TRADES Specialization

Plumbing

Plumbing graduates pursue 2 occupations, with top roles paying $79,920/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

Explore Program

About Plumbing

This page covers Plumbing as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Construction and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Plumbing is a focused area of study within Construction. You will not have trouble finding it: 209 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,745 students complete it each year, most walking away with a certificate. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.

Colleges Offering: 209
Graduates / Year: 2,745
Avg Net Price / yr: $12,357

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 2,745 students who complete Plumbing programs each year, the majority (84%) earn a certificate degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

84%

Certificate 84%

Associate's 14%

Doctorate 2%

What Can You Do With a Plumbing Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Plumbing graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay the most at $79,920/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +5.0% Zone 3: Medium preparation

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

$79,920

$63K $101K 25th–75th pct.

High school diploma or equivalent 67,000 openings/yr 812K employed nationally

Coordination Active Listening Speaking Monitoring Time Management

Day-to-day responsibilities

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
Read specifications, such as blueprints, to determine construction requirements or to plan procedures.
Supervise, coordinate, or schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers.

↗ +6.8% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Plumber & Pipefitter

$63,800

$50K $85K 25th–75th pct.

High school diploma or equivalent 42,000 openings/yr 466K employed nationally

Installation Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Quality Control Analysis Judgment and Decision Making

Day-to-day responsibilities

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.

Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.

Top Colleges for Plumbing

Not sure where to study Plumbing? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Ivy Tech Community College, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Public	190	Open	$7,258	$37,186
2	Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI · Public	43	Open	$11,101	$46,894
3	Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN · Public	42	Open	$11,495	$38,399
4	Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA · Public	37	Open	$12,323	$35,233
5	Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI · Public	32	Open	$9,112	$41,113
6	Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI · Public	30	Open	$3,249	$39,449
7	Linn-Benton Community College Albany, OR · Public	25	Open	$11,553	$41,363
8	Orange Technical College-West Campus Ocoee, FL · Public	25	Open	$13,700	$25,145
9	Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA · Public	24	Open	$13,970	$39,449
10	Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WA · Nonprofit	24	Open	$20,047	$57,764
11	American River College Sacramento, CA · Public	22	Open	$7,999	$40,162
12	Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Public	21	Open	$10,272	$49,460
13	New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI · Nonprofit	20	66.7%	$36,483	$48,684
14	St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN · Public	18	Open	$9,635	$46,874
15	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Knoxville, TN · Public	18	Open	$20,012	$37,235
16	Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM · Public	17	Open	$4,621	$36,869
17	Northwest Technical College Bemidji, MN · Public	17	Open	$10,996	$42,930
18	Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN · Public	16	Open	$12,556	$45,591
19	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND · Public	15	Open	$11,261	$50,513
20	City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL · Public	15	Open	$9,494	$28,467

View all colleges

Ranked by Plumbing graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Plumbing program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Plumbing degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Plumbing Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Plumbing shows 2 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +6.8% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 109,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Licensure often required Many positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.

Plumbing Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with a Plumbing degree?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers are one path, and it pays a median of $79,920 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Plumbing program take?

One to two years of full-time study for most Plumbing certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.

How many colleges offer Plumbing?

209 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

What is the difference between Plumbing and Construction?

Plumbing is the narrower of the two: Construction covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Plumbing-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Plumbing graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Plumbing graduates consistently look for technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Plumbing graduates?

Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +5.9% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Plumber & Pipefitter is among the strongest-growth roles at +6.8%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.