How to Become a Plumber in Maryland (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Maryland employs about 11,420 plumbers earning a median $65,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Maryland Department of Labor - State Board of Plumbing credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in Maryland

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
171.8$18,240 in-state / $25,980 out-of-state$66,31653%Yes*136 mi
267.0$9,050$57,78871%—54 mi
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360.8Contact school for pricing$54,60770%—59 mi
460.4Contact school for pricing$48,80490%—102 mi
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559.5Contact school for pricing$42,51065%—137 mi
650.1$6,930 in-state / $15,540 out-of-state$56,64724%Yes*80 mi
Sponsored Ad
748.9Contact school for pricing$43,44584%—108 mi
844.8Contact school for pricingNot reported62%—87 mi
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943.0$6,600 in-state / $16,260 out-of-state$49,52123%Yes*136 mi
10Not ratedContact school for pricingNot reportedNot reported—109 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.

Maryland employs approximately 11,420 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $65,400 1. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.38x 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 Maryland, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Maryland

How to become a Plumber in Maryland? Maryland requires credentials such as PLUMBING INSPECTOR, MASTER PLUMBER/GAS FITTER, JOURNEY PLUMBER/GAS FITTER. The licensing authority is the Maryland Department of Labor - State Board of Plumbing 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 Maryland? Yes. Maryland has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The Maryland Department of Labor - State Board of Plumbing oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in Maryland? The median annual wage for plumbers in Maryland is $65,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,630 and experienced professionals can earn $108,420 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Maryland

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

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

Plumber License Requirements in Maryland

The Maryland Department of Labor - State Board of Plumbing oversees plumber licensing in Maryland 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
PLUMBING INSPECTOR
MASTER PLUMBER/GAS FITTER
JOURNEY PLUMBER/GAS FITTER

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Maryland

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Maryland Apprenticeship & Training Program, Division of Workforce Development
  • Address: 1100 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
  • Phone: (410) 767-2246
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Maryland

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Maryland earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Maryland general wage determinations show approximately $46.21 per hour in base pay plus $24.90 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $71.11 (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 Maryland

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria9,420$71,860$75,090$47,480$114,400
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington7,150$74,860$83,660$48,400$142,210
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson5,220$63,200$70,780$45,220$102,640
Salisbury330$61,940$64,940$39,470$97,060
Lexington Park260$57,700$63,710$41,940$96,870
Hagerstown-Martinsburg250$55,130$58,480$37,530$87,880

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 Maryland? Maryland currently employs approximately 11,420 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

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

How much do plumbers earn in Maryland compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Maryland is $65,400, which is $2,430 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Maryland

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Maryland

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. Maryland Department of Labor - State Board of Plumbing - Licensing Information: https://candidate.psiexams.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

  5. Maryland Apprenticeship and Training: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/approcc/approcclinks.shtml ↩︎

  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)