Plumber
State-by-state licensing requirements, salary data, and career ROI
What Is a Plumber?
Plumbers install, repair, and maintain water supply lines, drainage systems, gas piping, and fixtures in residential and commercial buildings. Like electricians, most states use a tiered license system (apprentice through master) requiring years of supervised work. Plumbers also need EPA Section 608 certification for handling refrigerants in some crossover work.
The Landscape
Looking at the national picture for plumbers, clear regional patterns emerge regarding earning potential and regulatory landscapes. The Northeast and upper Midwest, including states like Illinois at $96,200, Oregon at $93,110, and Minnesota at $83,280, consistently offer top-tier median salaries. This often reflects higher costs of living and robust demand in dense urban centers, creating a competitive market for skilled trades.
However, not all high-paying states follow standard licensing models. New York, for instance, offers a median salary of $78,460 without a statewide license, meaning local city and county regulations are paramount and can be quite stringent, especially in metropolitan areas. In contrast, states like Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming also lack statewide licensing, but their plumbers earn closer to the national median or below, suggesting local oversight might be less rigorous or market demand is lower.
The journey to licensure itself varies significantly. While many states demand around 8,000 hours of experience, a few like Hawaii and New Jersey extend this to 10,000 hours, prolonging the apprenticeship path. Conversely, states such as Delaware, Kentucky, and Maine require as few as 4,000 hours, offering a quicker entry point into the profession, though often with lower initial earning potential.
Plumber by State
Click any state for detailed requirements, salary percentiles, and ROI analysis.
| State | License Required | Median Salary | vs. National | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | $53,840 | -14.5% | 2-3 years (Journeyman), 3-4 years (Master) |
| Alaska | Yes | $83,090 | +32.0% | 4 years (apprenticeship) or 8000 hours of experience |
| Arizona | Yes | $61,940 | -1.6% | Varies (typically 4 years experience + application/exam time) |
| Arkansas | Yes | $49,700 | -21.1% | 4 years for Journeyman, 5 years for Master |
| California | Yes | $68,390 | +8.6% | 4 years (experience) + a few weeks to a couple of months (application/exam process) |
| Colorado | Yes | $63,610 | +1.0% | 4 years of experience |
| Connecticut | Yes | $73,080 | +16.1% | 4-5 years |
| Delaware | Yes | $64,300 | +2.1% | 4-7 years (apprenticeship to Master Plumber) |
| District of Columbia | Yes | $81,950 | +30.1% | 4 years |
| Florida | Yes | $50,540 | -19.7% | 4 years |
| Georgia | Yes | $56,290 | -10.6% | 3-5 years |
| Hawaii | Yes | $78,540 | +24.7% | 5 years (apprenticeship) + application and exam processing time |
| Idaho | Yes | $57,380 | -8.9% | 4 years |
| Illinois | Yes | $96,200 | +52.8% | 4-6 years |
| Indiana | Yes | $64,560 | +2.5% | 4 years |
| Iowa | Yes | $61,230 | -2.8% | 4 years apprenticeship, plus 2 years as a journeyman for Master Plumber. |
| Kansas | No | $62,820 | -0.2% | Varies by jurisdiction |
| Kentucky | Yes | $62,370 | -1.0% | 2 years |
| Louisiana | Yes | $64,720 | +2.8% | 4-5 years |
| Maine | Yes | $61,890 | -1.7% | 2-4 years |
| Maryland | Yes | $63,270 | +0.5% | 4 years (apprenticeship) + 2 years (journeyman) |
| Massachusetts | Yes | $83,260 | +32.2% | At least 4 years for Journeyman, plus 1 year for Master |
| Michigan | Yes | $77,030 | +22.3% | 3 years (for Journey Plumber license) |
| Minnesota | Yes | $83,280 | +32.3% | 4 years (Journeyworker), 1 additional year (Master) |
| Mississippi | Yes | $57,960 | -8.0% | Varies (depends on experience and exam scheduling) |
| Missouri | No | $62,090 | -1.4% | Varies by jurisdiction |
| Montana | Yes | $77,930 | +23.8% | 5 years |
| Nebraska | No | $62,880 | -0.1% | Approximately 4 years for apprenticeship, plus additional experience for higher licenses. |
| Nevada | Yes | $60,120 | -4.5% | 4 years (Journeyman), 5 years (Master), 4 years (Contractor) |
| New Hampshire | Yes | $62,030 | -1.5% | 4 years apprenticeship + 6 months as Journeyman for Master Plumber |
| New Jersey | Yes | $77,160 | +22.5% | 5 years |
| New Mexico | Yes | $59,660 | -5.3% | 2 years (4000 hours) of experience |
| New York | No | $78,460 | +24.6% | Varies significantly by jurisdiction and license type (e.g., 7 years experience for Master Plumber in NYC) |
| North Carolina | Yes | $50,990 | -19.0% | 2 years experience + application and exam process |
| North Dakota | Yes | $62,670 | -0.5% | 4 years apprenticeship |
| Ohio | No | $62,530 | -0.7% | 5 years of experience prior to application |
| Oklahoma | Yes | $54,840 | -12.9% | 3 years |
| Oregon | Yes | $93,110 | +47.9% | 4 years |
| Pennsylvania | No | $66,650 | +5.8% | Varies by jurisdiction; typically 4 years for apprenticeship, plus 1-2 years as a journeyman for master license |
| Rhode Island | Yes | $64,630 | +2.6% | 4-5 years |
| South Carolina | Yes | $54,840 | -12.9% | 1-2 years (residential) or 2-4 years (commercial) |
| South Dakota | Yes | $50,790 | -19.3% | 4 years |
| Tennessee | Yes | $57,730 | -8.3% | Varies |
| Texas | Yes | $58,560 | -7.0% | Approximately 4 years of experience, plus application and exam processing time (typically 6-8 weeks for exam scheduling and 30 days for license arrival). |
| Utah | Yes | $61,680 | -2.0% | 4 years |
| Vermont | Yes | $60,550 | -3.8% | 4-6 years |
| Virginia | Yes | $59,560 | -5.4% | 4+ years |
| Washington | Yes | $79,070 | +25.6% | 4 years |
| West Virginia | Yes | $49,630 | -21.2% | 4-5 years (apprenticeship) |
| Wisconsin | Yes | $78,510 | +24.7% | 5 years (apprenticeship) |
| Wyoming | No | $61,480 | -2.4% | Varies by jurisdiction; typically 4 years for journeyman licensure |
Highest-Paying States for Plumbers
| # | State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $96,200 | 18,730 |
| 2 | Oregon | $93,110 | 6,080 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $83,280 | 8,520 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $83,260 | 15,670 |
| 5 | Alaska | $83,090 | 870 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $81,950 | 640 |
| 7 | Washington | $79,070 | 12,210 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $78,540 | 2,640 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $78,510 | 9,120 |
| 10 | New York | $78,460 | 22,630 |
Find a Training Program
Compare plumber programs at trade schools across the country — ranked by graduate earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.