trades · United States edition
It’s easy to be a Plumber.
Becoming a plumber requires a high school diploma, a four- to five-year paid apprenticeship (roughly 8,000 on-the-job hours plus classroom instruction), and a journeyman license in most states. Median pay was $62,970 in May 2024 per BLS, with the top 10 percent earning over $105,150. Out-of-pocket costs stay low because apprentices earn wages while training.
Last verified Version 1By Editorial Team
Key facts
United States- Median salary (2024)
$62,970/yr
Range $40,670 – $105,150
- Time to qualify
2–5 years
Four to five years from starting a paid apprenticeship to a journeyman license is typical. A few states (such as Alabama) allow the journeyman exam after two to three years of documented experience, and master licensure adds one to five more years of journeyman-level work.
- Cost to qualify
$0 – $25,000
A registered apprenticeship can cost nearly nothing out of pocket: typical program fees, books, and starter hand tools run about $500–$2,500, and apprentices earn wages (roughly 50–60% of journeyman rate, rising to ~85%) throughout. Optional trade-school certificates cost about $1,000–$3,000; associate degree programs run $3,000–$23,000. State journeyman exam and initial license fees range from about $80 in Texas ($40 exam plus $40 initial license) to roughly $300 depending on the state, with renewals of roughly $40–$200 every one to two years.
- Job outlook (2024–2034)
+4% growth
About 44,000 openings per year
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (Employment Projections 2024–34)
All figures apply to United States. Salaries, licensing, and timelines differ by country — where other editions exist, switch between them at the top of the page.
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How to become a Plumber — step by step
- 1
Earn a high school diploma or GED By age 17–18 (concurrent)
Finish high school or a GED, prioritizing algebra, geometry, physics, and any shop or drafting classes. These directly map to the trade math and blueprint reading tested later in apprenticeship classes and the journeyman exam.
- 2
Optionally complete a pre-apprenticeship or trade school certificate 4 months – 1 year (optional)
A $1,000–$3,000 certificate program (4 months to 1 year) is not required, but it can move you up apprenticeship waitlists, and some programs count toward required classroom hours. Skip the $20,000+ degree unless an employer is paying.
- 3
Apply to a registered apprenticeship 1–6 months
Apply through a UA union local, a non-union sponsor such as PHCC or ABC chapters, or directly with plumbing companies that register apprentices with the state. Expect an aptitude test and interview; competitive union locals often have waitlists.
- 4
Complete the paid apprenticeship 4–5 years
Work roughly 1,700–2,000 paid on-the-job hours per year under licensed plumbers while attending about 144–246 classroom hours per year covering the state plumbing code, blueprint reading, safety, and trade math. Pay starts near 50–60 percent of journeyman rate and steps up annually to about 85 percent. Keep meticulous records of every supervised hour.
- 5
Pass the journeyman exam and get licensed 1–3 months
Apply to your state licensing board, document your hours, and pass the journeyman exam, which leans heavily on the state plumbing code book. Exam and initial license fees typically run $80–$300 combined depending on the state.
- 6
Work as a journeyman and pick a specialty 1–5 years
Build speed and depth in service and repair, new construction, or commercial work. Add-on credentials such as medical gas certification or backflow-prevention testing raise billable rates and hourly pay.
- 7
Optionally earn a master plumber license or open a shop 1–5 years (optional)
Most states require one to five years as a journeyman before the master exam. A master license lets you pull permits, supervise apprentices, and run your own plumbing business — the most common route to incomes well above the BLS 90th percentile of $105,150.
Requirements to be a Plumber
- High school diploma or GEDeducationRequired
Needed to enter most registered apprenticeships. Algebra and basic geometry are used daily for pipe measurement, slope, and grading, so math coursework matters more than GPA.
- Registered apprenticeship or equivalent supervised hoursexperienceRequired
Typically four to five years combining about 1,700–2,000 paid on-the-job hours per year with roughly 144–246 classroom hours per year (state plumbing code, blueprint reading, OSHA safety, trade math). Many states require about 8,000 total supervised hours before the journeyman exam (Texas, for example), though a few accept less.
- State journeyman plumber licenselicenseRequired
Required in most states to work unsupervised; the exam tests the state plumbing code, isometric drawings, and trade knowledge. A handful of states delegate plumber licensing to cities or counties, so verify with your state licensing board.
- Trade school certificate or associate degreeeducationOptional
Optional. Can strengthen apprenticeship applications and shorten waitlists, and some programs count toward required classroom hours, but school alone does not replace the supervised work hours states require for licensure.
- Master plumber licenselicenseOptional
Needed in most states to pull permits, supervise journeymen, or own a plumbing business. Usually requires one to five years of journeyman experience plus a second exam and, in many states, proof of insurance.
- Physical stamina and customer-service skillsskillRequired
The job involves lifting 50+ pounds, kneeling, and working in confined or dirty spaces daily. Service plumbers also diagnose problems aloud, quote prices, and manage sometimes-stressed homeowners.
- OSHA 10/30 safety trainingcertificationOptional
Commonly built into apprenticeship curricula and frequently requested by commercial contractors; inexpensive to obtain independently.
A day in the life of a Plumber
A service plumber's day usually starts between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., loading the van and checking dispatched calls. A typical day mixes three to six jobs: a water heater swap, a slab-leak diagnosis, a clogged main line, a faucet rebuild. Much of the work happens in crawlspaces, attics, and unfinished basements — kneeling, lifting 50-plus pounds, and working in tight, sometimes dirty spaces. New-construction plumbers instead spend full days roughing in pipe on job sites, reading prints, and coordinating with other trades. Service work adds a customer-facing layer: explaining problems, quoting prices, and handling the occasional upset homeowner. Days run 8–10 hours, and many shops rotate on-call duty for nights and weekends, because burst pipes do not keep business hours. Apprentices add classroom sessions two evenings a week during the school year.
Is it worth it to be a Plumber?
Plumbing is worth it for people who want a six-figure ceiling without student debt: apprentices earn wages from day one, median pay was $62,970 in May 2024, the top 10 percent cleared $105,150, and master plumbers who own shops earn more. It is also one of the most AI- and automation-resistant careers — no robot replaces a water heater in a crawlspace. It is not worth it if you cannot accept physical wear (knees, backs, and shoulders take cumulative damage), on-call emergency work, sewage, and confined spaces. The first two apprentice years pay modestly, around 50–60 percent of journeyman rates, and the highest incomes usually require running a business, which adds estimating, hiring, and insurance burdens many tradespeople dislike. Compared with a four-year degree, the ROI is strong: you finish licensed, experienced, and debt-free while degree-holding peers are often still paying off loans.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying $15,000–$25,000 for a plumbing degree in the belief it is mandatory — paid apprenticeships teach the same material at near-zero cost, and supervised work hours, not classroom credentials, are what state licensing boards actually count.
- Failing to document work hours under a licensed plumber; undocumented or unsupervised hours frequently do not count toward journeyman licensure and can add years to the path.
- Quitting in the first two years, when apprentice pay is at its lowest (roughly 50–60 percent of journeyman rate) and the daily work is mostly digging, hauling pipe, and cleanup rather than skilled installation.
- Training in one state without checking license reciprocity — plumbing licenses often do not transfer, and relocating can mean retaking exams or re-documenting thousands of hours.
- Failing the journeyman exam by practicing hands-on skills instead of studying the state plumbing code book, which is what most exam questions actually test.
- Jumping straight from a new journeyman license to opening a one-truck business without learning estimating, pricing, and cash-flow management — undercapitalized solo shops fail at high rates.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a plumber?
Most people become licensed journeyman plumbers in four to five years through a paid apprenticeship combining about 2,000 on-the-job hours per year with classroom instruction. A few states allow the journeyman exam after two to three years of documented experience. Reaching master plumber status typically adds one to five more years of journeyman work.
How much do plumbers make?
The median wage for U.S. plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $62,970 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned under $40,670 and the highest 10 percent earned over $105,150. Master plumbers who own their own shops can earn well beyond the 90th percentile.
Do you need a degree to become a plumber?
No degree is required. The standard path is a high school diploma or GED followed by a paid four- to five-year apprenticeship. Trade-school certificates ($1,000–$3,000) are optional and can help you land an apprenticeship slot, but they do not replace the supervised work hours state licensing boards require.
Do plumbers need a license in every state?
Most states license plumbers at the state level through an apprentice–journeyman–master ladder, but requirements vary widely in required hours, exams, and fees. A handful of states leave plumber licensing to cities or counties. Licenses often do not transfer automatically between states, so check your state board before counting hours.
Will AI or automation replace plumbers?
Plumbing is among the least automation-exposed occupations because the work happens in unpredictable physical environments — crawlspaces, finished walls, and trenches — that machines cannot navigate. The BLS projects 4 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034 with about 44,000 openings per year, driven largely by retirements and steady repair demand.
Is plumbing hard on your body?
Yes. The work involves daily kneeling, crawling, lifting 50 or more pounds, and holding awkward positions, and cumulative wear on knees, backs, and shoulders is real over a 20–30 year career. Many plumbers move into supervisory, inspection, estimating, or business-owner roles in their 40s and 50s to get off the tools.
Sources
Every figure on this page traces to one of these primary sources.
- 1Journeyman Plumber License Requirements — Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners · accessed June 15, 2026
- 2O*NET OnLine Summary Report: 47-2152.00 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor · accessed June 15, 2026
- 3Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 47-2152 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · accessed June 15, 2026
- 4Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · accessed June 15, 2026
- 5Plumbing Apprenticeship Program — PHCC Academy (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association) · accessed June 15, 2026
- 6Plumbing License Requirements for All 50 States — ServiceTitan · accessed June 15, 2026
- 7Plumbing School Cost: What to Expect and How to Budget — Trade-Schools.net · accessed June 15, 2026