Plumbing & Piping Subcontractor Bid & Labor Burden Calculator
Price plumbing jobs accurately by factoring true payroll burden, field overhead, and target gross profit margin.
Pre-loaded with Plumbing benchmarks (Workers' Comp: 5.5% – 9.5%)
FICA, SUTA + Workers' Comp (5.5% – 9.5%)
Plumbing Subcontract Proposal
Date: 11/12/2026
Plumbing Bid Summary
Raw Field Wages (80 hrs):$3,200.00
Burdened Labor (+28%):$4,096.00
Materials & Equipment:$5,350.00
Overhead Allocated (18%):$1,700.28
Break-Even Cost:$11,146.28
Projected Gross Profit (22%):+$3,143.82
Recommended Total Bid Price
$14,290.10
Estimated via SubShieldHQ.com • Valid for 30 days from proposal date.
Plumbing Labor Burden & Insurance Benchmarks
Plumbing labor burden includes FICA, SUTA, moderate workers' compensation, and specialized service truck/tool allowances.
Typical Workers' Comp Range: 5.5% – 9.5%
How should plumbing subcontractors calculate labor burden?
Combine employer FICA (7.65%), state/federal unemployment (2%–5%), plumbing workers' comp (5.5%–9.5%), and paid holidays/benefits—typically resulting in a 26% to 32% burden multiplier on base wages.
Common Plumbing Takeoff Materials
PEX/copper/PVC piping, cast iron fittings, valves, water heaters, fixtures
Common Plumbing Equipment & Rentals
Mini-excavators, press tools, hydro-jetters, inspection cameras, trench shoring