How to Become a Plumber: Steps, Hours, License, and Pay
To become a plumber you finish high school or a GED, enter a registered apprenticeship, log several years of paid on-the-job hours plus classroom instruction, then pass a state or local licensing exam to work as a journeyman. Advancing to master plumber adds more documented experience and a second exam. The whole path from first day to journeyman license usually runs 4 to 5 years, and you earn a wage the entire time.
The steps to become a plumber
Becoming a plumber follows a defined ladder: meet the entry requirements, join an apprenticeship, complete your hours, pass the license exam, then keep advancing. Each rung is gated by documented hours and, in most states, a written test on plumbing code. You get paid from the apprenticeship onward, so this is a learn-while-you-earn trade rather than a tuition-first one.
- Meet the baseline. Get a high school diploma or GED, be at least 18, hold a valid driver’s license, and be able to lift heavy material and work in tight spaces. Strong algebra and geometry help on the code exams later.
- Enter a registered apprenticeship. Apply through a union local (United Association) or a non-union sponsor such as PHCC or ABC. Confirm the program is state-registered with the U.S. Department of Labor so your hours count toward licensing.
- Complete your hours. Work roughly 6,000 to 10,000 paid on-the-job hours over 4 to 5 years, plus about 144 to 250 classroom hours per year covering code, math, and safety.
- Pass the journeyman exam. Sit for your state or local licensing test on plumbing code, pipe sizing, drainage, venting, and gas piping, then get your journeyman license.
- Advance to master. After 1 to 5 more years of documented journeyman work, pass the master exam to pull permits, design systems, and run your own shop.
Apprentice, journeyman, master: the license ladder
Plumbers move through three main license tiers, and each one grants more independence and higher pay. An apprentice works under supervision, a journeyman works independently, and a master plumber can pull permits and take legal responsibility for a job. Knowing what each tier requires helps you plan the years and hours ahead.
| Tier | Typical experience required | What the tier can do | License exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | 0 to 5 years, actively logging hours | Supervised installs and repairs while training | Registration or entry test in some states |
| Journeyman | About 4 to 5 years and 6,000 to 10,000 hours | Independent installation and repair work | Written code exam, often 80 to 100 questions |
| Master | 1 to 5 years beyond journeyman | Pull permits, design systems, supervise, contract | Harder exam on design, load, and code |
Not every state uses all three labels, and some regulate at the contractor level instead. California, for example, licenses plumbing at the C-36 contractor tier through the Contractors State License Board rather than issuing a statewide journeyman card. Always check what your state actually issues before you plan your hours.
Apprenticeship hours and pay, year by year
An apprenticeship pays a rising wage as you accumulate hours, usually starting at 30 to 50 percent of the local journeyman rate and stepping up every six to twelve months. Non-union programs commonly target 8,000 hours over four years, while five-year union programs can reach about 10,000 hours. Overtime and on-call work can push real annual earnings above the base hourly figures below.
| Stage | On-the-job hours (cumulative) | Typical hourly pay | Share of journeyman scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | ~2,000 | $15 to $22 | 30% to 45% |
| Year 2 apprentice | ~4,000 | $18 to $26 | 40% to 55% |
| Year 3 apprentice | ~6,000 | $22 to $30 | 55% to 65% |
| Year 4 apprentice | ~8,000 | $26 to $36 | 65% to 80% |
| Year 5 apprentice (union) | ~10,000 | $30 to $42 | 80% to 90% |
The classroom side, called Related Technical Instruction, usually runs 144 to 250 hours a year and is often unpaid but heavily tested on the journeyman exam. Union apprentices typically pay no tuition and add health insurance and a pension from the first day, while non-union programs vary by employer. Ranges here are directional and shift with your local market, the same way what licensed plumbers charge per hour shifts by region.
The licensing exam
Most states require a written exam before you can work as a journeyman plumber. The test covers plumbing code, pipe and fixture sizing, drainage and venting, water supply, gas piping, backflow prevention, and safety. Expect roughly 80 to 100 questions, a two to six hour window, and a passing score near 70 to 75 percent, though the exact format is set by your state or municipality.
Exam fees commonly land between $50 and $300 depending on jurisdiction, with providers like Pearson VUE or PSI administering the test in many states. A few states, including Massachusetts, Maryland, and Louisiana, add a hands-on practical component such as brazing or a fixture rough-in. Because the code portion is local, plan to study your state and city amendments, not just the model code.
How long it takes to become a plumber
Reaching journeyman level takes about 4 to 5 years for most people, driven by the hours requirement rather than the calendar. That window covers your on-the-job training, the yearly classroom instruction, and passing the exam. Going further to master plumber typically brings the total timeline to 5 to 10 years from your first day as an apprentice.
- Apprenticeship route: 4 to 5 years to journeyman, all of it paid.
- Trade school first: a 9 to 24 month program can prep you for the aptitude test and, in some states, credit toward part of the hours requirement.
- Journeyman to master: 1 to 5 additional years of documented experience plus a second exam.
The speed limit is documentation. States require detailed, journeyman-signed logs of your on-the-job hours, and lost or informal records can force you to re-document, so keep clean logs from day one.
How requirements vary by state
There is no national plumbing license, so requirements are set state by state and sometimes city by city. Most states demand a set number of documented hours and a journeyman exam, some regulate only at the contractor level, and a handful have no statewide license at all. The table below shows how far the rules can swing, which is the single detail most career guides gloss over.
| State | License structure | Notable requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | State journeyman and master licenses | About 4 years and 8,000 hours before the journeyman exam |
| California | C-36 contractor license (no statewide journeyman card) | 4 years of qualifying experience plus trade and law exams |
| Florida | State certified or registered contractor tiers | Exam plus experience, with continuing education at renewal |
| Alaska | State journeyman license | Roughly 8,000 hours under a licensed plumber |
| New York | No statewide license; set by city or county | NYC master requires about 7 years of experience in the prior 10 |
| Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming | No statewide license | Local municipalities set their own permit and license rules |
Two takeaways matter here. First, in no-license states you still usually need a local license to work legally in a given city, so check the municipality where you will actually work. Second, states differ on reciprocity, meaning a license from one state may or may not transfer, so confirm before you relocate mid-career.
What plumbers earn and the job outlook
Plumbing pays a solid middle-class wage that climbs with your license tier. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,970 for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters as of May 2024, with the highest earners well above six figures in strong union markets. Master plumbers and shop owners typically sit at the top of the range.
Demand is steady. BLS projects 4 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 44,000 openings per year over the decade, many of them replacing plumbers who retire. That retirement wave is the engine behind the ongoing labor gap, which we track in detail in our plumber shortage statistics, and it is a reason wages have held up. For the wider market picture, from business counts to margins, see our roundup of plumbing industry statistics for 2026.
Specialties add earning power on top of the base license. Medical gas installation, backflow prevention testing, hydronic and radiant systems, and pipefitting each carry separate certifications and premium rates, giving licensed plumbers clear ways to raise income without leaving the trade.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a plumber?
Reaching journeyman level takes about 4 to 5 years in most states, covering roughly 6,000 to 10,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction and a licensing exam. A trade school program of 9 to 24 months can shorten the on-the-job portion in some states. Becoming a master plumber usually adds 1 to 5 more years of documented journeyman experience.
How much do plumber apprentices make?
Apprentice plumbers typically start at 30 to 50 percent of the local journeyman wage, often $15 to $20 per hour in year one, with a raise every six to twelve months as hours accumulate. By the final apprentice year, pay commonly reaches $28 to $40 per hour in many markets. Union programs usually post a fixed percentage scale with benefits from day one.
Do you need a license to be a plumber?
In most states yes, but the rules vary widely. Many states require a journeyman or master plumbing license earned through documented hours and an exam, while a few states including Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming have no statewide license and leave it to cities and counties. Even in no-license states, local municipalities often set their own permit and license requirements.
What is the difference between a journeyman and a master plumber?
A journeyman plumber can work independently on installations and repairs but usually works under a licensed contractor. A master plumber has more experience, has passed a harder exam, and in most areas can pull permits, design systems, supervise journeymen, and run a licensed plumbing business. Master status typically requires 1 to 5 years of journeyman experience beyond the license.
Can you become a plumber without an apprenticeship?
Rarely without some equivalent. Most states require documented on-the-job hours under a licensed plumber before you can sit for a journeyman exam, and a registered apprenticeship is the standard path. Trade school alone does not usually replace those field hours, though completed coursework may count toward part of the requirement in some states.
Is becoming a plumber worth it?
Financially it often is. Apprentices earn while they train with little or no tuition, and BLS reports a median wage of $62,970 for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters as of May 2024, with the top earners well above that. The trade also faces ongoing worker shortages, which supports steady demand and wage growth in many regions.
Last reviewed: August 2026.