparisons suggest.

  • Non-discretionary demand

    Plumbing businesses benefit from non-discretionary demand because water, sewer, and pipe failures require immediate repairs — homeowners and businesses cannot defer most plumbing emergencies.

  • Emergency service premium

    Unlike many construction-related trades, plumbing companies generate significant revenue from emergency service calls, which often command premium pricing and after-hours rates.

  • Recurring commercial revenue

    Commercial maintenance contracts and service agreements can create recurring revenue streams and improve business stability, especially for operators serving property managers and multi-family accounts.

  • Labor as growth constraint

    Labor availability remains a major growth constraint for many operators. Companies that invest in apprentice pipelines, competitive compensation, and dispatch efficiency tend to scale faster than peers.

Average Plumbing Revenue

Annual revenue percentiles for owner-operated plumbing companies.

PercentileAnnual Revenue
25th$800K
Median$1.6M
75th$2.2M
Top 10%$3.5M+

Distribution: 25th $800K · Median $1.6M · 75th $2.2M.

Revenue Drivers

  • Emergency Repairs

    Burst pipes, leaks, and urgent failures with premium pricing

    20 – 35%

  • Residential Service

    Repairs, fixture installs, and repipe work for homeowners

    35 – 50%

  • Commercial Service

    Building maintenance, backflow, and commercial plumbing

    20 – 35%

  • Drain Cleaning

    High-frequency service with strong route density economics

    12 – 22%

  • Water Heater Installations

    Replacement and upgrade projects with solid ticket size

    10 – 18%

  • Maintenance Contracts

    Annual service agreements and PM for commercial accounts

    10 – 25%

How profitable is a plumbing business?

What is the average plumbing profit margin — and how much profit does a plumbing company make?

Are plumbing companies profitable? Yes — healthy operators keep 8 – 15% net profit, median ~11%.

  • Average plumbing profit margin

    8 – 15% net

    Median ~11%

  • Typical annual profit

    $130K – $240K

    At $1.6M revenue

  • Top-quartile profitability

    16 – 20% net

    Strong operators

  • How profitable is a plumbing business?

    How profitable is a plumbing business? Typically 8 – 15% net margin (median ~11%). Top operators reach 16 – 20%.

  • What is the average plumbing profit margin?

    What is the average plumbing profit margin? About 11% net; healthy range 8 – 15%. Gross margin usually 45 – 55%.

  • Are plumbing companies profitable?

    Are plumbing companies profitable? Yes, when plumber payroll and materials stay in benchmark ranges. Below-range margins usually signal cost drift.

  • How much profit does a plumbing company make?

    How much profit does a plumbing company make? About $130K – $240K a year at median $1.6M revenue (~$176K at 11% net).

Net margin distribution

Below Average

4 – 7%

Average

8 – 11%

Good

12 – 14%

Top Performer

15 – 18%

MetricValue
Gross Margin42 – 52%
Net Margin8 – 14%
Owner Salary (normalized)$85K – $165K

Cost Structure

Expense Benchmarks

Expense Category% Revenue
Plumber Payroll30 – 40%
Materials & Parts16 – 24%
Vehicle Fleet5 – 9%
Marketing6 – 10%
Office & Admin8 – 12%
Insurance4 – 8%

Plumbers Net Worth: How Much Do Owners Make?

Owner compensation is half the story — typical pay is $85K–$165K (median ~$125K). Business equity is the other half.

Owner-Operator

Compensation Benchmark

$85K – $115K

Small Team Owner

Compensation Benchmark

$115K – $145K

Established Business

Compensation Benchmark

$145K – $185K

Multi-Location Business

Compensation Benchmark

$185K – $320K+

Plumbing Business Value (The Equity Side of Net Worth)

SDE, EBITDA, and revenue multiples — a median shop near $320K SDE often lands around $700K–$1.1M.

SDE Multiple

2.2× – 3.5×

EBITDA Multiple

3.5× – 5.5×

Revenue Multiple

0.5× – 0.9×

Estimated Plumbing Business Value

Quick SDE-based valuation using industry multiples.

Estimated Value

$896,000

Range: $704,000 – $1,120,000

At 2.8× SDE on $320,000 SDE

SDE-Based Value

$896,000

Revenue-Based Value

$1,120,000

Example: $1.6M revenue · $320K SDE → ~$896K value at 2.8× SDE

What Top Performers Do Differently

Practices that separate high-performing plumbing companies from the median operator.

Top Plumbing Companies Often:

  • Maintain high plumber utilization (4 – 8 jobs/day)
  • Respond quickly to emergency calls with premium dispatch
  • Upsell maintenance plans and annual service agreements
  • Generate repeat customers through membership programs
  • Invest in dispatch efficiency and route density
  • Track and optimize average invoice size

Industry Outlook

Industry Opportunities

Growth drivers for plumbing operators.

  • Aging infrastructure driving repipe and replacement demand
  • Housing construction and remodel activity
  • Water conservation upgrades and fixture retrofits
  • Commercial maintenance contract demand
  • Population growth in Sun Belt and suburban markets

Industry Risks

Headwinds to monitor when planning growth.

  • Skilled labor shortages and wage inflation
  • Vehicle, fuel, and fleet operating costs
  • Increased competition from franchise and PE-backed operators
  • Economic slowdown in new construction segments
  • Rising insurance and liability costs

Revenue Performance By State

Relative plumbing revenue performance — no separate state pages yet.

StateRelative Revenue
TexasAbove Average
FloridaAbove Average
CaliforniaAverage
ArizonaAbove Average
GeorgiaAbove Average
OhioAverage

Compare To Other Home Services

See how plumbing economics stack up against related trades.

Plumbing Business Calculators

Run the numbers on plumber productivity, profit margin, valuation, and break-even.

Plumbing Startup Costs

Typical investment ranges for launching a plumbing company.

Vehicles & Equipment

$60K – $150K

Inventory & Tools

$30K – $80K

Marketing Launch

$20K – $50K

Working Capital

$40K – $100K

Total startup range: $150K – $400K · Varies by fleet size, licensing, and market entry strategy.

Plumbing companies Profitability FAQs

How profitable is a plumbing business?

Typically 8 – 15% net margin (median ~11%). Top operators reach 16 – 20%.

What is the average plumbing profit margin?

About 11% net; healthy range 8 – 15%. Gross margin usually 45 – 55%.

Are plumbing companies profitable?

Yes — when plumber payroll and materials stay in benchmark ranges. Thin margins usually signal cost drift.

How much profit does a plumbing company make?

About $130K – $240K a year at median $1.6M revenue (~$176K at 11% net).

What is a plumber's net worth?

Plumbers net worth varies widely. Owner-operators typically earn $85K–$165K in annual compensation (median ~$125K). On top of income, a median plumbing business with ~$320K SDE often sells near 2.8× — roughly $700K–$1.1M in business equity. Multi-crew owners combining salary and distributions can clear $185K–$320K+ a year, which compounds net worth faster when the shop is transferable.

How much are plumbing business owners worth?

Most plumbing owners build net worth from two buckets: take-home pay ($85K–$165K typical) and business equity (often $700K–$1.1M at median SDE multiples). Top multi-location operators can exceed $320K annual earnings with shops valued well over $1M.

What is average plumbing company revenue?

The median owner-operated plumbing company generates about $1.6M in annual revenue. The interquartile range spans $800K (25th percentile) to $2.2M (75th percentile), with top-performing companies exceeding $3.5M. Revenue varies based on plumber count, service area, and emergency vs contract mix.

How much do plumbing company owners make?

Plumbing business owners typically earn $85K–$165K in total compensation, with a median around $125K. Owner-operators often earn $85K–$115K, while established multi-crew operators can exceed $320K when combining owner salary and profit distributions.

What is a plumbing business worth?

Plumbing businesses typically sell at 2.2×–3.5× SDE, with a median near 2.8×. A company with $1.6M revenue and $320K SDE might value between $704K and $1.12M. Companies with commercial contracts and transferable management often command premium multiples.

How many plumbers are needed to reach $1M revenue?

At median productivity of ~$215K revenue per plumber, reaching $1M typically requires 4–5 full-time plumbers plus owner production. High-performing shops with strong emergency tickets and route density can reach $1M with 3–4 plumbers; lower-ticket operators may need 5–6.

Are plumbing businesses recession resistant?

Plumbing is highly recession-resistant. Water and sewer failures require immediate repair regardless of economic conditions, and emergency calls often increase as deferred maintenance catches up. Companies with commercial maintenance contracts add stability during construction slowdowns.

Explore Other Home Service Industries

Benchmarks and economics for related trades.

380+ plumbing businesses · U.S. data · Methodology