Quick answer: To become a plumber in 2026, you finish high school or a GED, complete a four-to-five-year apprenticeship that combines paid on-the-job training (often around 8,000 hours) with classroom instruction, pass your state's exam to become a licensed journeyman, and later qualify as a master plumber. Like other trades, you earn while you learn, so you can train with little or no debt. Plumbers earn a median of about $62,970 a year (BLS, May 2024). Here is the full path.
Plumbing is one of the most secure skilled trades there is. Every building needs it, the work cannot be offshored, and a licensed plumber is hard to replace. The pay reflects that, and the path in does not require a four-year degree or the debt that comes with one.
But "how to become a plumber" has real steps, and the licensing details depend on your state. This guide lays out the path in plain order: what to do first, how long each stage takes, what it costs, and what you can earn.
State-by-state note: licensing rules, required hours, and exams are set at the state (and sometimes city) level and change over time. Treat the steps below as the general national path, and confirm the specifics with your state's licensing board.
What a plumber actually does
Plumbers install and repair the piping systems that carry water, gas, and waste in homes, businesses, and industry. Most specialize over time:
- Residential plumbers work in homes (repairs, fixtures, remodels).
- Commercial plumbers work in larger buildings and systems.
- Pipefitters and steamfitters work on industrial and high-pressure systems, and often earn the most.
You do not have to pick on day one, but it helps to know the branches.
The step-by-step path to becoming a plumber
Step 1: Finish high school or get a GED
You need a high school diploma or GED to start an apprenticeship. Math (especially measurements and basic algebra), along with any shop classes, helps more than people expect.
Step 2: Choose your entry route
Two common ways in: - Apprenticeship (most common): work as a paid apprentice under a licensed plumber while taking classroom instruction. You earn from day one. - Trade school first: some people complete a plumbing program before or during an apprenticeship. It teaches fundamentals and can count toward some requirements, but it costs tuition and you are not earning during it.
Most choose the apprenticeship for the earn-while-you-learn advantage. (See our companion guide, [apprenticeship vs trade school].)
Step 3: Complete a plumbing apprenticeship
Apprenticeships run through union programs (such as the UA) and non-union contractor programs.
- Length: typically four to five years, combining classroom instruction with thousands of hours of paid on-the-job training. Many states set a specific requirement; Massachusetts, for example, requires no less than 8,000 supervised hours as a licensed apprentice.
- You earn while you train, at a rising percentage of a journeyman's wage.
- How to land one: apply to local union halls, contractors, or your state apprenticeship office. Apply broadly; spots can be competitive.
Step 4: Become a licensed journeyman plumber
After completing your hours and classroom work, you pass your state's journeyman exam (covering plumbing code, safety, and practical knowledge).
- A journeyman can work independently under a licensed contractor and take on larger jobs.
- This is a meaningful pay step up from apprentice.
Step 5: Qualify as a master plumber (higher pay)
After a few years of journeyman experience (commonly two to five years, depending on the state), you can sit for the master plumber exam, which covers complex systems, advanced code, and business rules.
- A master plumber can pull permits, supervise others, and run a plumbing business.
- This is the path to the highest pay and to working for yourself. The full beginner-to-master timeline often runs five to ten years.
Step 6: Start finding steady work
Licensed, the job becomes keeping the work coming in. You can work for an established plumbing contractor for a steady wage, or take your own jobs and gigs for a higher ceiling.
Either way, a free platform like Qiggz helps you find local plumbing jobs and gigs without paying to apply. Browse plumber jobs or create your free profile.
How long it takes and what it costs
| Stage | Typical time | Cost | You earn? |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school / GED | varies | low | no |
| Apprenticeship | ~4 to 5 years (thousands of OJT hours) | low (you are paid) | yes |
| Journeyman license | exam after apprenticeship | exam + license fees | yes |
| Master license | ~2 to 5 years after journeyman | exam + license fees | yes (more) |
The headline is the same as other trades: most of your training happens while you are earning, so plumbing is a low-debt route into a skilled, well-paid career.
What plumbers earn
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn a median of about $62,970 a year (BLS, May 2024), with the top 10 percent earning more than $105,150. Pay rises with each license step, and industrial pipefitting and steamfitting often pay above residential plumbing. For how plumbing compares to other trades, see the highest-paying trade jobs guide.
The bottom line
Becoming a plumber in 2026 is a clear, debt-light path into a trade that will always be in demand: finish school, complete an apprenticeship while earning, pass your journeyman exam, and climb toward master and, if you want, your own business. The median pay sits comfortably above the typical US wage, and the ceiling keeps rising as you specialize and take on your own work.
When you are ready to work, Qiggz helps plumbers find local jobs and gigs for free, with no fees to apply. Find plumbing work near you or create your free profile.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a plumber?
Usually four to five years through an apprenticeship to reach licensed journeyman level, combining classroom work with thousands of paid on-the-job hours. Becoming a master plumber typically takes another two to five years of experience, so the full path often runs five to ten years.
Do you need a license to be a plumber?
In most states, yes. You generally need a journeyman license to work independently and a master license to pull permits or run a plumbing business. Requirements are set by your state, so check your state's licensing board.
How much does it cost to become a plumber?
Far less than a four-year degree, because apprenticeships pay you while you train. Your main costs are tools, any trade-school or classroom fees, and exam and license fees. Many plumbers finish with little or no debt.
How much do plumbers make?
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn a median of about $62,970 a year (BLS, May 2024), with the top 10 percent earning more than $105,150. Industrial pipefitting and steamfitting tend to pay the most.
How do plumbers find work after getting licensed?
By working for a plumbing contractor for steady pay, or taking their own jobs and gigs for a higher ceiling. Qiggz helps plumbers find local work free, with no fees to apply, so you can keep a steady pipeline. Browse plumber jobs.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, Occupational Outlook Handbook (median annual wage $62,970; top 10% over $105,150; May 2024).
- U.S. Department of Labor, Apprenticeship.gov (registered apprenticeship structure). Apprenticeship hours reflect common program and state standards (for example, Massachusetts requires no less than 8,000 supervised apprentice hours); exact requirements vary by state and program.
