How to Become a Plumber in Kansas (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kansas employs about 4,590 plumbers earning a median $65,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most plumbers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Kansas.

Compare Plumber Schools in Kansas

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
171.0$8,880$56,77468%Yes*127 mi
264.0Contact school for pricing$41,04085%—124 mi
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355.6$3,690 in-state / $4,320 out-of-state$54,27738%Yes*219 mi
455.0$5,780$55,33834%Yes*102 mi
Sponsored Ad
555.0$2,424 in-state / $5,688 out-of-state$52,95631%Yes*165 mi
654.7Contact school for pricing$32,47570%—154 mi
Sponsored Ad
752.6$3,342 in-state / $5,238 out-of-state$48,05631%Yes*197 mi
850.8$3,680 in-state / $4,960 out-of-state$48,24233%Yes*91 mi
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944.9$3,541 in-state / $6,271 out-of-state$46,56932%Yes*26 mi
1042.2Contact school for pricing$36,65145%—210 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.

Kansas employs approximately 4,590 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $65,220 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 Kansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (Kansas): $65,220 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Kansas

How to become a Plumber in Kansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for plumbers in Kansas.

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.

What do plumbers earn in Kansas? The median annual wage for plumbers in Kansas is $65,220 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,130 and experienced professionals can earn $109,290 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Kansas

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Kansas 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 Kansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in Kansas.
  4. Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Kansas, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.

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

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Kansas

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Kansas Department of Commerce, Apprenticeship Program
  • Address: 1000 Southwest Jackson Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1354
  • Phone: (785) 296-4161
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Kansas

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Kansas earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Kansas general wage determinations show approximately $27.79 per hour in base pay plus $10.85 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $38.64 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 4.

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 Kansas

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Kansas City3,740$76,150$79,030$46,800$122,820
Wichita1,060$60,940$66,780$38,290$93,630
Topeka420$75,090$70,870$45,760$95,110
Manhattan200$60,600$65,870$43,590$98,330
St. Joseph200$68,290$74,440$47,660$116,580
Joplin180$64,370$68,530$42,210$101,640
Lawrence130$59,280$63,480$36,840$106,610

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 Kansas? Kansas currently employs approximately 4,590 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Kansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Kansas. You can also contact the Kansas Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do plumbers earn in Kansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Kansas is $65,220, which is $2,250 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Kansas

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. Kansas Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

  4. 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)