"How long does it take to become a plumber in Alaska?"

"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 plumbers need a license in Alaska?"

"Yes. Alaska requires state-level licensing or registration for plumbers, administered by the Alaska Department of Labor \u0026 Workforce Development - Mechanical Inspection Section. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for plumbers in Alaska?"

"In Alaska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Plumber in Alaska

Q: "How much do plumbers earn in Alaska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), plumbers in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $93,920. Employment concentration in Alaska is about 1.23 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for plumbers in Alaska?"

"Alaska currently employs approximately 1,200 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Q: "What is the federal prevailing wage for plumbers in Alaska?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers on federally funded construction projects in Alaska earn a prevailing wage of approximately $41.50 per hour in base pay plus $27.62 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $69.12 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn a median annual wage of $93,920 ($45.15/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,200 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 47.2% above the national median of $63,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $93,920 ($45.15/hr)
25th percentile: $73,640 per year
75th percentile: $102,820 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $122,660 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $53,730 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 1,200
Versus national median: 47.2% above the U.S. median of $63,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.23 - this occupation is more concentrated in Alaska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alaska employs approximately 1,200 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $93,920 ¹. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.23x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Alaska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Plumber in Alaska

How do I become a plumber in Alaska? Alaska requires credentials such as Plumber, Contractor, Gas Piping, Plumbing & Sheetmetal in Municipality of Anchorage, Gas Piping and Plumbing, Journeyman & Trainee in Municipality of Anchorage. The licensing authority is the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development - Mechanical Inspection Section ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Alaska? Yes. Alaska has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development - Mechanical Inspection Section oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for plumbers in Alaska is $93,920 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $53,730 and experienced professionals can earn $122,660 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development - Mechanical Inspection Section
Median wage (Alaska): $93,920 per year ¹

Plumber License Requirements in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development - Mechanical Inspection Section oversees plumber licensing in Alaska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Plumber	Application and License Fee $250
Contractor, Gas Piping, Plumbing & Sheetmetal in Municipality of Anchorage	License $400
Gas Piping and Plumbing, Journeyman & Trainee in Municipality of Anchorage	License/Exam Fees: Exam Journeyman $60 every time the exam is taken Certificate of qualification Journeyman $140 (issued after passing the exam) Trainee $85 (no exam required and is valid for 2 years)

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Alaska

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Alaska’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship ⁵.

Contact Information:

Office: Anchorage Field Office
Address: 605 W. 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501-2249
Phone: (907) 271-5035
Email: [email protected]

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Anchorage	640	$93,600	$89,290	$53,730	$116,790
La Crosse-Onalaska	280	$82,610	$82,140	$49,770	$105,590
Fairbanks-College	200	$96,670	$92,330	$61,600	$121,130

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 2025.

Top Metros for Plumbers in Alaska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest plumber employment within Alaska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Anchorage	640	$93,600
Fairbanks-College	200	$96,670

Federal Prevailing Wage in Alaska

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Alaska earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Alaska general wage determinations show approximately $41.50 per hour in base pay plus $27.62 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $69.12 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁶.

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.

Explore More Trades in Alaska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for plumbers in Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 1,200 plumbers ¹. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a plumber in Alaska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development - Mechanical Inspection Section for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Alaska. You can also contact the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do plumbers earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Alaska is $93,920, which is $30,950 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data ¹.

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development - Mechanical Inspection Section - Licensing Information: http://labor.alaska.gov/lss/mihome.htm ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
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.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)