Best Plumbing Schools in Poway, California (2026)

Quick answer: Plumbers in California earn a median of $72,830 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This page lists accredited plumber schools near Poway, California with local wage data and median graduate earnings for each school.

Choosing a plumber program near Poway, California comes down to accreditation, schedule, and how each school prepares you for the field. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $72,830 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Poway Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$72,830BLS OEWS, May 2025
California pay range (10th to 90th percentile)$47,350 to $131,100BLS OEWS, May 2025
San Diego, CA metro median wage$72,510BLS OEWS, May 2025
National job outlook (2024 to 2034)+4.5% growth, about 44,000 openings per yearBLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Federal prevailing wage in California (Davis-Bacon)$70.95 per hour totalDOL WHD Davis-Bacon, 2026
State employment47,660 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
San Diego County establishments1,120BLS QCEW, 2024
San Diego County industry employment13,100BLS QCEW, 2024
San Diego County unemployment rate4.3%BLS LAUS, 2024
California location quotient0.87BLS OEWS, May 2025

Nearby Cities

Explore the Plumber Career

What You’ll Find Below

The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Poway. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the San Diego County and California figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.

Affordable Online Plumbing Programs Now Accepting Students in Poway, California:

Plumbing Training Near Poway

#1

San Diego City College

San Diego, CA 20.1 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 27.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 40
  • Annual completions: 481
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $40,124 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, CA 69.7 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 46.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 61
  • Annual completions: 1502
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $49,927 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Summit College

San Bernardino, CA 76.3 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 73.9%
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 1620
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $49,353 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, CA 101.9 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 31.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 55
  • Annual completions: 2341
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $46,673 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA 132.5 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 44.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 54
  • Annual completions: 1549
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $64,248 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard


Licensing Steps in California

Most plumbers in California follow this pathway:

  1. Complete an approved trade school, community college program, or registered apprenticeship.
  2. Log the required on-the-job training hours under a licensed journeyman or master plumber.
  3. Pass the state-required exams covering the state plumbing code (UPC/IPC), safety, and business rules.

Tips for Choosing a School

  • Tour the lab to see the tools, pipe mockups, and safety gear students use every day.
  • Compare schedules. many Poway programs offer evening, weekend, or accelerated tracks.
  • Confirm the program helps you document hours for state licensing or union apprenticeship applications.

Next Steps


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.