Best Plumbing Schools in Kansas (2026)

Compare accredited Plumber schools across Kansas below, then review pay, licensing steps, and training paths for the trade.

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Best Plumber Schools in Kansas

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Washburn Institute of Technology

Topeka, KS In-state option BOC Score 71.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 65.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 54
  • Annual completions: 1756
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,774 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Neosho County Community College

Chanute, KS In-state option BOC Score 55.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 36.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 42
  • Annual completions: 886
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,338 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS In-state option BOC Score 55.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 30.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 64
  • Annual completions: 2912
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,956 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Barton County Community College

Great Bend, KS In-state option BOC Score 50.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 37.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 41
  • Annual completions: 606
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,242 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Butler Community College

El Dorado, KS In-state option BOC Score 44.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 31.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 60
  • Annual completions: 633
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,569 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Compare Plumber Schools in Kansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Kansas.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
171.0Contact school for pricing$56,77466%Yes*In-state
266.7Contact school for pricingNot reportedNot reportedYes*In-state
355.0Contact school for pricing$55,33836%Yes*In-state
455.0Contact school for pricing$52,95630%Yes*In-state
550.8Contact school for pricing$48,24238%Yes*In-state
644.9Contact school for pricing$46,56931%Yes*In-state

Schools closest to the main population center in Kansas are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Kansas is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Median Graduate Earnings at Plumber Schools in Kansas
Median graduate earnings by school, Best Plumbing Schools in Kansas (2026) (College Scorecard)Washburn Institute of Technology $56774; Neosho County Community College $55338; Johnson County Community College $52956; Barton County Community College $48242; Butler Community College $46569.Washburn Institute of Techno...$56,774Neosho County Community Coll...$55,338Johnson County Community Col...$52,956Barton County Community Coll...$48,242Butler Community College$46,569
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Plumbing Schools in Kansas (2026)
SchoolMedian graduate earnings
Washburn Institute of Technology$56,774
Neosho County Community College$55,338
Johnson County Community College$52,956
Barton County Community College$48,242
Butler Community College$46,569

Plumber Pay and Job Outlook

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters annual wage by percentile: $44,150 at the 10th percentile, $63,800 median, $108,420 at the 90th. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
What plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn across the pay scale
Projected job growth for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters: 504,500 jobs in 2024 to 527,200 in 2034, +4.5% change. Source: U.S. BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034.
Projected job growth for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Top-paying states for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters - District of Columbia leads at $101,020. Source: U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2025 release.
Top-paying states for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Kansas Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$65,220BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment4,590 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient1.06BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate3.5%BLS LAUS (2024)
Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage$38.64/hr ($27.79 base + $10.85 fringe)DOL Wage and Hour Division, 2026

Top Cities for Plumber Training in Kansas

The cities below have the highest concentration of plumber training programs and population centers within Kansas. Click through for school listings near each:

Steps to Become a Plumber in Kansas

  1. Choose an accredited training path. Options include trade schools, community colleges, and registered apprenticeships.
  2. Complete classroom instruction in code, safety, and trade theory.
  3. Log on-the-job training hours under a licensed or experienced professional.
  4. Pass any required state or local exam.
  5. Apply for licensure or certification, then maintain it through continuing education as required by the state.

Apprenticeship Programs in Kansas

In Kansas, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Kansas Registered Apprenticeship (CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor). Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, typically over 3 to 5 years.

About Plumbing Careers in Kansas

Plumbers install and repair piping systems for water supply, drainage, and gas distribution in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.

In Kansas, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $65,220, about 4,590 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 1.06 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Career outlook varies by region and specialization. Refer to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for national projections and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the latest state and metropolitan area data.

Plumber Wages and Workforce in Kansas

In Kansas, Plumber programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $65,220 per year, and most earn between $39,130 and $109,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Kansas employs roughly 4,590 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 1.06 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Trade-relevant schools serving Kansas include Washburn Institute of Technology, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College, and Johnson County Community College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Plumber Training and Licensing in Kansas

Licensing for Plumber varies by state and locality. Confirm current training, exam, and credential requirements with the appropriate Kansas licensing board before you enroll; many employers also look for recognized industry certifications.

Training paths typically range from certificate programs (6 to 12 months) and associate degrees (about 2 years) to registered apprenticeships (3 to 5 years) that combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction (TradeCareerPath program data).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does plumber training in Kansas involve?

Plumber training in Kansas is offered through trade school certificate programs (typically 6 to 12 months), community college associate degree programs (about 2 years), and registered apprenticeships that combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction over 3 to 5 years. Coursework generally covers safety, applicable codes and standards, hands-on lab work, and exam preparation for any required credential.

How much do plumbers earn in Kansas?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), plumbers in Kansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $65,220. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $39,130 to $109,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the Kansas license or certification process for plumbers?

Licensing for plumber work is handled at the state level in Kansas. Consult Kansas's licensing board for current training, examination, and renewal requirements before enrolling in a program.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)