Plumber key facts
- National median pay
- $63,800 per yearBLS, May 2025
- Projected growth
- 7%BLS, 2025 to 2035
- Annual openings
- 42,000BLS, 2025 to 2035 average
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent; most plumbers train through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship.
- Typical training route
- Registered apprenticeshipUsually 4–5 years
- Licensing note
- State/local plumbing licenseCommonly required
- Primary source
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Last verified
- Data verified September 2026 · BLS May 2025 wages · BLS 2025 to 2035 projections
Career overview
What does a plumber career actually involve?
Plumbers install and repair piping fixtures and systems that carry water, waste, gas and other materials through homes, commercial buildings, industrial facilities and infrastructure projects. The occupation overlaps with pipefitting and steamfitting in BLS national data.
Most plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters learn through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship. BLS says apprentices typically receive about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus technical instruction. Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed, but the exact path to journey or master status varies by jurisdiction.
Typical work
Read blueprints and determine pipe, fixture and system layouts.
Install and repair water, waste, gas and other piping systems.
Test systems for leaks and diagnose plumbing failures.
Work with local plumbing codes, safety requirements and permits.
Respond to maintenance calls, construction needs and emergency repairs.
Step-by-step path
How to enter this career
Finish high school or earn an equivalent credential
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education. Math, applied science, shop and technical courses can be useful preparation.
Find a registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship
Programs are sponsored by unions, trade associations and businesses. Some people enter directly; others start as helpers or complete pre-apprenticeship training first.
Search registered apprenticeshipsComplete 4–5 years of paid apprenticeship
BLS says most plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters learn through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship with about 2,000 paid on-the-job hours each year plus classroom instruction in safety, codes, blueprint reading, math and applied science.
Meet your local licensing requirements
Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed. BLS notes that jurisdictions often require 2 to 5 years of experience plus an exam before independent work, but rules vary significantly.
Find license requirementsAdvance toward master, contractor or specialty work
With experience, plumbers may move into supervision, estimating, commercial/industrial piping, fire-suppression systems, service management or master/contractor licensing where those credentials exist.
Pay, without the hype
How much does a plumber make?
The BLS national median for this occupation is $63,800 per year (May 2025 wages). Half of workers earn more and half earn less, so it is not a starting wage: the lowest-paid 10% earned under $44,150, and apprentices usually earn less than fully trained workers while they train.
Median pay in selected industries
BLS reports wages for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters as one occupational group. Apprentice pay is below fully trained worker pay and generally rises with progress. Emergency/on-call work, overtime, specialty, geography and licensing can change earnings. BLS OEWS estimates generally exclude self-employed workers.
Training choices
Compare the main routes into the field
Registered apprenticeship
Paid, structured skill developmentThe main route into the trade. Apprentices earn wages, complete field hours and receive technical instruction while progressing toward journey-level work.
Vocational school + apprenticeship
People who want fundamentals before applyingVocational-technical programs can teach pipe system design, safety, tool use and welding. School usually supplements rather than replaces the field experience needed for licensing.
Helper / pre-apprenticeship route
People who need an entry point into the industrySome workers begin as helpers or in pre-apprenticeship programs, then apply to a formal apprenticeship after demonstrating reliability and basic jobsite skills.
Licenses & credentials
What you may actually need to work
State/local plumbing license
Commonly requiredMost states and some localities require plumbing licenses. Experience, exam and master-level rules vary, so verify with the authority where you will work.
CareerOneStop license finderRegistered apprenticeship completion
Primary training routeCompleting apprenticeship is the common route to journey-level work, subject to state and local rules.
Apprenticeship.govSpecialty / contractor credentials
Jurisdiction-dependentMaster plumber, contractor, gas, backflow or specialty credentials may apply depending on the state, locality and type of work.
2025 to 2035 job outlook
What is driving demand?
BLS projects employment for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings per year on average.
Demand is expected to come from new construction plus ongoing maintenance and repair of existing plumbing systems. BLS also notes demand for sprinklerfitters tied to fire-suppression requirements in building codes.
Career fit
Who tends to fit this work — and what to consider first
This path may fit you if…
- You like practical troubleshooting and visible before-and-after results.
- You can work carefully with measurements, codes and system layouts.
- You are comfortable entering homes, businesses and active construction sites.
- You can handle physically active work, kneeling, lifting and tight spaces.
- You are interested in a path that can lead to service work, construction, supervision or business ownership.
Know the realities
- •Plumbers may work nights, weekends or on-call shifts for emergencies.
- •Licensing varies sharply by state and locality; verify before assuming one state's rules apply elsewhere.
- •The work can be physically demanding and sometimes messy or performed in cramped locations.
- •Some higher-earning paths depend on overtime, specialty work or business ownership and are not guaranteed by completing an apprenticeship alone.
One possible progression
Helper / pre-apprentice
Learn tools, materials, safety and jobsite expectations while preparing for apprenticeship.
Plumbing apprentice
Earn wages while completing supervised field hours and technical instruction.
Journey-level plumber
Perform broader work independently after completing training and required licensing steps.
Master / foreman / specialist
Pursue master-level credentials where available or move into supervision, commercial systems and specialty work.
Contractor / service business owner
Experienced plumbers may qualify for contractor licensing and build a service or construction business, depending on local rules.
Keep researching
Related TrainingForFuture guides
Head-to-head career comparisons
Compare plumber with a nearby choice.
See current BLS pay, growth, openings, training routes and work-style differences on one page.
State career intelligence
Compare pay and licensing across 10 states
National numbers are only the starting point. Open a state guide for May 2025 wage percentiles, the local licensing structure and official apprenticeship resources.
Source transparency
Where this guide gets its facts
TrainingForFuture prioritizes primary government and industry sources for pay, projections, licensing and certification. Data below was checked for this guide in September 2026.
Occupational Outlook Handbook — Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
May 2025 wages, 2025 to 2035 outlook, apprenticeship and licensing overview.
Open official source U.S. Department of LaborApprenticeship.gov
Registered apprenticeship information and opportunity search.
Open official source U.S. Department of LaborCareerOneStop License Finder
Starting point for state licensing; verify with the issuing authority.
Open official sourceFrequently asked questions
Quick answers
How long does it take to become a plumber?
BLS says most plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters learn through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, typically with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus technical instruction.
What is the national median plumber salary?
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $63,800 for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters. The lowest 10% earned less than $44,150 and the highest 10% earned more than $108,420.
Do plumbers need a college degree?
No four-year degree is typically required. A high school diploma or equivalent is the usual entry-level education, and apprenticeship is the most common training route.
Do plumbers need a license?
Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed. Experience and exam requirements vary, so verify the rules where you intend to work.
Is plumbing a growing career?
BLS projects 7% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 42,000 openings per year on average for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters.