How to Become a Plumber in Maine (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Maine employs about 2,710 plumbers earning a median $64,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most plumbers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Maine.

Compare Plumber Schools in Maine

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
164.6$4,156 in-state / $7,036 out-of-state$44,98542%Yes*236 mi
262.3$37,275$62,15160%Yes*152 mi
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361.5$4,156 in-state / $7,036 out-of-state$52,07939%Yes*72 mi
458.7$4,140 in-state / $7,020 out-of-state$51,34530%Yes*33 mi
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558.2Contact school for pricing$54,08878%—203 mi
654.0Contact school for pricing$48,03774%—121 mi
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753.4$4,156 in-state / $7,036 out-of-state$48,02432%Yes*110 mi
847.5$14,349$46,86345%Yes*226 mi
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946.5$4,156 in-state / $7,036 out-of-state$53,54328%Yes*2 mi
1032.6$14,337$46,28132%—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.

Maine employs approximately 2,710 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $64,000 1. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.41x 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 Maine, 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 (Maine): $64,000 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Maine

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

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 Maine? The median annual wage for plumbers in Maine is $64,000 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,120 and experienced professionals can earn $80,760 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Maine

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine.
  4. Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Maine, 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 Maine

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Services
  • Address: 55 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0055
  • Phone: (207) 623-7969
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Maine

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Maine earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Maine general wage determinations show approximately $20.35 per hour in base pay plus $5.09 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $25.44 (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 Maine

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Portland-South Portland1,740$64,500$67,640$49,920$81,130
Bangor220$60,140$60,060$42,780$77,650
Lewiston-Auburn190$62,140$64,140$44,990$77,500

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 Maine? Maine currently employs approximately 2,710 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do plumbers earn in Maine compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Maine is $64,000, which is $1,030 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Maine

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. Maine Apprenticeship Program: https://joblink.maine.gov/ada/r/search/jobs?keywords=apprentice ↩︎

  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)