Plumbers in Oregon earn a median of $97,050 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), and this guide ranks accredited plumbing programs near Bend. Most Oregon plumbers train through a 6-to-12-month certificate or a registered apprenticeship, then log supervised hours and pass the state licensing exam before working on their own.
Request info from online & local plumbing programs serving Bend, Oregon:
Key Facts
Oregon median wage: $97,050/yr
Projected growth: +4.5% (2024-2034)
Typical program length: 6-12 months (certificate)
Oregon pay range (10th-90th pct): $58,230 to $147,100
Schools below are sorted by distance from Bend (closest first). Compare program length, schedule, and credential alignment.
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.
LOCAL RANK
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.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year
Employment
2024
504,500
2034 projected
527,200
Percent change
+4.5%
How to become a plumber in Oregon
Finish high school or a GED. Earn a high school diploma or GED; coursework in math, shop, and physics is useful preparation.
Complete a plumbing program or registered apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade-school or community-college plumbing program, or join a registered apprenticeship through a union or contractor association such as the United Association (UA) or PHCC.
Log supervised on-the-job training hours. Work under a licensed journeyman or master plumber in Oregon to accumulate the on-the-job training hours your state board requires; confirm the exact total with the board.
Pass the Oregon licensing exam. Apply to the Oregon plumbing board and pass the required exam covering the adopted plumbing code (UPC or IPC), safety, and business and law topics.
Earn your license and keep it current. Receive your journeyman (and later master) license, then complete any continuing-education and renewal requirements the board sets.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction; confirm the exact training hours and exam content with the Oregon state plumbing board before you enroll.
Apprenticeships & Pathways
Registered apprenticeships pair paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically run 4 to 5 years. Sponsors include the United Association (UA) of Plumbers and Pipefitters and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC). Trade-school or community-college credit can sometimes count toward apprenticeship hours; confirm the totals with the program and your state board.
What You Study
Plumbing systems, fixtures, and water supply and drainage (DWV)
The adopted plumbing code (Uniform Plumbing Code or International Plumbing Code)
Pipe materials, joining methods, soldering, and brazing
Blueprint reading, math, and system layout
Safety (OSHA), backflow prevention, and gas piping fundamentals
Tips for Choosing a School
Confirm accreditation and that the program is recognized by the state board.
Tour the lab to see the tools, pipe mockups, and safety gear students use every day.
Compare schedules; many Bend programs offer evening, weekend, or accelerated tracks.
Confirm the program helps you document hours for state licensing or apprenticeship applications.
Plumber certificate programs near Bend typically take 6 to 12 months of full-time study, while associate degree programs generally run about 2 years. Many plumbers also enter the field through a registered apprenticeship, which combines paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction and usually takes 4 to 5 years to complete. Confirm program length and licensing-hour credit with each school and the Oregon plumbing board.
How much do plumbers earn in Oregon?
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS May 2025), plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $97,050. The 10th-to-90th-percentile range was about $58,230 to $147,100 (BLS OEWS, 2025).
What is the job outlook for plumbers?
BLS projects employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters to grow about 4.5% over 2024-2034, with roughly 44,000 openings projected each year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Many openings come from workers retiring or leaving the occupation.
Do you need a license to work as a plumber in Oregon?
Yes. Most plumbers in Oregon must work under a licensed journeyman or master plumber, log the required on-the-job training hours, and pass a state exam covering the adopted plumbing code (UPC or IPC), safety, and business rules. Confirm current requirements with the Oregon state plumbing board before enrolling.
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.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
