An apprentice plumber works under a licensed plumber on clogged drains, water heater changeouts, repipes and sewer lines, learning the trade one task at a time. They start by hauling gear, cutting pipe and cleaning up, and take on more of each job as the years of training go by.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, plumbing and HVAC contractors · BLS, May 2025
Assist in plumbing installations, repairs, and maintenance under the guidance of experienced plumbers. Learn fundamental plumbing techniques and industry best practices to contribute to high-quality project deliverables. Support project teams in executing tasks with safety, efficiency, and a focus on customer satisfaction. Develop foundational skills that foster professional growth and long-term career advancement in the plumbing industry.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Assist with the installation, repair, and maintenance of plumbing systems.
Follow safety protocols and ensure compliance with local plumbing codes and regulations.
Support senior plumbers on job sites by preparing tools, materials, and equipment.
Maintain a clean and organized work area to promote efficiency and safety.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Learn essential plumbing techniques through hands-on training and observation.
Assist in diagnosing plumbing issues and executing preliminary repairs.
Communicate with senior team members and customers to ensure clear understanding of project requirements.
Participate in ongoing safety briefings and skill development sessions.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Successful completion of assigned tasks with a quality rating of >90%.
Reduction in callback percentage to <5% on completed projects.
Customer satisfaction rating of >4.8 stars as measured through follow-up surveys.
Achieve a skill development progress rate of at least 10% improvement per quarter.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent; technical coursework in plumbing is a plus.
Basic understanding of plumbing systems, tools, and safety practices.
Demonstrated willingness to learn, take direction, and develop new skills.
Effective communication and teamwork skills with a strong attention to detail.
6. Preferred Experience
Previous internship or entry-level experience in a plumbing or construction setting.
Exposure to residential or commercial plumbing environments.
Familiarity with basic hand and power tools used in plumbing.
Practical experience through vocational or technical programs related to plumbing.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work in physically demanding conditions.
Comfortable working in various environments including confined spaces, outdoor weather conditions, and above-ground or below-ground settings.
Ability to stand, bend, and work for extended periods throughout the day.
Capability to work in environments that may require the use of personal protective equipment.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Work hours typically range from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
On-call duties may be required during emergencies or urgent repair situations.
Occasional travel between job sites within assigned regions.
Fast-paced work environment with a focus on safety, teamwork, and efficiency.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Hourly rate typically ranging from $15 to $20 per hour, depending on experience.
Potential for performance-based bonuses and overtime opportunities.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance packages.
Access to a 401(k) plan with company matching contributions.
Other fringe benefits such as paid time off, training, and career development resources.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we pride ourselves on a collaborative and inclusive work environment that values continuous learning and career progression.
Our culture is built on respect, integrity, and a shared commitment to excellence in all that we do.
We support our employees with ongoing training, mentorship programs, and opportunities for professional growth.
Join us to be part of a company that is not only passionate about top-notch customer service but is also invested in your long-term success.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
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A plumbing apprentice learns on real jobs from the first week. State licensing rules, raw sewage and years of classes shape what they may do and how they learn.
Your state may register apprentices
Apprentice rules aren't the same everywhere. Texas, for example, has apprentices register with the State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and hours worked before registering don't count toward a license. A licensed plumber must be on the job site whenever the apprentice does plumbing work. With no licensee there, the apprentice may only do manual tasks, such as digging trenches. Check with your own state board before the first day. Source: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners: Apprentice registration.
Four or five years to learn the trade
BLS says most plumbers get their start in an apprenticeship that runs four or five years. An apprentice typically logs around 2,000 paid hours on the job each year and takes classes in safety, local codes, blueprint reading and math. That's a long commitment on both sides, so the training plan and raise steps matter when you recruit. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.
Sewage is part of the job
Clearing a main line or pulling a toilet can put a new apprentice in contact with sewage in their first week. CDC guidance for workers who handle sewage lists waterproof gloves, rubber boots, goggles, a face mask or splash-proof face shield, and coveralls that shed liquid. It also says to keep cuts covered, keep hands away from the face, and wash with soap and water before eating or drinking. Source: CDC: Protecting workers handling human waste.
Service truck or install crew
O*NET's task list for plumbing helpers and apprentices includes cutting and threading pipe, mounting hangers, rough-ins, and repairing and replacing fixtures and water heaters. Where they start shapes what they learn. A service truck shows them a new problem at every stop. A repipe or sewer replacement crew drills the basics of cutting, fitting and supporting pipe. Time on both builds a plumber who can do either. Source: O*NET OnLine: Helpers, pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (47-3015.00).
A registered program spells out raises and ratios
Register the program, either federally or with a state apprenticeship agency the Labor Department recognizes, and federal rules say what it must include. Wages rise on a set schedule as skills grow, the apprentice's work and classes get reviewed regularly, and there's a stated ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers. The rules recommend at least 144 hours of related classes for each year. Source: 29 CFR 29.5: Standards of apprenticeship (Cornell LII).
How much apprentice plumbers make
The closest BLS group for apprentice plumbers is Helpers--Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters. Helpers--Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters who work for plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors earned a median of $20.29 an hour ($42,210 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $42,360 median for Helpers--Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in all industries. About 38,600 of the 44,330 Helpers--Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in that survey work for plumbing and HVAC contractors.
In BLS data, apprentices are counted as plumbers, since that's the trade they're working toward, so there's no separate apprentice figure. The figures shown here are for plumbers' helpers, which sit closer to a starting rate. Apprentices earn an hourly rate plus overtime, and a registered program writes raises into its standards as skills grow.
Plumbing and HVAC contractors
$42,210$42,210 median Middle half $36,930–$47,620 10th–90th $33,660–$57,780
All industries
$42,360$42,360 median Middle half $36,940–$47,720 10th–90th $33,590–$57,780
$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Plumbing and HVAC contractors
$33,660
$36,930
$42,210
$47,620
$57,780
All industries
$33,590
$36,940
$42,360
$47,720
$57,780
BLS reports plumbing and HVAC contractors together. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Shows up ready when the trucks roll out early
Takes direction from the licensed plumber and asks before guessing
Willing to work in crawl spaces, attics and around sewage
Careful with tools, materials and the customer's home
Can measure and do the basic math for cutting pipe
Teach these on the job
Cutting and joining PEX, copper, PVC and cast iron
How drain, waste and vent piping works
Water heater removal and hookup steps
Running drain machines and sewer cameras
Local code basics and what inspectors look for
Your job software and photo rules
Many shops ask apprentices to bring basic hand tools, such as tubing cutters, pipe wrenches and a level. List what the company provides, such as drain machines, press tools and sewer cameras, and say whether you cover any state registration fee and school costs.
Apprentice plumber interview questions
They have their own page: 6 questions that test this job, what strong and weak answers sound like, and a work exercise to run with your finalists.
Start from the template's numbers, then adjust them to what past apprentices managed. Score each apprentice on the tasks their mentor hands them, not on the whole job.
Successful completion of assigned tasks with a quality rating of >90%
The licensed plumber scores each task they hand off, such as a trap swap or a new supply line, on a short checklist. Average the scores weekly and talk through any low ones.
Reduction in callback percentage to <5% on completed projects
Count return trips traced to the apprentice's own work, like a dripping compression fitting or a loose trap, against the jobs they worked. Pull the count monthly from your job records.
Customer satisfaction rating of >4.8 stars as measured through follow-up surveys
Survey scores from jobs the apprentice worked on, looked at each month. Watch for remarks about cleanup, shoe covers and how they treated the home.
Achieve a skill development progress rate of at least 10% improvement per quarter
Keep a written list of skills, from cutting pipe to setting a water heater, and have the licensed plumber sign off each one seen done right. Count new sign-offs each quarter.
Career path
Plumber's helper or vocational studentPicks up tools and basics on a job or in a classroom.
Apprentice plumberRegisters where required and learns under a licensed plumber.
Journeyman plumberPasses the state or local exam and works on their own.
Master plumberEarns the top license after more years and another exam.
How soon can a plumbing apprentice run jobs on their own?
Your state decides. In Texas, a registered apprentice can take the Tradesman Plumber-Limited exam after 4,000 hours, plus a 24-hour class the board approves or a federally approved apprenticeship. That license covers plumbing in one- and two-family homes, and the holder can directly supervise an apprentice on those jobs. On other buildings, a journeyman or master still has to be on site.
How much does an apprentice plumber make?
Helpers--Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters who work for plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors earned a median of $20.29 an hour ($42,210 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $36,930 and $47,620 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
Can a plumbing apprentice be under 18?
Texas lets apprentices register at 16, but federal child labor rules still apply. For workers under 18, they bar most trench work deeper than four feet. A narrow exception covers apprentices and student-learners who meet the Labor Department's conditions. Sewer replacements often mean trenches, so check the federal rule and your state's child labor law before a teen joins that crew.
What is the difference between a plumber's helper and an apprentice plumber?
Training. BLS classifies apprentices with the trade they're learning and counts helpers on their own, because helpers aren't in training for the job they assist. In a shop, a helper might carry pipe and dig for years. An apprentice follows a plan toward a license, with raises tied to skills. If your ad says apprentice, be ready to show the plan.
Does an apprentice plumber need a high school diploma?
The template asks for one, and BLS says a diploma or equivalent is typically needed to start. Texas doesn't list one among its requirements for apprentice registration, though. If you drop the line, keep testing for math, since apprentices measure, cut and figure offsets every day.
What should an apprentice plumber job ad include?
The start time, who they'll ride with, and whether they'll begin on service calls or an install crew. List the raise steps and what earns each one, the tools you provide, and the on-call expectations. Say whether you register apprentices with the state, pay the fees or cover classes. Good applicants will ask about each one.
