Plumber
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair piping fixtures and systems.
What the job is
- The work
- Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair piping fixtures and systems.
BLS
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- How people get in
- Most plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters train in a paid 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, then pass a licensing exam to become journey-level workers. Most states and some cities require plumbers to be licensed.
- Good fit for
- Students who want a licensed trade in commercial and residential piping systems.
- Career cluster
- Construction
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaLicense rules
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaLicense rules
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisLicense rules
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkState guide
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioLicense rules
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasLicense rules
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025.
- Median pay
- $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour)
BLS
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 510,600
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Training after hire
- Apprenticeship
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +7%, which BLS calls "much faster than average"
BLS
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +34,500 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
Tools overview
BLS does not publish what a starter tool set costs. Ask the school or apprenticeship sponsor which tools you must buy before you enrol.
- Plumbers' tools include drills, saws, welding torches, press fitting tools and drain cleaning tools.
BLS
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes, step by step, and the state licensing rules are on one page.
Plumber: apprenticeship to journey level and master
See the roadmap
Route 1: Apprenticeship, exam, journey level · Route 2: Vocational-technical school first
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses. All trades