Plumbing
What Plumbing Graduates Do
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.
You’ll typically start as an apprentice, learning directly from experienced pros while earning a wage. After a few years, you become a licensed journeyman, tackling complex jobs independently as your income rises significantly. This is hands-on problem-solving that can’t be done from a desk or automated by an algorithm. With experience, you can advance to a supervisor leading a crew, a master plumber, or start your own business where your earning potential is highest. Demand is strong, with thousands of openings each year, and specialized paths like septic service are growing even faster.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 22 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Plumbing. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gas-Main Fitter
RAPIDS 964 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Marine Pipefitter (Existing Title: Pipe Fitter [Ship & Boat]) (Military Only)
RAPIDS 0412R2 |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipe Fitter (Construction)
RAPIDS 414 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipe Fitter (Existing Title: Pipe Fitter (Construction))
RAPIDS 0414HY |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipe Fitter (Existing Title: Pipe Fitter (Construction))
RAPIDS 0414CL |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipe Fitter (Ship & Boat)
RAPIDS 412 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipe Fitter - Sprinkler Fitter
RAPIDS 0414S-CL |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipe Fitter - Sprinkler Fitter
RAPIDS 0414S-R |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipefitting
RAPIDS **0414R |
7328 hrs
~3.7 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Pipefitting And/Or Plumbing
RAPIDS **0412R |
7328 hrs
~3.7 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Plumber
RAPIDS **0432R |
7328 hrs
~3.7 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Plumber
RAPIDS 432 |
8500 hrs
~4.2 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Plumber
RAPIDS 0432CL |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Plumber
RAPIDS 0432HY |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Plumber
RAPIDS 0432R1 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Prospecting Driller (Petro)
RAPIDS 416 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $65,010 – $82K | 0.2% |
|
Sprinkler Fitter (Existing Title: Pipe Fitter)
RAPIDS 0414R1-HY |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Sprinkler Fitter (Existing Title: Pipe Fitter)
RAPIDS 0414S |
8500 hrs
~4.2 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Steam Service Inspector
RAPIDS 460 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Temporary Services Pipefitter (Existing Title: Pipe Fitting And/Or Plumbing) (Military Only)
RAPIDS 0412R1 |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Utilities Systems Repair Operator (Dry Docks) (Existing Title: Pipe Fitter (Ship And Boat))(Military Only)
RAPIDS 0412R |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
|
Water Distribution Operator
RAPIDS 2092 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $62,970 – $82K | 4.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Plumbing
19 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL |
82 80–82 |
$82,055/yr | 186.3x |
| 2 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI |
81 80–82 |
$79,589/yr | 160.9x |
| 3 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN |
77 76–78 |
$82,191/yr | 90.7x |
| 4 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN |
71 70–71 |
$44,240/yr | 88.2x |
| 5 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN |
66 65–66 |
$40,030/yr | 67.1x |
| 6 | Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO |
63 62–64 |
$63,386/yr | — |
| 7 | Industrial Management Training Institute Waterbury, CT |
58 56–58 |
$42,300/yr | — |
| 8 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO |
57 56–57 |
$43,556/yr | 24.6x |
| 9 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA |
54 52–55 |
$35,730/yr | — |
| 10 | South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FL |
54 52–54 |
$35,252/yr | — |
| 11 | Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL |
54 52–54 |
$35,066/yr | — |
| 12 | Pennco Tech-Bristol Bristol, PA |
52 50–52 |
$31,668/yr | — |
| 13 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI |
50 48–51 |
$40,744/yr | 7.2x |
| 14 | Adult and Continuing Education-BCTS Hackensack, NJ |
50 49–51 |
$30,184/yr | — |
| 15 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY |
50 48–50 |
$29,497/yr | — |
| 16 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN |
48 46–49 |
$27,133/yr | — |
| 17 | Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Paterson, NJ |
46 45–47 |
$24,973/yr | — |
| 18 | Berk Trade and Business School Long Island City, NY |
45 43–45 |
$22,660/yr | — |
| 19 | NUC University Bayamon, PR |
41 41–42 |
$19,156/yr | 22.8x |
Highest Earning Plumbing Programs
Schools where Plumbing graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community College | $82,191/yr | 77 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | $82,055/yr | 82 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | $79,589/yr | 81 |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | $63,386/yr | 63 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | $44,240/yr | 71 |
| Ranken Technical College | $43,556/yr | 57 |
| Industrial Management Training Institute | $42,300/yr | 58 |
| New England Institute of Technology | $40,744/yr | 50 |
| Hennepin Technical College | $40,030/yr | 66 |
| Orleans Technical College | $35,730/yr | 54 |
Best ROI for Plumbing
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Plumbing.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | 186.3x | $82,055/yr | 82 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | 160.9x | $79,589/yr | 81 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | 90.7x | $82,191/yr | 77 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | 88.2x | $44,240/yr | 71 |
| Hennepin Technical College | 67.1x | $40,030/yr | 66 |
| Ranken Technical College | 24.6x | $43,556/yr | 57 |
| NUC University | 22.8x | $19,156/yr | 41 |
| New England Institute of Technology | 7.2x | $40,744/yr | 50 |
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