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Bathroom Labor Cost Index by State

By Bath Cost Index Research TeamData: BLS OEWS 2025Updated September 19, 2026

Quick answer. Bathroom trades earn the most in Hawaii (index 134.7) and the least in Arkansas (73.1), measured against a U.S. average of 100. 17 of 51 jurisdictions sit above the national average. The index averages state mean hourly wages for seven bathroom occupations against the national mean, on May 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

134.7

Highest: Hawaii

73.1

Lowest: Arkansas

17/51

Above the U.S. average

Occupations in the index

All states, ranked

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. U.S. average = 100. Wages are what workers earn, not what contractors charge.
State	Index	Plumber mean hourly	Occupations
Hawaii	134.7	$39.81	7
Illinois	124.6	$44.91	7
Washington	123.3	$42.69	7
Massachusetts	122.2	$43.46	7
New Jersey	121.9	$44.51	7
Alaska	118.5	$43.49	6
California	116.7	$39.58	7
New York	116.1	$40.29	7
Oregon	115.4	$47.33	7
District of Columbia	112.8	$43.85	5
Minnesota	112.4	$41.68	7
Connecticut	108.3	$36.25	7
Missouri	105.0	$36.06	7
Nevada	104.8	$34.38	7
Wisconsin	104.8	$40.73	7
Maine	104.5	$32.00	7
Pennsylvania	103.3	$37.05	7
Rhode Island	99.9	$39.23	7
Montana	98.2	$37.59	7
Michigan	98.0	$37.14	7
Colorado	97.0	$33.22	7
Ohio	96.9	$33.51	7
Indiana	96.7	$36.37	7
New Hampshire	96.7	$31.84	7
Maryland	96.6	$35.34	7
Vermont	96.3	$33.16	7
Delaware	94.0	$32.75	6
Iowa	93.0	$33.67	7
North Dakota	91.7	$31.81	7
Arizona	90.5	$32.66	7
Kansas	88.9	$34.33	7
Nebraska	88.3	$31.59	7
Wyoming	88.0	$29.76	6
Utah	87.7	$30.87	7
Virginia	87.0	$29.16	7
Kentucky	85.7	$33.11	7
Idaho	84.8	$28.10	7
West Virginia	84.8	$28.26	6
Georgia	84.2	$27.99	7
New Mexico	84.1	$29.71	7
South Dakota	83.6	$26.70	7
Tennessee	82.2	$29.09	7
South Carolina	82.0	$26.87	7
Florida	81.9	$26.94	7
Texas	81.9	$29.22	7
Oklahoma	81.6	$28.35	7
Louisiana	81.1	$30.11	7
North Carolina	78.8	$27.27	7
Alabama	76.7	$27.77	7
Mississippi	75.9	$27.25	7
Arkansas	73.1	$24.35	7

How the index is built

For each state we take the mean hourly wage BLS publishes for plumbers, tile and stone setters, electricians, carpenters, painters, drywall installers and construction laborers, divide each by the national mean for the same occupation, and average the seven ratios. Where BLS withholds a figure for a state, that occupation is left out and the state page says so. The full method is on the methodology page.

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FAQ

Which state has the most expensive bathroom labor?

Hawaii, at an index of 134.7 against a U.S. average of 100, on May 2025 BLS mean hourly wages for seven bathroom trades.

Which state has the cheapest bathroom labor?

Arkansas, at 73.1. That is 26.9% below the national average across the occupations BLS publishes for that state.

How many states are above the national average?

17 of 51 jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia, sit above 100 on this index.

Does a higher index mean my remodel costs more?

It means the labor half of a quote starts higher. Materials, permits, overhead and profit are separate, and contractor rates are not the same as wages.