by our College Data Analytics TeamPlumbers 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. Read on to learn the essential details every plumbing & water supply student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plumbing & water supply programs.
Nationwide, plumbing & water supply is a popular field of study, with 3,471 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Plumbing & Water Supply Schools ranking analyzes these 154 schools to determine the best overall colleges for plumbing & water supply students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plumbing & water supply programs later in this article.
Studies in Plumbing & Water Supply emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plumbing & water supply graduates commonly enter.
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.
The skill set emphasized by a plumbing & water supply program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a plumbing & water supply major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several plumbing & water supply degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,771 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 345 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,332 |
People currently working in careers related to plumbing & water supply tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in plumbing & water supply careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
Majoring in plumbing & water supply can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to plumbing & water supply.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plumbing & water supply.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of plumbing & water supply graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,651 |
| 4 years | $39,033 |
| 5 years | $45,465 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for plumbing & water supply graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plumbing & water supply grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 154 different plumbing & water supply programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased plumbing & water supply school rankings to help you.
Students interested in plumbing & water supply, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 2,780 |
| Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter | 613 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other | 71 |
| Well Drilling/Driller | 7 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 35,577 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | 6,978 |
| Carpenters | 5,356 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES | 2,761 |
| Mason/Masonry | 378 |
| Construction Trades, Other | 281 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
