Best Plumbing Schools in Louisiana (2026)

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

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Best Plumber Schools in Louisiana

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

Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College

Minden, LA In-state option BOC Score 56.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 27
  • Annual completions: 1546
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,119 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

SOWELA Technical Community College

Lake Charles, LA In-state option BOC Score 49.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 3820 Senator J. Bennett Johnston Ave Lake Charles, LA 70615
  • (337) 421-6565
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 32
  • Annual completions: 2424
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,488 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Compare Plumber Schools in Louisiana

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 Louisiana.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
156.4Contact school for pricing$46,119Not reportedYes*In-state
249.8Contact school for pricing$60,488Not reportedYes*In-state

Schools closest to the main population center in Louisiana are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Louisiana 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 Louisiana
Median graduate earnings by school, Best Plumbing Schools in Louisiana (2026) (College Scorecard)SOWELA Technical Community College $60488; Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College $46119.SOWELA Technical Community C...$60,488Northwest Louisiana Technica...$46,119
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 Louisiana (2026)
SchoolMedian graduate earnings
SOWELA Technical Community College$60,488
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College$46,119

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

Louisiana Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$63,680BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment8,360 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient1.44BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate5.0%BLS LAUS (2024)
Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage$39.89/hr ($26.5 base + $13.39 fringe)DOL Wage and Hour Division, 2026

Top Cities for Plumber Training in Louisiana

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

Steps to Become a Plumber in Louisiana

  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. In Louisiana, the relevant credential is the Plumber, Journeyman (CareerOneStop, 2025).
  5. Apply for licensure or certification, then maintain it through continuing education as required by the state.

Plumbing Licensing in Louisiana

The licenses below are reported by CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) for plumbing-related work in Louisiana:

  • Plumber, Journeyman
  • Plumber, Master
  • Medical (Gas Piping Installer)

License names and requirements are sourced from the CareerOneStop License Finder. Verify current rules with the issuing agency before applying.

Apprenticeship Programs in Louisiana

In Louisiana, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division (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 Louisiana

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

In Louisiana, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $63,680, about 8,360 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 1.44 (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 Louisiana

In Louisiana, Plumber programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $63,680 per year, and most earn between $38,120 and $79,540 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Louisiana employs roughly 8,360 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 1.44 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Trade-relevant schools serving Louisiana include Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, and SOWELA Technical Community College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Plumber Training and Licensing in Louisiana

Licensing for Plumber varies by state and locality. Confirm current training, exam, and credential requirements with the appropriate Louisiana 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 Louisiana involve?

Plumber training in Louisiana 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 Louisiana?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), plumbers in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $63,680. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $38,120 to $79,540 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the Louisiana license or certification process for plumbers?

Licensing for plumber work is handled at the state level in Louisiana. Consult Louisiana'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)