How to Become a Plumber
Install and repair the piping systems behind water, gas, and heat, a trade with steady demand everywhere. It typically requires an apprenticeship / postsecondary certificate, with a median salary of $63,800 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$63,800/yr
Middle half
$50,190 to $85,110
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
44,000
Majors that lead here
Common majors include Plumbing Technology, Construction Trades.
Key skills
- Pipe Installation
- System Diagnosis
- Code Compliance
- Blueprint Reading
- Problem Solving
Helpful certifications
- Journeyman then Master Plumber license
Is this career a fit?
Work-life balance
58/100
Stress level
56/100
Related careers
- Electrical Engineering Technician$78,190 median
- Mechanical Engineering Technician$74,510 median
- Civil Engineering Technician$64,950 median
- Wind Turbine Technician$64,120 median
- Electrician$63,190 median
- HVAC Technician$61,010 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Plumber make?
The median pay for a Plumber is $63,800 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $50,190 and $85,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Plumber?
The usual entry point is an apprenticeship / postsecondary certificate. Common majors are Plumbing Technology and Construction Trades.
Is Plumber a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 44,000 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Plumber use most?
Common skills for this role are Pipe Installation, System Diagnosis, Code Compliance, Blueprint Reading, and Problem Solving.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).