Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters salary in Richmond, VA
Median pay for plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters in Richmond, VA: $58,830/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $38,810 – $73,220 · about 1,940 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($59,690) by −$860 (-1%).
What it's really worth in Richmond
With Richmond's cost of living at 98 (US=100), that $58,830 has the buying power of about $59,825 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $80,877 · median home $397,705 · median rent $1,763/mo.
How Richmond ranks for this job
On raw pay, Richmond, VA is 104th of the 187 metros we hold plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters wages for. Once Richmond's cost of living is applied, it ranks 95th.
Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so Richmond sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.
What that salary buys in Richmond
A median home in Richmond, VA costs $397,705 — about 6.8× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,763/mo works out at 36% 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 Richmond.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Richmond | Rent vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $101,560 | +73% | 1.3× |
| Kennewick, WA | $97,150 | +65% | 1× |
| Minneapolis, MN | $96,200 | +64% | 1× |
| Duluth, MN | $88,000 | +50% | 0.8× |
Same job elsewhere in VA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Richmond | Rent vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | $57,870 | −2% | 1.1× |
| Lynchburg, VA | $51,060 | −13% | 0.7× |
| Roanoke, VA | $48,330 | −18% | 0.8× |
Staying in VA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters around Richmond
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Dominion Energy · Energy
Other jobs in Richmond
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.