Construction Trades Workers

How to become a Plumber, Pipefitter or Steamfitter

Official title: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Also called: Drain Technician, Fire Sprinkler Service Technician, Pipe Welder, Pipefitter, Plumber, Plumbing Installer, Residential Plumber, Service Plumber, Sprinkler Fitter, Steamfitter

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.

Main tasks

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.
Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.

How to become one

Most plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters learn on the job through an apprenticeship. Some attend a vocational-technical school before receiving on-the-job training. Most states require plumbers to be licensed.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Coppersmith (Ship & Boat). BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Apprenticeship: Marine Pipefitter (Existing Title: Pipe Fitter Ship & Boat). BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Apprenticeship: Plumber. BLS lists an apprenticeship as the typical training for this occupation.
Licence: A licence is required in 42 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $63,800 a year The middle half earn $50,190 to $85,110.
About 510,600 people work in this job now, and about 545,200 are projected by 2035. (+6.8%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Plumber, Pipefitter or Steamfitter?

How much does a Plumber, Pipefitter or Steamfitter earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $63,800 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $50,190 to $85,110.

Is a Plumber, Pipefitter or Steamfitter a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 510,600 to about 545,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Plumber, Pipefitter or Steamfitter?

Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Coppersmith (Ship & Boat).

Will AI change the work of a Plumber, Pipefitter or Steamfitter?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.