How long is a plumbing apprenticeship?
A plumbing apprenticeship is usually 4 or 5 years, and apprentices complete about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year along with technical instruction, according to BLS.[ooh_plumb] The same path leads to pipefitting and steamfitting, which BLS counts in the same occupation.
Registered programs follow federal standards: at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning for a time-based program, a recommended 144 hours of related instruction per year, and a written, rising wage schedule.[ecfr295] The sponsor’s own standards set the exact hours and steps, so ask for them before you sign.
| Item | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 or 5 years[ooh_plumb] |
| Paid work | About 2,000 hours a year[ooh_plumb] |
| Classes | 144 hours per year recommended for registered programs[ecfr295] |
| Pay | Written schedule that rises with skill; at least the FLSA minimum wage where it applies[ecfr295] |
| After completion | Most states and some localities require a plumbing license[ooh_plumb] |
Registered pipe-trades programs listed by Washington’s state workforce board are at the long end: 5 years and 10,000 hours for plumbers and steamfitters, with no tuition listed.[s_cb389][s_cb2907][s_cb2782]
| Program | Length | Hours | Tuition listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber, Plumber CITC of Washington[s_cb389] | 5 years | 10,000 | $0 |
| Plumber, Greater Western Washington Pipe Trades[s_cb2907] | 5 years | 10,000 | $0 |
| Steamfitter, Eastern WA–NE Oregon Pipe Trades[s_cb2782] | 5 years | 10,000 | $0 |
Plumber apprentice pay
Plumber apprentice pay is set as a percentage of the journey-level rate in each program’s wage schedule; no federal table of percentages exists.[ecfr295] As an illustration, a 5-year ladder from 40% to 85% of the $30.67 national median rate pays:[onet_plumb]
| Year | Share | Hourly | Year’s pay (2,000 h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 40% | $12.27 | $24,538 |
| Year 2 | 51% | $15.72 | $31,440 |
| Year 3 | 63% | $19.17 | $38,341 |
| Year 4 | 74% | $22.62 | $45,243 |
| Year 5 | 85% | $26.07 | $52,144 |
| Total, 10,000 hours | 63% average | $191,707 |
Plumbers’ helpers, who assist without a structured program, earn a median of $42,360 ($20.37), about 66% of the plumber median.[onet_helpP] An apprentice’s final-year rate usually passes that, and completion opens the journey-level pay range on plumber salary.
Plumbing apprenticeship vs trade school first
An apprenticeship pays you while you learn; a trade-school certificate costs tuition up front but can shorten the time to your first job. The right choice depends on whether a program near you has openings: registered programs are listed on Apprenticeship.gov.[ra] Whichever you choose, the hours that count toward a license are set by your state, which is covered step by step on how to become a plumber.
Plumbing job outlook
BLS projects plumber, pipefitter and steamfitter jobs to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations, with about 42,000 openings each year.[ooh_plumb] The electrical trade follows a similar model; compare it on electrician apprenticeship, or see HVAC technician salary for a shorter-training mechanical trade.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a plumbing apprenticeship?
Typically 4 or 5 years, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year plus technical classes (BLS).
How much do plumbing apprentices make?
A rising share of the journey-level rate set by the program’s written wage schedule. In an example 5-year ladder from 40% to 85% of the $30.67 national median, pay goes from $12.27 to $26.07 an hour.
Do you need a license after a plumbing apprenticeship?
In most places, yes: BLS notes that most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed, usually after a set number of logged hours and an exam.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- 29 CFR 29.5, Standards of apprenticeship (2,000-hour minimum term; 144 hours related instruction recommended; progressive wage schedule)
- Registered Apprenticeship Program (paid job, progressive wages, related instruction, national credential)
- Plumber apprenticeship, Plumber CITC of Washington (5 years, 10,000 hours)
- Plumber apprenticeship, Greater Western Washington Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Committee (5 years, 10,000 hours)
- Steamfitter apprenticeship, Eastern Washington–Northeast Oregon Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Committee (5 years, 10,000 hours)
- Local Wages: 47-2152.00 Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 47-3015.00 Helpers, pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (state and metro percentiles)