Best Plumbing Schools in Missouri (2026)

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

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Best Plumber Schools in Missouri

How We Rank Schools

Local school lists are ordered by location first, using the distance from the city or state page you are viewing. Each eligible school also shows a BOC Score, computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

Location / proximity to this page
Primary local sort
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

Ranken Technical College

Saint Louis, MO In-state option BOC Score 52.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 52.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 28
  • Annual completions: 967
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,096 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

St Charles Community College

Cottleville, MO In-state option BOC Score 51.7
Tuition $3,048 - $13,629
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 23.9%
  • Programs offered: 42
  • Annual completions: 337
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,369 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Three Rivers College

Poplar Bluff, MO In-state option BOC Score 40.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 36
  • Annual completions: 342
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $42,322 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Compare Plumber Schools in Missouri

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 Missouri.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
152.3Contact school for pricing$65,09652%Yes*In-state
251.7$3,048 - $13,629$48,36924%Yes*In-state
340.9Contact school for pricing$42,322Not reportedYes*In-state

Schools are ranked by BOC Score, with distance from the main population center in Missouri 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 Missouri
Median graduate earnings by school, Best Plumbing Schools in Missouri (2026) (College Scorecard)Ranken Technical College $65096; St Charles Community College $48369; Three Rivers College $42322.Ranken Technical College$65,096St Charles Community College$48,369Three Rivers College$42,322
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 Missouri (2026)
SchoolMedian graduate earnings
Ranken Technical College$65,096
St Charles Community College$48,369
Three Rivers College$42,322

Plumber Pay and Job Outlook

Annual Wage by Percentile - Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters annual wage percentiles, BLS OEWS May 2025P10 $44150, P25 $50190, P50 $63800, P75 $85110, P90 $108420.10th$44,15025th$50,19050th (median)$63,80075th$85,11090th$108,420
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters annual wage percentiles
PercentileAnnual wage
10th$44,150
25th$50,190
50th (median)$63,800
75th$85,110
90th$108,420
Projected employment growth, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, 2024-2034
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters employment 2024 vs 2034 projection, BLS Employment Projections2024 employment 504500; 2034 projected employment 527200; percent change +4.5%.2024504,500 jobs2034 (proj.)527,200 jobsChange: +4.5%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters employment projection 2024 to 2034
YearEmployment
2024504,500
2034 projected527,200
Percent change+4.5%

Missouri Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$66,790BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment8,310 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
State location quotient0.95BLS OEWS, May 2025
State unemployment rate3.9%BLS LAUS (2024)
Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage$82.53/hr ($52.6 base + $29.93 fringe)DOL Wage and Hour Division, 2026

Top Cities for Plumber Training in Missouri

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

Steps to Become a Plumber in Missouri

  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 Missouri

In Missouri, registered apprenticeships are coordinated through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - On-the-Job Training & 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 Missouri

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

In Missouri, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $66,790, about 8,310 workers in the occupation, a location quotient of 0.95 (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 Missouri

In Missouri, Plumber programs train for an occupation with a median wage of about $66,790 per year, and most earn between $44,780 and $117,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Missouri employs roughly 8,310 workers in this occupation, a workforce concentration of about 0.95 times the national average (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Trade-relevant schools serving Missouri include Ranken Technical College, St Charles Community College, and Three Rivers College. Compare tuition, program length, and graduation outcomes in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Plumber Training and Licensing in Missouri

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

Plumber training in Missouri 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 Missouri?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), plumbers in Missouri earned a median annual wage of approximately $66,790. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $44,780 to $117,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the Missouri license or certification process for plumbers?

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