BLS wage data says plumbers in Tennessee earn $28.07/hr. That's 12.8% below the national average. Here's what that means for your bids.
BLS Hourly Wage
$28.07
Customer Rate
$72–$97/hr
Markup Factor
3.0x
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2023. Customer rate = wage × markup.
Tennessee
National Avg
Tennessee labor costs sit below the national average. You can price competitively and still maintain solid margins. Just don't race to the bottom.
| Service | Tennessee Price Range |
|---|---|
| Drain unclogging (snake) | $131–$261 |
| Toilet repair or replacement | $174–$436 |
| Faucet replacement | $131–$305 |
| Garbage disposal install | $174–$392 |
| Water heater install (tank) | $697–$1743 |
| Tankless water heater install | $1307–$3051 |
| Pipe repair or replacement | $261–$1307 |
| Sewer line repair | $1307–$4358 |
| Bathroom rough-in (new) | $1743–$4358 |
Prices adjusted from national averages using Tennessee BLS wage data. Your local market may vary.
Pre-loaded with Tennessee rates. Enter your job's square footage and type to get a starting price.
Estimated per-job price for Tennessee (—–—/hr effective rate)
Based on BLS wage data for Tennessee (TN). Rates reflect state-level labor costs.
Based on BLS wage data, plumbers in Tennessee typically charge between $72 and $97 per hour. The actual rate depends on the job type, scope, and whether materials are included.
Plumbing labor costs in Tennessee are 12.8% below the national average. The BLS-reported hourly wage in Tennessee is $28.07, compared to $32.20 nationally.
Start with your labor cost ($28.07/hr in Tennessee), apply a 3.0x markup to cover overhead, supplies, insurance, and profit. That puts your customer-facing rate around $72–$97/hr. Then adjust for job scope: complex jobs command higher rates.
The biggest factors are metro vs. rural (cities within Tennessee can vary 30–40%), job complexity, and recurring vs. one-time work. Recurring contracts cost less per visit because there's no re-quoting or onboarding.
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Looking for national averages? Plumbing Pricing Guide (National) →