How to Become a Plumber in Nebraska (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Nebraska employs about 4,110 plumbers earning a median $60,970 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Local Officials credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in Nebraska

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
171.4$3,840 in-state / $5,130 out-of-state$49,39056%Yes*94 mi
271.0$8,880$56,77468%Yes*153 mi
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369.7$7,650$53,28959%Yes*166 mi
457.6$5,186 in-state / $5,330 out-of-state$47,71350%Yes*87 mi
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556.3$6,176 in-state / $8,220 out-of-state$48,66343%Yes*226 mi
655.6$3,690 in-state / $4,320 out-of-state$54,27738%Yes*48 mi
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755.0$2,424 in-state / $5,688 out-of-state$52,95631%Yes*173 mi
848.3$6,930 in-state / $7,080 out-of-state$51,13940%Yes*7 mi
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946.7$3,375 in-state / $4,950 out-of-state$53,37629%Yes*0 mi
1044.9$3,541 in-state / $6,271 out-of-state$46,56932%Yes*243 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.

Nebraska employs approximately 4,110 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,970 1. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.34x 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 Nebraska, 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: Local Officials
  • Median wage (Nebraska): $60,970 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Nebraska

How to become a Plumber in Nebraska? Nebraska requires credentials such as Plumber. The licensing authority is the Local Officials 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 Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The Local Officials oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for plumbers in Nebraska is $60,970 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,830 and experienced professionals can earn $98,030 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Nebraska

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Nebraska 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 Nebraska 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 Local Officials, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in Nebraska.

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

Plumber License Requirements in Nebraska

The Local Officials oversees plumber licensing in Nebraska 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
PlumberSee the state licensing board for current requirements.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Nebraska

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Omaha Field Office
  • Address: 222 South 15th Street, Omaha, NE 68102-1608
  • Phone: (515) 284-4632
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Nebraska

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Nebraska earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Nebraska general wage determinations show approximately $44.26 per hour in base pay plus $16.90 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $61.16 (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 Nebraska

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Omaha2,430$63,400$71,120$46,710$98,540
Lincoln650$60,670$61,520$40,620$87,660
Sioux City240$60,890$66,450$45,580$97,410
Grand Island150$55,850$57,840$39,480$80,930

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 Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 4,110 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a plumber in Nebraska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Local Officials for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do plumbers earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Nebraska is $60,970, which is $2,000 below the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Nebraska

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

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. Local Officials - Licensing Information: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=18-1907 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

  5. Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

  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)