by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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]. Read on to learn the important information every plumbing technology/plumber student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plumbing technology/plumber programs.
Across the country, plumbing technology/plumber draws strong interest, with 2,780 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Plumbing Technology/Plumber Schools ranking analyzes these 138 schools to determine the best overall colleges for plumbing technology/plumber students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plumbing technology/plumber programs later in this article.
Coursework for Plumbing Technology/Plumber build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plumbing technology/plumber graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a plumbing technology/plumber program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a plumbing technology/plumber major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several plumbing technology/plumber 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 | 1,547 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 116 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,094 |
People currently working in careers related to plumbing technology/plumber tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in plumbing technology/plumber careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in plumbing technology/plumber can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to plumbing technology/plumber.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plumbing technology/plumber.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of plumbing technology/plumber graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 technology/plumber graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plumbing technology/plumber 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 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $66,706 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
With 138 different plumbing technology/plumber programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased plumbing technology/plumber school rankings to help you.
Students interested in plumbing technology/plumber, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter | 613 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other | 71 |
| Well Drilling/Driller | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
