Plumbing at Orleans Technical College

Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services

Orleans Technical College's 50% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 245 in Philadelphia, PA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $35,730/yr fall 16% below the $42,600 national median for Plumbing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

With only 13% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 8%. Career paths for Plumbing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

At $7,521 in median debt against $35,730 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #10 out of 19 programs, Orleans Technical College's financial outcomes for Plumbing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $35,730 to $39,956 over five years (12% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

54 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
52
Low End
54
Score
55
High End
Earnings $35,730/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (87% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (125,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$406K
2.8% 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
$7,521
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,956
12% 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

See the full career breakdown for Plumbing — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Orleans Technical College and 18 other schools.

Read the full Plumbing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Plumbing Overview

Plumbing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Orleans Technical College

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 54/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Plumbing at Orleans Technical College?
At 54/100, the score looks reasonable — but Plumbing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Will AI replace Plumbing jobs?
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.
What's the typical debt for Plumbing graduates from Orleans Technical College?
Median debt of just $7,521 against $35,730/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why are Plumbing earnings lower at Orleans Technical College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Orleans Technical College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Plumbing?
Yes — 22 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Plumbing career paths, including Gas-Main Fitter. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Orleans Technical College.
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 →