Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-2152 · O*NET 47-2152.00
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn a median salary of $62,970 per year, ranking in the top 42% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.5% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters right now
If your teen likes working with their hands, solving physical problems, and wants a debt-free path to a stable middle-class living, plumbing deserves a serious look. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earned a median annual wage of $62,970 in May 2024, with the lowest-paid 10 percent under $40,670 and the top 10 percent over $105,150, and employment is projected to grow about 4.5 percent, roughly average for all occupations. What makes this trade especially attractive right now is a structural labor shortage: the U.S. is projected to be short around 550,000 plumbers by 2027, with an existing shortfall already estimated to cost the economy more than $38 billion a year, and roughly 23 to 25 percent of current plumbers are over age 55 and nearing retirement. That means strong demand and real bargaining power for young people entering now. Parents worried about automation can relax on this one. AI is showing up mostly on the paperwork side, quoting, dispatching, and scheduling, not the wrench-turning side, so the hands-on installation and repair work stays highly AI-resilient, though off-site prefabrication is shifting some field labor into shop-based module assembly. The smart move is not a four-year college loan. It is a registered apprenticeship, most notably through the United Association (UA), which combines paid on-the-job hours with classroom instruction so your teen earns while they learn, then sits for a state journeyman license exam on the plumbing code and later, if they want to run their own business, a master plumber exam. In high school, have your teen load up on algebra, geometry, and physics, take blueprint reading, drafting, or shop and welding classes if offered, and start any pre-apprenticeship or vocational program available. A part-time job with a local plumbing contractor or a summer helper position is worth more than almost any resume line here.
What do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn?
The median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is $62,970. That puts plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters at #342 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $40,670 |
| 25th percentile | $48,860 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $62,970 |
| 75th percentile | $81,900 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,150 |
| Median hourly wage | $30.27/hr |
Is plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is +4.5%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 504K positions in 2024 to 527K in 2034, a net change of 23K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- 2.Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
- 3.Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.
- 4.Select pipe sizes, types, or related materials, such as supports, hangers, or hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications.
- 5.Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods.
- 6.Install automatic controls to regulate pipe systems.
- 7.Keep records of work assignments.
- 8.Inspect structures to assess material or equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, or to plan installation around obstructions, such as electrical wiring.
Top skills for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
How to become plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter: step by step
The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 4-11 years (apprentice to master + specialization). Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.
- 1
High School Diploma or Equivalent
Complete high school with strong math skills. Vocational programs or technical school courses in plumbing provide advantage for apprenticeship applications. Good physical fitness important due to demanding nature of work.
- •High school diploma or GED
- •Math skills (algebra, geometry)
- •Consider vocational/trade school courses
- •Physical fitness (lifting, crawling, working in confined spaces)
- 2
Plumbing Apprenticeship
~4 yearsComplete 4-5 year apprenticeship combining paid work with classroom training. Apprentices earn while learning, typically starting at 40-50% of journeyman pay with raises each year. Learn residential, commercial, and service plumbing. Union programs (United Association) offer excellent training and benefits.
- •8,000-10,000 hours (4-5 years) of paid on-the-job training
- •200+ hours per year of classroom instruction
- •Study: plumbing codes, blueprint reading, safety, mathematics
- •Learn: pipe systems, fixtures, water heaters, drainage, gas lines
- •Work under licensed journeyman or master plumber
- •Union (UA) or independent apprenticeship programs
- 3
Journeyman Plumber License
Obtain journeyman plumber license after completing apprenticeship and passing exam. Journeymen can work independently on most projects but may need master plumber to pull permits depending on jurisdiction. Requirements vary significantly by state/city.
- •Complete required apprenticeship hours
- •Pass state or local journeyman plumbing exam
- •Knowledge of plumbing codes (IPC, UPC)
- •Practical skills assessment
- •Background check
- •Liability insurance (some jurisdictions)
State or local journeyman plumber exam - 4
Master Plumber License (Optional)
Optional~2 yearsOptional master plumber license after gaining journeyman experience. Master plumbers can start own contracting business, pull permits, design plumbing systems, and supervise journeymen and apprentices. Required for plumbing business owners in most states.
- •1-5 years experience as journeyman (varies by location)
- •Pass master plumber exam
- •Advanced code knowledge and plan review
- •Business management skills
- •Ability to supervise other plumbers and pull permits
State master plumber exam - 5
Specialization or Business Ownership (Optional)
Optional~1 yearOptional specialization or business ownership. Pipefitters and steamfitters are related trades with separate apprenticeships. Medical gas certification for hospital work. Many experienced plumbers start own businesses. Others specialize in service/repair, new construction, or commercial work.
- •Specialize: pipefitting, steamfitting, sprinkler systems, medical gas
- •Additional certifications: backflow prevention, medical gas installer
- •Start plumbing contracting business
- •Transition to plumbing inspector or estimator
- •Commercial/industrial plumbing specialist
Licensing requirements for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters are regulated at the state level in the United States. Practicing without a current license is not legal in most jurisdictions.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
What is the median salary for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
The median annual salary for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is $62,970 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters a growing career?
BLS projects +4.5% growth for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Related occupations within the Construction and Extraction category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.