Hiring for plumbing work in Houston? Start with the facts that are specific to Houston and Texas: who licenses the work, how to check a license, where permits come from, and what the local market looks like. Every figure below links to its official source.
Before you hire in Houston: a checklist
- Look the plumber up in the official Texas license lookup and make sure the name and license number match the contract.
- Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage before work starts.
- Confirm who will pull the permit with City of Houston Permitting Center and that final inspection is included in the price.
- Get at least three written quotes for the same scope; our plumbing guide covers typical costs, questions to ask and red flags.
Plumbing licensing in Texas
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses and regulates the plumbing trade in Texas. Its public license search lets homeowners look up a plumber's license.
| Who licenses it | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) |
|---|---|
| Check a license | Official license lookup (vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov) |
Source: tsbpe.texas.gov, checked November 15, 2026. Rules change; confirm with the agency before you sign a contract.
Building permits in Houston
Residential building permits for Houston are issued by City of Houston Permitting Center. Permits are commonly required for water heaters, gas lines and repiping. Ask your contractor who will pull the permit and book the inspections; a contractor who asks you to pull it yourself is a warning sign.
Official permit office page, checked November 15, 2026.
Houston's plumbing market: firms and pay
Census County Business Patterns counted 1,187 business locations with paid employees in Harris County in 2023 in the industry βplumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors,β employing 19,695 people. The median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area was $61,300 (May 2025), close to the middle of the 108 metro areas we cover. Local pay levels feed directly into labor rates on quotes.
| Business locations (plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors) in Harris County | 1,187 |
|---|---|
| People employed at those locations | 19,695 |
| Share with fewer than 10 employees | 73% |
| Average annual payroll per employee | $75,700 |
| Median annual wage, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area | $61,300 |
Census counts plumbing and HVAC contractors together in one industry. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 238220; employer establishments only, so self-employed one-person businesses are not counted); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Checked November 15, 2026.
Seasonal notes for Texas
Warm, humid conditions in Texas can speed corrosion and encourage slow leaks under sinks and around water heaters. A yearly look at supply lines and the water heater is cheap insurance.
Other trades in Houston
More Houston guides
Plumbing in other cities
AllCityPros is an independent information resource. We do not endorse, rate or vouch for any business, and nothing here is legal or professional advice. Licensing rules change; confirm requirements with the licensing agency before you sign a contract. Business counts and wages are official statistics for the county or metro area, not counts of businesses available to you.