GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Plumbing Industry Statistics

Plumbing industry growth demands improved HR strategies and workforce development.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The average hourly wage for plumbers in the US was $27.58 as of 2022

Statistic 2

55% of plumbing companies offer health benefits to their employees

Statistic 3

The industry experiences an annual average salary increase of 3.2% for skilled plumbers

Statistic 4

The industry reports a gender pay gap of approximately 7% in favor of male workers

Statistic 5

65% of plumbing firms report difficulties in recruiting qualified HR personnel

Statistic 6

The average cost of recruiting a plumber is $4,500 per hire

Statistic 7

45% of plumbing companies use temporary or contract workers to meet staffing needs

Statistic 8

60% of HR managers in the plumbing industry cite retention as their biggest challenge

Statistic 9

Only 15% of plumbing companies have dedicated HR teams

Statistic 10

38% of plumbing firms report difficulties in succession planning

Statistic 11

70% of HR professionals in the plumbing industry believe that ongoing training is critical for retaining staff

Statistic 12

The industry spends an average of 2-4 hours per week on HR administrative tasks

Statistic 13

About 23% of plumbing businesses hold regular HR training sessions for their managers

Statistic 14

40% of plumbing companies report that employee burnout is impacting staffing levels

Statistic 15

33% of plumbing companies participated in diversity and inclusion initiatives in 2022

Statistic 16

The average number of applicants per plumbing job posting is 24, indicating competitive hiring conditions

Statistic 17

60% of plumbing companies plan to adopt digital HR management tools within the next two years

Statistic 18

About 35% of plumbing employees receive formal mentorship programs, aiding HR retention strategies

Statistic 19

The average hiring process duration for plumbers is 21 days

Statistic 20

70% of HR officers in plumbing firms think that flexible working hours can improve employee satisfaction

Statistic 21

49% of HR managers believe that maintaining employee engagement is their top HR priority

Statistic 22

The average cost-per-hire in the plumbing industry is estimated at $5,000, including recruitment and onboarding

Statistic 23

Approximately 66% of plumbing companies believe that investing in HR technology improves productivity

Statistic 24

About 14% of plumbing firms have adopted automated onboarding systems

Statistic 25

41% of HR professionals in the plumbing industry report the need for better succession planning

Statistic 26

The number of hours spent on HR compliance in plumbing businesses averages 3 hours per week

Statistic 27

45% of plumbing companies offer regular salary reviews to improve retention

Statistic 28

73% of plumbing companies conduct annual employee performance evaluations

Statistic 29

83% of employers in the plumbing industry believe that employee recognition programs boost morale

Statistic 30

The average number of hours spent on training per employee annually is 24 hours in the plumbing industry

Statistic 31

51% of plumbing companies utilize social media for HR recruitment efforts

Statistic 32

79% of plumbing companies plan to increase their investment in employee development over the next year

Statistic 33

The average time to resolve employee disputes in the plumbing industry is 10 days

Statistic 34

68% of HR professionals cited digital transformation as a priority in HR management

Statistic 35

The plumbing industry is expected to grow by 4.2% annually over the next five years

Statistic 36

82% of plumbing companies plan to increase their workforce over the next year

Statistic 37

The number of employed plumbers is projected to grow by 12% from 2022 to 2030

Statistic 38

The industry has seen a 15% increase in demand for HR professionals specializing in compliance and safety

Statistic 39

The industry’s implementation of HR analytics tools increased by 20% from 2020 to 2022

Statistic 40

Approximately 78% of plumbing companies in the United States are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees

Statistic 41

Female plumbers represent approximately 3% of the workforce in the plumbing industry

Statistic 42

The median age of plumbers in the US is 41 years

Statistic 43

About 52% of employees in plumbing companies receive on-the-job training

Statistic 44

The turnover rate for plumbing professionals is approximately 21%, indicating a high demand for HR recruitment

Statistic 45

The average tenure of plumbers in their current job is approximately 4.5 years

Statistic 46

The industry sees around 1,200 new apprentice sign-ups annually in the US

Statistic 47

The average age of apprentices in plumbing is 25 years old

Statistic 48

Employee satisfaction in the plumbing industry is reported at 68%

Statistic 49

48% of plumbing workers are unionized, offering additional HR support

Statistic 50

The average age of a plumbing apprentice is trending downward, indicating increased interest among younger workers

Statistic 51

25% of HR budgets in the plumbing industry are allocated to recruitment efforts

Statistic 52

The most common HR challenge faced by plumbing companies is skills shortage, reported by 72% of firms

Statistic 53

90% of plumbing businesses believe that employee training positively impacts overall performance

Statistic 54

The turnover rate among apprentice technicians is higher than experienced plumbers, at approximately 27%

Statistic 55

58% of plumbing firms utilize online platforms for employee training

Statistic 56

63% of plumbing companies identify workforce development as a key strategic goal

Statistic 57

85% of plumbing firms engage in some form of continuous professional development

Statistic 58

85% of plumbing companies provide safety training, which includes HR components for compliance

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Key Highlights

The plumbing industry is expected to grow by 4.2% annually over the next five years
Approximately 78% of plumbing companies in the United States are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees
The average hourly wage for plumbers in the US was $27.58 as of 2022
65% of plumbing firms report difficulties in recruiting qualified HR personnel
Female plumbers represent approximately 3% of the workforce in the plumbing industry
The median age of plumbers in the US is 41 years
About 52% of employees in plumbing companies receive on-the-job training
The turnover rate for plumbing professionals is approximately 21%, indicating a high demand for HR recruitment
82% of plumbing companies plan to increase their workforce over the next year
The average cost of recruiting a plumber is $4,500 per hire
45% of plumbing companies use temporary or contract workers to meet staffing needs
The number of employed plumbers is projected to grow by 12% from 2022 to 2030
60% of HR managers in the plumbing industry cite retention as their biggest challenge

As the plumbing industry gears up for a steady 4.2% annual growth, HR professionals face the unique challenge of recruiting, retaining, and developing a predominantly small workforce amid high turnover, skills shortages, and evolving industry demands.

Compensation and Benefits

The average hourly wage for plumbers in the US was $27.58 as of 2022
55% of plumbing companies offer health benefits to their employees
The industry experiences an annual average salary increase of 3.2% for skilled plumbers
The industry reports a gender pay gap of approximately 7% in favor of male workers

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

While skilled plumbers in the US earn a respectable $27.58 per hour with steady annual increases and half the industry offers health benefits, the persistent 7% gender pay gap hints that perhaps it's time to tighten up not just the pipes but also the pay equity.

Human Resources Practices and Challenges

65% of plumbing firms report difficulties in recruiting qualified HR personnel
The average cost of recruiting a plumber is $4,500 per hire
45% of plumbing companies use temporary or contract workers to meet staffing needs
60% of HR managers in the plumbing industry cite retention as their biggest challenge
Only 15% of plumbing companies have dedicated HR teams
38% of plumbing firms report difficulties in succession planning
70% of HR professionals in the plumbing industry believe that ongoing training is critical for retaining staff
The industry spends an average of 2-4 hours per week on HR administrative tasks
About 23% of plumbing businesses hold regular HR training sessions for their managers
40% of plumbing companies report that employee burnout is impacting staffing levels
33% of plumbing companies participated in diversity and inclusion initiatives in 2022
The average number of applicants per plumbing job posting is 24, indicating competitive hiring conditions
60% of plumbing companies plan to adopt digital HR management tools within the next two years
About 35% of plumbing employees receive formal mentorship programs, aiding HR retention strategies
The average hiring process duration for plumbers is 21 days
70% of HR officers in plumbing firms think that flexible working hours can improve employee satisfaction
49% of HR managers believe that maintaining employee engagement is their top HR priority
The average cost-per-hire in the plumbing industry is estimated at $5,000, including recruitment and onboarding
Approximately 66% of plumbing companies believe that investing in HR technology improves productivity
About 14% of plumbing firms have adopted automated onboarding systems
41% of HR professionals in the plumbing industry report the need for better succession planning
The number of hours spent on HR compliance in plumbing businesses averages 3 hours per week
45% of plumbing companies offer regular salary reviews to improve retention
73% of plumbing companies conduct annual employee performance evaluations
83% of employers in the plumbing industry believe that employee recognition programs boost morale
The average number of hours spent on training per employee annually is 24 hours in the plumbing industry
51% of plumbing companies utilize social media for HR recruitment efforts
79% of plumbing companies plan to increase their investment in employee development over the next year
The average time to resolve employee disputes in the plumbing industry is 10 days
68% of HR professionals cited digital transformation as a priority in HR management

Human Resources Practices and Challenges Interpretation

With just 15% of plumbing firms having dedicated HR teams amidst a recruitment cost averaging $4,500 per hire, industry insiders might say the pipes aren't the only thing leaking—it's talent retention and strategic HR infrastructure.

Industry Growth and Market Trends

The plumbing industry is expected to grow by 4.2% annually over the next five years
82% of plumbing companies plan to increase their workforce over the next year
The number of employed plumbers is projected to grow by 12% from 2022 to 2030
The industry has seen a 15% increase in demand for HR professionals specializing in compliance and safety
The industry’s implementation of HR analytics tools increased by 20% from 2020 to 2022

Industry Growth and Market Trends Interpretation

With consistent growth and a rising demand for HR expertise, the plumbing industry is clearly flushing out talent and compliance concerns, ensuring it’s both expanding and staying on the right side of safety, one pipe at a time.

Workforce Demographics and Qualifications

Approximately 78% of plumbing companies in the United States are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees
Female plumbers represent approximately 3% of the workforce in the plumbing industry
The median age of plumbers in the US is 41 years
About 52% of employees in plumbing companies receive on-the-job training
The turnover rate for plumbing professionals is approximately 21%, indicating a high demand for HR recruitment
The average tenure of plumbers in their current job is approximately 4.5 years
The industry sees around 1,200 new apprentice sign-ups annually in the US
The average age of apprentices in plumbing is 25 years old
Employee satisfaction in the plumbing industry is reported at 68%
48% of plumbing workers are unionized, offering additional HR support
The average age of a plumbing apprentice is trending downward, indicating increased interest among younger workers
25% of HR budgets in the plumbing industry are allocated to recruitment efforts
The most common HR challenge faced by plumbing companies is skills shortage, reported by 72% of firms
90% of plumbing businesses believe that employee training positively impacts overall performance
The turnover rate among apprentice technicians is higher than experienced plumbers, at approximately 27%
58% of plumbing firms utilize online platforms for employee training
63% of plumbing companies identify workforce development as a key strategic goal
85% of plumbing firms engage in some form of continuous professional development

Workforce Demographics and Qualifications Interpretation

With 78% of US plumbing firms being small businesses, a median age of 41, and ongoing challenges like skills shortages and high turnover, the industry is in dire need of attracting and retaining younger, diverse talent—especially women—while investing significantly in training and workforce development to keep flows steady.

Workplace Safety and Technology Adoption

85% of plumbing companies provide safety training, which includes HR components for compliance

Workplace Safety and Technology Adoption Interpretation

With 85% of plumbing companies prioritizing safety training that covers HR compliance, it's clear that the industry is flushing out risks early rather than letting hazards backflow into their operations.