by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 150 U.S. colleges awarded 3,426 degrees and certificates in Plumbing Technology/Plumber. Certificates are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 83 schools in its 2027 Best Plumbing Technology/Plumber Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,651 one year after completing, rising to $54,525 after four years.
Studying Plumbing Technology/Plumber explores Plumbing Technology/plumber. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Practice As Licensed Plumbers By Applying Technical Knowledge And Skills To Lay Out, Assemble, Install, And Maintain Piping Fixtures And Systems For Steam, Natural Gas, Oil, Hot Water, Heating, Cooling, Drainage, Lubricating, Sprinkling, And Industrial Processing Systems In Home And Business Environments. Includes Instruction In Source Determination, Water Distribution, Waster Removal, Pressure Adjustment, Basic Physics, Technical Mathematics, Blueprint Reading, Pipe Installation, Pumps, Welding And Soldering, Plumbing Inspection, And Applicable Codes And Standards. Examples: [Pipefitter - Plumber Specialty].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, plumbing technology/plumber draws strong interest, with 3,426 degrees awarded annually. 150 colleges award plumbing technology/plumber degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 272.
By level, the 3,426 awards include 1,880 certificates, 133 associate degrees and 1,369 master’s degrees.
Women earned 6% of plumbing technology/plumber degrees and certificates in the latest year (193 of 3,426). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,383) and Hispanic or Latino (1,165), and international students earned 9.
College Factual ranks 83 schools in its 2027 Best Plumbing Technology/Plumber Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees. It also ranks plumbing technology/plumber schools within 3 states. In all, 150 colleges offer plumbing technology/plumber programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Plumbing Technology/Plumber Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common plumbing technology/plumber credential is the certificate: 1,880 of the 3,426 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plumbing technology/plumber call most for Critical Thinking, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Building and Construction and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a plumbing technology/plumber degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,880 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 133 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,369 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plumbing technology/plumber, at 37.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 37.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 21.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 17.7% |
| Some college courses | 9.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Plumbing Technology/Plumber, with an average median salary of $74,148; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Installation Managers, at 9.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Drain Technician, Drain Cleaner, Sewage Screen Operator and Sewer Pipe Cleaner.
The occupation related to plumbing technology/plumber with the most projected jobs is Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, at 790,609.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 790,609 | 3.8% |
| Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | 684,739 | 1.5% |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 660,007 | 7.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
Plumbing Technology/Plumber graduates earn a median $38,651 one year after completing their program, $54,525 after four years and $47,745 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,651 |
| 4 years | $54,525 |
| 5 years | $47,745 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to plumbing technology/plumber is First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, with a median salary of $83,555.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | $83,502 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $78,994 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $66,706 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
Plumbing Technology/Plumber has 3 similar majors in the Construction Trades field, which together award 768 degrees a year; the largest are Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter (698), Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other (63) and Well Drilling/Driller (7). Browse all Construction Trades majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter | 698 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other | 63 |
| Well Drilling/Driller | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
