Plumbing at Berk Trade and Business School

Long Island City, NY · Private for-profit · Certificate · Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services

a compact campus enrolling 161 students in Long Island City, NY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $22,660/yr fall 47% below the $42,600 national median for Plumbing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Career paths for Plumbing carry above-average AI exposure (13% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

At $6,333 in median debt against $22,660 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #18 ranking among 19 Plumbing programs places Berk Trade and Business School in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $22,660-to-$41,720 earnings arc over five years reflects a 84% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 22 apprenticeship pathways connected to Plumbing reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

45 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
43
Low End
45
Score
45
High End
Earnings $22,660/yr (-47% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (87% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (125,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$398K
12.0% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
7 of 7
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$6,333
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,720
84% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Plumbing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers $78,690 +5.3% 57%
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas $65,010 +0.2% 95%
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters $62,970 +4.5% 95%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
$65,010
+0.2% growth 95% AI-proof
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
$62,970
+4.5% growth 95% AI-proof

View all 7 career paths with full salary data →

Plumbing Career Guide

Explore what Plumbing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 19 programs nationwide.

Read the full Plumbing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Plumbing Overview

Plumbing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Berk Trade and Business School

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Plumbing at Berk Trade and Business School?
At 45/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Plumbing programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Is Plumbing from Berk Trade and Business School a future-proof career choice?
Plumbing rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 13% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
How affordable is Plumbing at Berk Trade and Business School?
At $6,333 in median debt, Plumbing graduates from Berk Trade and Business School carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Is Berk Trade and Business School a good choice for Plumbing despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Berk Trade and Business School's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Plumbing graduates?
Beyond Berk Trade and Business School's classroom route, 22 registered apprenticeships map to Plumbing careers — including Gas-Main Fitter. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Is there demand for Plumbing workers?
The very large job market (125,700 annual openings) works in favor of Plumbing graduates. The national outlook is driven by infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →