by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 163 U.S. colleges awarded 4,194 degrees and certificates in Plumbing & Water Supply. Certificates are the most popular award, at 52% of graduates. College Factual ranks 98 schools in its 2027 Best Plumbing & Water Supply 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.
Plumbers are responsible for a lot more than just fixing your leaky sink. They design, install and renovate systems that carry liquids or gasses. Most people think of plumbers as only dealing with water in residential and commercial locations, but they also deal with industrial settings where they may need to build a system that carries gas from one location to another. Other related positions include well driller, water blaster, and pipefitter.
Plumbers and related water service positions cut and fit the piping necessary to carry these liquids and gases without leaks. To be a successful plumber, you have to have on the job training as part of an apprenticeship and depending on your goals; you may also want to attend a vocational school. Vocational schools will focus on the skills needed to be successful. You will attend courses in mathematics, system design, building codes, and safety. Technical courses will train you on the specifics of cutting and fitting pipes together through mechanical or chemical welding.
A major in Plumbing & Water Supply covers Plumbing And Related Water Supply Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, plumbing & water supply is a popular field of study, with 4,194 degrees awarded annually. 163 colleges award plumbing & water supply degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 309.
By level, the 4,194 awards include 2,176 certificates, 353 associate degrees and 1,621 master’s degrees.
Women earned 6% of plumbing & water supply degrees and certificates in the latest year (231 of 4,194). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,809) and Hispanic or Latino (1,290), and international students earned 11.
College Factual ranks 98 schools in its 2027 Best Plumbing & Water Supply Schools ranking, including 7 for associate degrees. It also ranks plumbing & water supply schools within 5 states. In all, 163 colleges offer plumbing & water supply programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Plumbing & Water Supply Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common plumbing & water supply credential is the certificate: 2,176 of the 4,194 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plumbing & water supply call most for Critical Thinking, Active Listening and Monitoring, 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.
Plumbers need to have a set of skills before they can go out and be successful. This includes physical ability, as dexterity and strength are important. Plumbers will need to be able to lift heavy equipment and materials while also being able to maneuver parts and pieces into precise locations.
They will also need to have good attention to detail, so any cuts and fittings are made correctly. Plumbers must also have good troubleshooting skills as not everything always goes as planned. They need to be able to come up with creative solutions to issues they may run into on the spot and troubleshoot issues they come across.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a plumbing & water supply degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,176 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 353 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,621 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plumbing & water supply, at 40.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 40.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 15.9% |
| Some college courses | 10.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Plumbing & Water Supply, with an average median salary of $64,513; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Installation Managers, at 9.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Drain Cleaner, Drain Technician, Water Systems Supervisor and Test Boring Crew Chief.
Plumbers can work for large plumbing and HVAC companies or they can strike out on their own and work independently. If you want to run your own business, it will be important for you to take basic business courses so you can properly provide estimates to clients, track inventory and track your finances.
The occupation related to plumbing & water supply 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% |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | 751,306 | 2.7% |
| 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% |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | 439,769 | 3.2% |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | 406,953 | 8.6% |
Plumbing & Water Supply 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 & water supply 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 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $69,933 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $66,706 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $53,437 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $44,277 |
Plumbing & Water Supply includes 4 concentrations that together award 4,194 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Plumbing Technology/Plumber (3,426), Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter (698) and Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other (63). It has 6 similar majors in the Construction Trades field, which together award 57,951 degrees a year; the largest are Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (40,602), Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection (7,804) and Carpenters (6,053). Browse all Construction Trades majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 3,426 |
| Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter | 698 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other | 63 |
| Well Drilling/Driller | 7 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 40,602 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | 7,804 |
| Carpenters | 6,053 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES | 2,765 |
| Mason/Masonry | 422 |
| Construction Trades, Other | 305 |
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