Why does plumbers make so much money?

Your paying for their expertise and hard labor. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the estimated mean annual wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters as of May 2008 is, $49,200 This would amount to $23.65 per hour. Plumbers, pipelayers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are among the highest paid workers in construction occupations. Median hourly wages of wage and salary plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters were $21.94 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $16.63 and $29.66. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.22, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $37.93.