How to Become a Plumber in Louisiana (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Louisiana employs about 8,360 plumbers earning a median $63,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in Louisiana

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
161.5$2,361 in-state / $9,460 out-of-state$45,93736%Yes*175 mi
258.9$2,026 in-state / $8,062 out-of-stateNot reported38%Yes*344 mi
Sponsored Ad
357.2Contact school for pricing$31,05663%—184 mi
456.4$4,109$46,11977%Yes*262 mi
Sponsored Ad
554.8$2,490 in-state / $6,690 out-of-state$52,80930%Yes*303 mi
653.6$4,250 in-state / $7,300 out-of-state$40,04243%Yes*161 mi
Sponsored Ad
749.8$4,305$60,48843%Yes*186 mi
848.0$2,844 in-state / $12,924 out-of-state$59,94531%Yes*241 mi
Sponsored Ad
938.3$5,040 in-state / $8,910 out-of-state$44,50627%Yes*306 mi
109.3$6,084Not reported21%—283 mi
Sponsored Ad

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.

Louisiana employs approximately 8,360 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,680 1. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.44x 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 Louisiana, including licensing 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
  • Licensing authority: State Plumbing Board of Louisiana
  • Median wage (Louisiana): $63,680 per year 1
  • Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Louisiana

How to become a Plumber in Louisiana? Louisiana requires credentials such as Plumber, Journeyman, Plumber, Master. The licensing authority is the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license lists approximately 8,000 hours of training or supervised practice. Confirm the current total with the state board 3.

Do I need a license in Louisiana? Yes. Louisiana has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The State Plumbing Board of Louisiana oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for plumbers in Louisiana is $63,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,120 and experienced professionals can earn $79,540 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Louisiana

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in Louisiana.

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

Plumber License Requirements in Louisiana

The State Plumbing Board of Louisiana oversees plumber licensing in Louisiana 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Plumber, JourneymanMust perform 8,000 hours of manual labor of plumbing under direct supervision of licensed journeyman plumber. Successfully pass required examination, and pay appropriate fees.
Plumber, MasterSee the state licensing board for current requirements.

Additional Requirements

  • Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
  • Exam: State exam required
  • Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Louisiana

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Apprenticeship
  • Address: 1001 N. 23rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
  • Phone: (225) 342-7820
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Louisiana

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Louisiana earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Louisiana general wage determinations show approximately $26.50 per hour in base pay plus $13.39 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $39.89 (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.

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Baton Rouge2,790$74,240$69,930$49,920$81,060
New Orleans-Metairie1,510$62,450$62,920$39,220$79,690
Lafayette680$57,930$55,690$35,880$74,790
Shreveport-Bossier City680$59,720$57,710$36,830$77,220
Lake Charles560$67,990$65,620$45,700$80,640
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux460$55,240$54,080$37,750$71,400
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington340$58,750$57,730$32,030$82,170
Monroe240$55,670$54,160$32,830$74,970
Alexandria160$57,470$55,860$35,360$76,120
Hammond110$57,910$57,960$30,160$76,930

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 Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 8,360 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a plumber in Louisiana with an out-of-state license? Contact the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do plumbers earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Louisiana is $63,680, which is $710 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Louisiana

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

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. State Plumbing Board of Louisiana - Licensing Information: https://www.spbla.com ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

  5. Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division: http://www.laworks.net/ORS_websponsorsearch.asp ↩︎

  6. 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)