Plumber careers
Plumbers install and repair piping systems that carry water, gas, and waste in buildings and infrastructure.
What does a plumber do?
Plumbers install, inspect, and repair water, drainage, and other building piping, including fixtures and connections.
Work ranges from new building construction to service calls in occupied homes and businesses. Access to existing piping can make repair work different from installation.
Plumber career snapshot
- U.S. median annual pay
- $63,800 (May 2025)
- Projected U.S. employment change
- +7% (2025–35)
- Typical training path
- 4–5 yr apprenticeship
These national figures are context, not a guarantee of local pay or job availability. The linked BLS profile reports plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters together; the figures are not a plumber-only measure. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
How to get started
Look at how a path combines layout, pipe installation, safe testing, and supervised practice. Check state or local licensing rules rather than assuming one program qualifies everywhere.
Compare any program or apprenticeship with the BLS occupational profile and with current local employer requirements. Training routes can differ by location and employer.
Questions to ask before choosing training
- Does the training include both new construction and repair work?
- How is supervised experience documented for local licensing?
Find a real next step
Search nearby schools and apprenticeship sponsors, or browse current Plumber jobs. The map identifies institutions and registered sponsors; it does not confirm that a school teaches plumber or that a sponsor has an open position. Review each listing directly.