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How much does plumber service call and hourly rate cost in North Carolina?
Updated September 2026 · North Carolina price index 0.93 for plumbing work (national = 1.00)
In North Carolina, a licensed plumber typically charges $25 to $185 for a plumber's service call or hourly rate, with most jobs landing near $95 (per hour). That is about 7% below the national average of $25–$200, based on what plumbers earn in North Carolina.
AI-powered second opinion using these same North Carolina figures. No account, no card. Need someone to do the work? Verified pros in North Carolina took the Fair Price Pledge.
What a North Carolina quote means
| Quote for this job | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under $15 | Suspiciously low — ask what is excluded, and check licensing and insurance |
| $15 – $204 | Fair price — inside the typical range (up to 10% over the top is still normal) |
| $204 – $324 | Running high — get the quote itemized, and get a second one |
| Over $324 | Ripoff territory — more than 1.75× the high end of the typical range |
Same rules the QuoteJury checker uses on every quote.
What you're paying for
What is usually included: The trip and the first hour of diagnosis. Parts and repairs are quoted on top.
What moves the price:
- Flat trip or dispatch fees, sometimes waived if you approve the repair
- Journeyman versus master plumber rates and company size
- After-hours and weekend multipliers
- Flat-rate price books versus true hourly billing
Journeyman vs master plumber, metro vs rural market, whether the service fee is credited toward the repair, and after-hours/emergency multipliers of 1.5-3x.
Plumber service call and hourly rate cost across North Carolina
Typical range by metro and rural area, from BLS wage data for plumbers in each area.
| Area | Typical range | Most jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $25 – $190 | $95 |
| Burlington, NC | $25 – $180 | $90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $25 – $190 | $95 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $25 – $200 | $100 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $20 – $175 | $85 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $20 – $170 | $85 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $25 – $185 | $90 |
| Greenville, NC | $25 – $185 | $90 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $20 – $175 | $85 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $20 – $170 | $85 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $20 – $165 | $85 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $25 – $195 | $100 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $25 – $180 | $90 |
| Wilmington, NC | $25 – $180 | $90 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $20 – $170 | $85 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $20 – $175 | $90 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $20 – $165 | $80 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $20 – $180 | $90 |
Frequently asked
Is $95 a fair price for plumber service call and hourly rate in North Carolina?
Yes. $95 is right around what most homeowners in North Carolina pay. Anything from $15 to $204 is inside the normal range for a licensed plumber; above $204 it is worth getting a second quote.
Why do quotes for the same job vary so much?
Flat trip or dispatch fees, sometimes waived if you approve the repair. Journeyman versus master plumber rates and company size. Company overhead matters too: a large company with trucks, dispatchers and a warranty department charges more than a one-person shop, and both can be honest prices.
When should I get a second quote?
Any time a quote lands above $204, or when the contractor cannot break it into parts, labor and fees. Ask for the itemized version, ask what would change the price, and confirm licensing and insurance. You can also paste the quote into the free QuoteJury checker for an instant second opinion.
Other plumbing jobs in North Carolina
- Gas water heater replacement (40–50 gallon tank)
- Electric water heater replacement (40–50 gallon tank)
- Gas tankless water heater installation
- Garbage disposal replacement
- Kitchen faucet replacement
- Toilet replacement
- Running or leaking toilet repair
- Clogged drain cleaning
- Sewer line camera inspection
- Sewer line hydro jetting
- Sump pump replacement
- Water pressure regulator (PRV) replacement
- Main water shutoff valve replacement
- Leaking pipe repair
- Water heater expansion tank installation
Plumber service call and hourly rate in other states
United States (national) · Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Sources
- HomeGuide (2023): $45–$150 nationally
- Angi (2026): $45–$200 nationally
- Fixr (2025): $75–$150 nationally
- Forbes Home (2025): $45–$200 nationally
- This Old House (2026): $25–$200 nationally
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — median hourly wages by state and metro area
About these numbers. Ranges are typical market rates for a licensed, insured contractor, blended from published U.S. cost guides and adjusted with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (OEWS, May 2025) for each state and metro area. They are estimates, not a bid, appraisal or inspection. Real prices move with parts, access, permits and code requirements. The quote checker is AI-powered and labeled as such.