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Salary Intelligence
Estimated plumber pay in 43 countries — gross, after-tax net, and purchasing-power-equivalent net — ranked by how far the take-home actually goes.
Where does a plumber earn the most after tax?
A mid-level plumber earns an estimated $49,386 net in the US (~1.1× the national median). After tax and local prices, that level of pay stretches furthest in lower-tax, lower-cost destinations — Singapore (~$73,482 PPP-equivalent net), Switzerland (~$57,126 PPP-equivalent net), United States (~$49,386 PPP-equivalent net) — while nominal take-home is highest in Switzerland (~$76,099/yr). Figures are modelled from each country's national median wage; a planning guide, not a job offer.
Key facts
US benchmark: $62,970ResearchedBLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 47-2152 · scaled to each country's national median.
Set your experience level, rank by purchasing power or nominal take-home, and highlight your country.
| # | Country | Est. gross | PPP-equiv net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | $56,340 | $73,482 |
| 2 | Switzerland | $89,268 | $57,126 |
| 3 | United States | $62,970 | $49,386 |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | $32,716 | $45,345 |
| 5 | Australia | $58,952 | $44,219 |
| 6 | Germany | $59,150 | $44,079 |
| 7 | Finland | $48,032 | $41,216 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | $50,983 | $40,637 |
| 9 | Canada | $46,686 | $38,573 |
| 10 | Denmark | $69,852 | $36,736 |
| 11 | Luxembourg | $68,404 | $36,555 |
| 12 | Iceland | $70,843 | $36,359 |
| 13 | Sweden | $45,243 | $34,277 |
| 14 | Netherlands | $49,760 | $33,995 |
| 15 | Poland | $16,253 | $32,985 |
| 16 | Ireland | $49,569 | $32,752 |
| 17 | Norway | $55,840 | $32,674 |
| 18 | Austria | $43,545 | $30,038 |
| 19 | Estonia | $24,577 | $29,723 |
| 20 | Lithuania | $22,188 | $29,366 |
| 21 | Japan | $32,508 | $28,727 |
| 22 | France | $34,740 | $28,544 |
| 23 | New Zealand | $33,801 | $28,387 |
| 24 | South Korea | $27,095 | $28,071 |
| 25 | Belgium | $48,724 | $27,358 |
| 26 | Spain | $28,523 | $27,128 |
| 27 | Hungary | $19,091 | $26,789 |
| 28 | Thailand | $9,611 | $26,640 |
| 29 | Czechia | $19,064 | $26,326 |
| 30 | Italy | $29,043 | $25,402 |
| 31 | Latvia | $21,042 | $25,291 |
| 32 | Slovakia | $20,389 | $23,645 |
| 33 | Slovenia | $27,808 | $22,924 |
| 34 | Turkey | $9,210 | $22,370 |
| 35 | Portugal | $20,869 | $22,142 |
| 36 | Israel | $37,367 | $19,752 |
| 37 | Greece | $17,390 | $19,435 |
| 38 | Chile | $10,323 | $17,327 |
| 39 | South Africa | $8,959 | $14,920 |
| 40 | Brazil | $7,159 | $14,624 |
| 41 | Mexico | $5,475 | $10,705 |
| 42 | Colombia | $3,736 | $9,926 |
| 43 | Vietnam | $3,324 | $9,484 |
Ranked by purchasing power (after-tax pay restated in US price terms). Experience tiers scale the role's base pay and are re-taxed per country — a modelled estimate, not a survey.
Plumber estimates · Source: National median wage surveys (OECD AV_AN_WAGE, Eurostat SES, national statistical offices) + WhereNext tax engine · Last verified Jun 22, 2026 (4 weeks ago)
Gross pay erodes to take-home after tax, then adjusts for local prices — a mid-level estimate, every step sourced.
Verified · National medians (Eurostat / national stats) · US BLS OEWS May 2024 · World Bank ICP 2021 (PPP)
Keep rate 97% · net $54,646 · real value $73,482 (your money goes further here)
| Step | USD/yr | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $56,340 | Estimated gross for the role. |
| − Income tax & social | −$1,694 | Resident tax brackets; you keep 97%. |
| Net (after tax) | $54,646 | Take-home in nominal USD. |
| + Local prices (PPP) | +$18,836 | Cheaper than the US — your net buys more. |
| Real value (PPP-equiv. net) | $73,482 | What the net is worth in US price terms. |
Grey = take-home in nominal USD · green = what it's worth after local prices (PPP). The gap is why the highest-paying country isn't always where you keep the most.
Verified · National medians (Eurostat / national stats) · US BLS OEWS May 2024 · World Bank ICP 2021 (PPP)
| Country | Nominal net | Real value | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $54,646 | $73,482 | +$18,836 |
| Switzerland | $76,099 | $57,126 | −$18,973 |
| United States | $49,386 | $49,386 | +$0 |
| United Arab Emirates | $32,716 | $45,345 | +$12,629 |
| Australia | $49,299 | $44,219 | −$5,080 |
| Germany | $36,301 | $44,079 | +$7,778 |
| Finland | $40,126 | $41,216 | +$1,090 |
| United Kingdom | $39,079 | $40,637 | +$1,558 |
Net take-home (up) against cost of living (right). Top-left = high pay, low cost — where the money goes furthest. Lines mark the medians.
Verified · National medians (Eurostat / national stats) · US BLS OEWS May 2024 · World Bank ICP 2021 (PPP)
● sweet spot (high pay, low cost) · ● other countries · cost of living = World Bank ICP 2021 price level relative to the US.
| Country | Net take-home | Cost (US=100) | Real value | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $54,646 | 74 | $73,482 | Sweet spot |
| Switzerland | $76,099 | 133 | $57,126 | |
| United States | $49,386 | 100 | $49,386 | |
| United Arab Emirates | $32,716 | 72 | $45,345 | Sweet spot |
| Australia | $49,299 | 111 | $44,219 | |
| Germany | $36,301 | 82 | $44,079 | |
| Finland | $40,126 | 97 | $41,216 | |
| United Kingdom | $39,079 | 96 | $40,637 | |
| Canada | $36,905 | 96 | $38,573 | |
| Denmark | $39,589 | 108 | $36,736 | |
| Luxembourg | $42,351 | 116 | $36,555 | |
| Iceland | $44,093 | 121 | $36,359 | |
| Sweden | $35,214 | 103 | $34,277 | |
| Netherlands | $31,070 | 91 | $33,995 | |
| Poland | $14,025 | 43 | $32,985 | |
| Ireland | $36,158 | 110 | $32,752 | |
| Norway | $37,926 | 116 | $32,674 | |
| Austria | $26,333 | 88 | $30,038 | |
| Estonia | $19,269 | 65 | $29,723 | |
| Lithuania | $14,972 | 51 | $29,366 | |
| Japan | $25,781 | 90 | $28,727 | |
| France | $23,389 | 82 | $28,544 | |
| New Zealand | $27,852 | 98 | $28,387 | |
| South Korea | $21,357 | 76 | $28,071 | |
| Belgium | $23,937 | 87 | $27,358 | |
| Spain | $19,990 | 74 | $27,128 | |
| Hungary | $12,695 | 47 | $26,789 | |
| Thailand | $8,995 | 34 | $26,640 | |
| Czechia | $14,107 | 54 | $26,326 | |
| Italy | $19,569 | 77 | $25,402 | |
| Latvia | $14,593 | 58 | $25,291 | |
| Slovakia | $13,783 | 58 | $23,645 | |
| Slovenia | $15,175 | 66 | $22,924 | |
| Turkey | $6,229 | 28 | $22,370 | |
| Portugal | $14,588 | 66 | $22,142 | |
| Israel | $23,337 | 118 | $19,752 | |
| Greece | $12,409 | 64 | $19,435 | |
| Chile | $9,547 | 55 | $17,327 | |
| South Africa | $7,256 | 49 | $14,920 | |
| Brazil | $6,195 | 42 | $14,624 | |
| Mexico | $5,023 | 47 | $10,705 | |
| Colombia | $3,437 | 35 | $9,926 | |
| Vietnam | $2,763 | 29 | $9,484 |
The cost axis is a country-level index. For a category-by-category breakdown (rent, groceries, transport…) across 95 countries and 380 cities, use the cost-of-living calculator.
Modelled estimate, not survey data. Each profession figure is the country's national median wage scaled by the role's skill premium — a directional model, not a per-role salary survey. It is for a mid-level professional and varies widely by employer, seniority, bonus, equity, contract type and tax regime. Net is modelled via WhereNext's tax engine and is not tax or employment advice — verify with an employer or qualified advisor before making decisions.
Turn this into a decision built around your real salary, family situation and shortlist — with tax, cost-of-living and next-step checks.
On purchasing-power-equivalent net income, Singapore, Switzerland, United States lead for a mid-level plumber. On raw nominal take-home, Switzerland is highest (~$76,099/yr). High nominal pay doesn't always win once local prices are factored in.
The countries near the top of the purchasing-power ranking — where after-tax pay buys the most locally — give a plumber the most room to save. Use the cost-of-living calculator for a city-level rent and living-cost breakdown before deciding.
They are a model, not a per-role salary survey. Each figure is the country's primary-sourced national median wage (OECD, Eurostat, national statistical offices) scaled by the plumber skill premium and a tradability factor, then netted through WhereNext's tax engine. Treat them as a directional planning guide and verify any specific offer with the employer.
No. They model base salary with domestic resident tax only. Bonuses, equity and special expat regimes (e.g. Portugal's IFICI, Spain's Beckham Law, the US FEIE) can change take-home pay substantially.
Local-market salaries for the role in each country — not a foreign salary paid while living abroad. If you keep your current salary and relocate, use the salary calculator's remote-worker mode and check tax residency rules.