How to become a plumber

1. 1Finish high school or get a GED

   Time: 4 years (high school)Sources 1, 4

   Apprenticeship sponsors expect a high school diploma or equivalent, and United Association programs typically require applicants to be at least 18. Algebra matters more than people expect: you will calculate pipe offsets, grades on drain lines and pressure in your head. Shop, drafting and physics classes help too. A driver's license is worth getting early, since most employers require one to drive the service truck between jobs.

2. 2Consider a pre-apprenticeship or vo-tech course

   Time: A few months to 1 year (optional)Cost: $4,231/yr median public in-state tuitionSources 1, 7

   You do not need school to start, but a short program can make your application stronger. Vocational-technical schools teach pipe system basics, tool safety and blueprint reading, and some pipefitting and steamfitter apprenticeships want welding coursework first. Pre-apprenticeship programs and helper jobs are another way in. Ask local apprenticeship sponsors whether they give credit for prior training before you pay tuition.

3. 3Get into a registered apprenticeship

   Time: Application cycle of weeks to monthsCost: Usually no tuitionSources 4, 5

   Apprenticeships are sponsored by union locals, contractor associations and individual companies. Union programs often open applications once or twice a year, and the process may include an aptitude test, an interview and physical requirements. Non-union contractors may hire you as a helper and register you as an apprentice. In Texas, for example, you must be registered with the state board as a plumber's apprentice (or hold a tradesman license) to qualify for the journeyman exam.

4. 4Complete the apprenticeship

   Time: 4-5 yearsCost: Paid while trainingSources 1, 3

   Expect about 2,000 hours a year of paid work under a journey-level plumber plus technical classes on safety, plumbing codes, blueprint reading, math and basic physics and chemistry. United Association apprenticeships usually run five years. Pay rises as you complete each stage. The work is physical from the first week: digging, carrying pipe and working in crawlspaces in heat and cold.

5. 5Pass the journeyman exam and get licensed

   Time: A few monthsCost: Varies by state ($40 exam + $40 license in Texas)Sources 1, 5, 6

   Most states, and some cities, require a licensing exam on the plumbing code and practical knowledge before you work without direct supervision. Requirements are usually stated as hours or years of experience. Texas, for example, requires 8,000 hours of plumbing experience, a board-approved 48-hour training course unless you are in a federally approved apprenticeship, and fingerprints. Check your own board through the CareerOneStop License Finder.

6. 6Work toward master plumber status

   Time: Several more yearsCost: Exam and license feesSources 1, 5

   Journeymen with enough experience can sit for a master plumber exam. In many states, a master license is required to pull permits, take responsibility for a crew or run a plumbing contracting business, and some states add a separate contractor license with insurance requirements. Keep careful records of your hours from the start, since boards ask employers to certify them.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Troubleshooting

A slow drain or a pressure drop can start anywhere in the system, and plumbers have to test and rule out causes before they open a wall.

Code knowledge

Pipe sizing, venting, slope and backflow rules decide whether a job passes inspection, and the licensing exams test them directly.

Practical math

Plumbers figure offsets, drain slopes and fitting allowances on site so pipe meets exactly where it should.

Strength and flexibility

The work means carrying cast iron and steel pipe, digging and holding tools overhead in crawlspaces and attics.

Talking with customers

Service plumbers explain the problem, give a price and work inside people's homes, often when they are upset about water damage.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: critical thinking, monitoring, speaking, reading comprehension, active listening.

Training cost

$80–$4.3K

Before financial aid

Time

4-5 years

Typical path

Median pay

$63,800

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

Under 1 year

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: a union or employer apprenticeship with no tuition (the United Association describes its program as debt-free), plus Texas's journeyman exam application of $40 and initial license fee of $40 as an example of state fees. High: one year of a vo-tech plumbing certificate at the College Scorecard median public in-state tuition of $4,231, plus the same $80. Not included: tools, boots, books, any non-union program fees, and fees in other states, which vary.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Master plumber or plumbing contractor

  Takes several years as a licensed journeyman and a master exam; running your own shop may also need a contractor license and insurance.

• Construction manager$114,990 median

  Experienced plumbers can move into supervising crews and then managing projects; larger firms often prefer a construction management degree for the top roles.

• HVAC technician$61,010 median

  Pipefitters and steamfitters already work on heating and cooling piping; adding refrigerant handling certification and HVAC training opens service work.

• Plumbing designer

  Some plumbers move into designing systems for engineering firms, and the ASPE Certified in Plumbing Design credential requires years of design experience.