Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services at Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, WI · Public · Certificate

with a mid-sized student body of 6,004 in Appleton, WI.

Program Analysis

At $79,589 per year, Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates from Fox Valley Technical College significantly outpace the $42,600 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 169.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

With only 13% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

Ranked #2 out of 19 programs, Fox Valley Technical College's Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

With 22 registered apprenticeships mapped to Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

81 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
81
Score
82
High End
Earnings $79,589/yr (87% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (87% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (125,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$833K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
169.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
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.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,916
Out-of-state: $7,109

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services 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 →

About Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services Careers

Your days will be a mix of new construction sites and residential service calls. You could be fitting copper pipes in a new high-rise, using a PEX crimper under a kitchen sink, or running a diagnostic camera down a drain line to pinpoint a stubborn clog. In related fields like septic and sewer service, you’ll operate powerful vacuum trucks and high-pressure water jets to maintain and repair crucial wastewater systems.

Read the full Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services Overview

Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fox Valley Technical College

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Fox Valley Technical College's Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services program score?
A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Fox Valley Technical College's Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How safe is Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services from automation?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
What makes Fox Valley Technical College's Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services program stand out?
The #2 ranking out of 19 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Can I learn Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 22 registered apprenticeships connected to Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services workers?
The career paths mapped to Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services have roughly 125,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →