# How to Become a Plumber

[Skilled trade guides](/trades/)

Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair piping systems that carry water, gas, and steam in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Median pay is **$63,800 per year** ($30.67/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025.

      2025 median pay$63,800/year ($30.67/hour)
      Entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalent
      Training pathApprenticeship (typically 4-5 years)
      Job outlook7% growth 2025-35; about 42,000 openings a year
      Jobs in the US480,000+

## The path in, step by step

- Earn a high school diploma; chemistry and physics help.
- Enter a 4-to-5-year apprenticeship through a union (UA) local, a PHCC chapter, or a plumbing contractor. Some states let you start as a registered apprentice with no test.
- Log roughly 7,500 to 10,000 on-the-job hours plus classroom hours, with pay increasing each year.
- Pass your state's journeyman plumber exam; master plumber licensure follows with more experience.

## How long it takes

4 to 5 years to journeyman; longer to master.

## What it costs

Apprenticeships are usually free to the trainee beyond tools and fees; trade school tuition varies widely.

## What working tradespeople say

- Plumbing cannot be offshored and resists automation, which is why veterans call it recession-resistant.
- Service and repair plumbers often out-earn new-construction plumbers; consider where you want to specialize.
- Get your apprentice card early even if you start digging ditches; hours only count once you are registered.
- Backflow certification and medical gas certification are lucrative add-ons later.

## Run your own numbers

See what the hourly rate means per paycheck with our [salary to hourly calculator](/salary-hourly/), and compare lifetime earnings against a college path with the [compound interest calculator](/compound-interest/) (four years of earning vs four years of tuition changes the math dramatically). When you are job hunting, our [resume templates](/resume-templates/) and [cover letter examples](/cover-letter-examples/) are free.

## More trade guides

- [**Electrician**$63,190/yr median](/trades/electrician/)
- [**HVAC Technician**$61,010/yr median](/trades/hvac-technician/)
- [**Welder**$53,750/yr median](/trades/welder/)
- [**Carpenter**$60,580/yr median](/trades/carpenter/)
- [**Auto Mechanic**$50,620/yr median](/trades/auto-mechanic/)
- [**Ironworker**$62,780/yr median](/trades/ironworker/)
- [**Solar Installer**$53,140/yr median](/trades/solar-installer/)
- [**Truck Driver (CDL)**$58,640/yr median](/trades/truck-driver/)
- [**Boilermaker**$76,410/yr median](/trades/boilermaker/)
- [**Elevator Installer**$109,910/yr median](/trades/elevator-installer/)
- [**Sheet Metal Worker**$61,800/yr median](/trades/sheet-metal-worker/)

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does plumber pay?

The national median is $63,800 per year ($30.67/hour) as of May 2025, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half earn more, half earn less; apprentices start lower and experienced specialists earn much more.

### Do I need college to get into the trades?

No. Every trade on this page lists a high school diploma or a short certificate as the entry credential. The training happens through paid apprenticeships or trade school, not four-year degrees.

### How long does it take to become a plumber?

4 to 5 years to journeyman; longer to master.

### Union or non-union: which is better?

Union apprenticeships generally pay more during training and offer stronger benefits and pensions, but can have waitlists. Non-union paths through contractor associations or direct hire can start faster. Many successful tradespeople do both over a career.

### Will AI replace trade jobs?

Physical trades that work in unpredictable real-world environments (wiring buildings, fixing pipes, driving trucks) are among the hardest jobs to automate. The BLS projects continued openings driven mostly by retirements.