Plumber in Kansas
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for KS
How to Become a Plumber in Kansas
To become a plumber in Kansas, you must obtain a license through local city or county jurisdictions, as there is no statewide plumbing license. For example, in Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita, the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) issues journeyman and master plumber certificates. Aspiring journeyman plumbers typically need one year of field experience and one year of trade school, or two years of field experience, and must pass an approved exam. Master plumbers generally require two years of experience as a journeyman plumber or four years of field experience and must pass a master plumber exam. While there are no statewide reciprocity agreements, the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions (KSBTP) may evaluate out-of-state credentials for licensure by endorsement.
Plumber Requirements in Kansas
| Detail | Kansas |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | N/A (Local Jurisdictions) |
| State License Required | No |
| Notes | Kansas does not have a statewide licensing requirement for plumbers. Licensing is handled at the city and county level. Requirements vary significantly between jurisdictions like Wichita (Sedgwick County), Kansas City, and Topeka. Most programs require applicants to be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED. For Sedgwick County/Wichita, journeyman plumbers need one year of field experience and one year of trade school, or two years of field experience, and must pass an approved exam. Master plumbers need two years of experience as a journeyman plumber or four years of field experience and must pass a master plumber exam. Johnson County requires a Class D plumbing contractor license for plumbing work, which requires four years of plumbing experience or a journeyman license from another state and passing a contractor examination. |
Source: N/A (Local Jurisdictions)
Plumber Salary in Kansas
The median plumber salary in Kansas is $62,820 per year, which is 0.2% below the national median of $62,970.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $39,260 |
| 25th | $47,840 |
| 50th (median) | $62,820 |
| 75th | $82,740 |
| 90th (experienced) | $104,300 |
Kansas employs approximately 4,090 plumbers.
Plumber Job Outlook
AI Impact on Plumbers
Low AI Exposure (Score: -1.12/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming a Plumber in Kansas Worth It?
Factors to consider: Kansas's cost of living, the lack of a state license requirement, moderate job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.