How we built these numbers

Google names a low price and a high price for each search. We pick the middle. We blend eight plumbing searches. We give more weight to the searches people type more often in the US.

Then we guess. If about 10–25% of clicks become a lead, you get the lead range. If about 40–70% of those leads book a job, you get the job range. We reuse those guesses. We did not listen to your phones.

We pull Google’s prices about once a month. The government updates shop counts and wages about once a year.

  • Google named these suggested prices for plumbing searches in 2026-09-17.
  • The Census counted plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning companies in 2023.
  • The government measured what receptionists earn in 2024.

Where Google charges the most

City Google may charge vs rest of US You might spend per lead Shops nearby
Phoenix $81.34 +122% $325–$813 1,737
Denver $72.41 +97% $290–$724 1,183
Seattle $63.82 +74% $255–$638 1,064
Las Vegas $60.05 +64% $240–$600 631
Austin $55.47 +51% $222–$555 825
San Antonio $52.81 +44% $211–$528 786
Los Angeles $51.80 +41% $207–$518 3,793
Tampa $50.38 +37% $202–$504 1,429
San Diego $49.77 +36% $199–$498 1,072
Charlotte $42.87 +17% $171–$429 960
Dallas $42.61 +16% $170–$426 2,412
Nashville $41.14 +12% $165–$411 589
Atlanta $40.70 +11% $163–$407 1,821
Orlando $39.97 +9% $160–$400 967
Houston $37.22 +1% $149–$372 1,909
Chicago $28.47 -22% $114–$285 3,042
Miami $27.78 -24% $111–$278 2,638
Boston $26.10 -29% $104–$261 2,169
Philadelphia $25.07 -32% $100–$251 2,118
New York $14.46 -61% $57.84–$145 7,640

People ask

Do plumbers actually pay this for a lead?

No. Google names a price it thinks a click might cost. We mix eight plumbing searches to get one US number. Then we guess: if 10 to 25 clicks out of 100 become a lead, you might spend $147–$367. That is a planning range. It is not a bill.

Why does Phoenix cost so much more than New York?

Companies bid against each other. In some cities that fight costs more. In these numbers, Phoenix costs more than five times New York.

Did the Census count only plumbers?

No. The Census counted plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning companies. HVAC shops sit in that total.

How often do you update this?

We pull Google’s prices about once a month. The Census and the wage survey update about once a year.