How to Become a Plumber in Alabama (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alabama employs about 6,950 plumbers earning a median $58,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in Alabama

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
157.2Contact school for pricing$31,05663%—199 mi
254.3$3,516 in-state / $6,084 out-of-state$47,00958%Yes*147 mi
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351.7$5,131 in-state / $9,001 out-of-state$45,54639%Yes*98 mi
451.0$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state$43,83535%Yes*94 mi
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547.9$3,382 in-state / $5,950 out-of-state$40,96449%Yes*139 mi
646.8$3,364 in-state / $5,932 out-of-state$37,10442%Yes*205 mi
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746.5$3,448 in-state / $6,016 out-of-state$42,97947%Yes*194 mi
844.5$3,386 in-state / $5,954 out-of-state$46,60144%Yes*149 mi
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938.3$5,040 in-state / $8,910 out-of-state$44,50627%Yes*7 mi
109.3$6,084Not reported21%—69 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location 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.

Alabama employs approximately 6,950 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,670 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 44,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Plumber in Alabama, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Alabama

How to become a Plumber in Alabama? Alabama requires credentials such as Certified Plumber & Gas Fitter Apprentice, Certified Master Plumber, Certified Journeyman Plumber. The licensing authority is the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths into the plumber field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Alabama? Yes. Alabama has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in Alabama? The median annual wage for plumbers in Alabama is $58,670 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,720 and experienced professionals can earn $76,690 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Alabama

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Alabama training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Alabama that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in Alabama.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the apprenticeship sponsor or state apprenticeship office.

Plumber License Requirements in Alabama

The Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board oversees plumber licensing in Alabama 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Certified Plumber & Gas Fitter ApprenticeApplicant must: be at least 16 years of age or possess a work permit; Be of good moral character; Be a U.S. citizen or provide verification that applicant is authorized to work in the U.S.
Certified Master PlumberApplicant must: be at least 16 years of age or possess a work permit; Be of good moral character; Be a U.S. citizen or provide verification that applicant is authorized to work in the U.S.
Certified Journeyman PlumberApplicant must: be at least 16 years of age or possess a work permit; Be of good moral character; Be a U.S. citizen or provide verification that applicant is authorized to work in the U.S.

Additional Requirements

  • Experience: Affidavit or referral required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Alabama

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Alabama Office of Apprenticeship
  • Address: 1 Technology Court, Montgomery, AL 36116
  • Phone: (334) 280-4440

Federal Prevailing Wage in Alabama

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Alabama earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Alabama general wage determinations show approximately $32.50 per hour in base pay plus $19.33 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $51.83 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 5.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within plumber work.

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters wages in Alabama vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Birmingham1,840$60,090$59,350$38,620$76,290
Mobile960$59,410$58,770$38,170$74,940
Huntsville790$57,020$58,480$37,870$82,620
Tuscaloosa370$59,530$58,790$38,410$74,150
Florence-Muscle Shoals340$60,590$59,530$36,730$83,120
Montgomery340$57,960$56,180$37,280$74,100
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley330$57,080$56,280$36,230$76,060
Decatur210$59,920$66,250$40,580$110,660
Auburn-Opelika200$51,570$54,120$36,460$71,480
Columbus200$47,410$52,590$35,360$75,860
Anniston-Oxford130$56,850$58,560$37,570$74,460
Dothan130$49,070$51,550$35,980$67,070
Gadsden100$47,350$49,290$28,050$66,280

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for plumbers in Alabama? Alabama currently employs approximately 6,950 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a plumber in Alabama with an out-of-state license? Contact the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Alabama? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alabama.

How much do plumbers earn in Alabama compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Alabama is $58,670, which is $4,300 below the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Alabama

Top local programs

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Citations

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/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board - Licensing Information: https://www.pgfb.alabama.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

  5. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

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)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)