Plumber Salary in Indiana (2026)

Plumbers in IN are FLSA non-exempt — UA Local 440 journeymen and apprentices, non-union shop tradespeople, and most plumbing project staff earn time-and-a-half above 40 weekly hours (and double-time on Sundays plus 7th-day-of-work under most UA Local 440 collective bargaining agreements). The pharma + healthcare + commercial construction work in IN runs OT-heavy — 50-60 hour weeks are routine during Lilly Lebanon facility construction phases, IU Health hospital build-outs, and IND airport FedEx Hub expansion cycles.

The 2025 OBBBA No Tax on Overtime federal deduction (Internal Revenue Code §62(a)(23), enacted via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act July 2025) applies to the premium portion of FLSA-required OT pay for tax years 2025-2028. Cap $12,500 single / $25,000 MFJ above-the-line. Phaseout $100 per $1,000 MAGI above $150,000 single / $300,000 MFJ — fully phased out at $275K / $550K. The deduction is above-the-line, so it reduces both federal AGI and (potentially, depending on state conformity) state taxable income.

For a UA Local 440 journeyman at $85K base plus $25K OT premium ($110K total) working Lilly Lebanon construction, OBBBA produces roughly $25K × 22% federal bracket = $5,500 federal deduction (capped at $12,500 single) plus $25K × 2.95% IN state = $738 IN state deduction (assuming IN conforms — IN has not yet enacted explicit conformity legislation as of HEA 2025 session, so this remains uncertain). Total OBBBA savings for the journeyman: $5,500-$6,238/year through 2028. Worth pursuing — substantially larger than IN's average state-level tax credit programs.

IN state law as of 2026 has not yet enacted explicit conformity to the federal OBBBA OT deduction. IN DOR typically conforms to federal AGI by reference, but the OT deduction sits at the above-the-line level. Plumbers should consult their preparer or review the IN DOR 2026 conformity guidance when published. UA Local 440 collective bargaining agreements provide premium pay structures beyond FLSA minimums — double-time on Sundays, double-time on 7th consecutive day of work, and per diem allowances on pharma + industrial project sites. Lilly Lebanon has been running 6-day workweeks with regular Sunday double-time.

Right-to-work since 2012 (HEA 1001 of 2012, IN Code §22-6-6) means UA Local 440 cannot require membership as a condition of employment on union job sites. Practical effect: union shops compete with non-union shops on price for general construction work; pharma + healthcare + specialty piping work continues to be largely union-sourced because of skill + specialty-certification requirements. Non-union plumbing shops typically pay 60-80% of UA Local scale — meaningful annual wage delta but offset partially by lower benefit and pension cost.

Apprenticeship economics matter. UA Local 440 apprentices earn 50% of journeyman scale in Year 1 ($35-50K), scaling to 90% in Year 5 (~$70-90K). The 5-year program includes ~6,000+ OJT hours plus 880+ classroom hours. IN Code §25-28.5 requires journeyman certification (4+ years progressive experience plus passing the IN State Plumbing Examination). The licensing investment unlocks the journeyman wage band plus self-employment options.

UA Local 440 Indianapolis is the state's dominant plumbing trade representation. The Local's training center on Indianapolis's east side runs the 5-year apprenticeship through Ivy Tech Community College — ~6,000 OJT hours plus 880 classroom hours. Members work pharma + healthcare + commercial + industrial construction across the Indianapolis metro and beyond. The Local's CBA provides journeyman wage scale ($40-48/hr base) plus health, retirement, and apprenticeship-fund contributions that add ~30-40% to hourly base.

Eli Lilly Lebanon's $3.7B pharmaceutical manufacturing campus is the single largest IN construction event in state history — multi-year phased construction through 2027+ and commissioning into 2028. UA Local 440 expects sustained journeyman + apprentice demand. Other major active builds: Lilly Technology Center expansion, IND airport FedEx Hub continued growth, IU Health Methodist Hospital tower expansion.

UA Local 661 Fort Wayne, UA Local 172 Evansville, and UA Local 136 Lafayette anchor regional plumbing trade markets. Fort Wayne Local 661 supports Steel Dynamics HQ, Lincoln Financial Group corporate facilities, Parkview Health system capital projects, and BAE Systems Fort Wayne. Evansville Local 172 supports Deaconess Health System, Berry Global packaging plants, and SABIC. Lafayette Local 136 supports SIA Subaru, Purdue capital projects, and Caterpillar Lafayette. Regional Locals typically operate at 5-15% wage discount versus Local 440 Indianapolis but with proportionally lower cost of living.

Honest IN caveats apply. Right-to-work since 2012 has compressed UA Local membership growth — apprenticeship completions are roughly stable but non-union competition on residential and small commercial work is substantial. Winter season reduces outdoor construction; pharma + healthcare + industrial work continues year-round indoors. The Lilly Lebanon build has reshaped IN trade demand through 2028, but post-2028 the construction-cycle pipeline is uncertain. Most senior journeyman plumbers transition to shop ownership, project management, or specialty inspection to extend career earnings.

IN plumber careers typically start with UA Local 440 (or regional Local) apprenticeship at $35-50K Year 1, scaling to $55-75K Year 4. The 5-year program includes ~6,000+ OJT hours plus 880+ classroom hours through Ivy Tech Community College partnerships. Non-union apprentices follow parallel but typically less-structured paths through state-approved apprenticeship programs. IN Code §25-28.5 requires 4+ years documented progressive plumbing experience plus passing the IN State Plumbing Examination for journeyman licensure. The licensing investment is the major career step.

Years 5-10 are the early journeyman phase — TC $75-115K depending on OT availability. UA Local 440 journeymen earning standard 5-15% OT premium $85-100K total. Lilly Lebanon facility construction has driven OT-heavy work weeks (50-60 hours typical) since the 2024 announcement, pushing journeyman comp to $110-130K through 2027+. ASME B31.3 process piping certification adds $5-10K wage uplift. Non-union plumbers earn $60-90K total at parallel experience.

Years 10-20 are the senior journeyman / master plumber / foreman progression. Master plumber licensure under IN Code §25-28.5 requires journeyman experience plus passing the IN Master Plumber Examination. Master journeyman + foreman roles at UA Local 440 $95-160K w/OT during pharma + commercial construction cycles. Many senior journeymen transition to construction project management (commercial general contractor PM roles $95-165K) or to specialty inspection (city + state plumbing inspector $75-105K with municipal pension). UA Local 440 pension multiplier builds aggressively during senior journeyman years — final-5-years compensation directly affects pension calculation.

Late career (15+ years): Master plumber / Contractor / Shop owner paths typically $110-280K TC. UA-affiliated specialty contractors (Buckingham Companies, ERMCO, others) employ senior journeymen at supervisory + project-lead levels with cash-balance pension and profit-sharing structures. Independent plumbing contractors building residential or commercial service businesses can clear $150-250K+ TC at 10-20 years post-licensure depending on book of business. The IN pension landscape favors senior tradespeople — UA Local 440 retirement income plus Social Security plus personal 401(k) builds a substantial late-career foundation. Retirement-stage TN/FL relocation is moderately common for senior plumbers with pension portability.