"How long does it take to become a plumber in Nebraska?"

"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 plumbers need a license in Nebraska?"

"Yes. Nebraska requires state-level licensing or registration for plumbers, administered by the Local Officials. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for plumbers in Nebraska?"

"In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Plumber in Nebraska

Q: "How much do plumbers earn in Nebraska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), plumbers in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,970. Employment concentration in Nebraska is about 1.34 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for plumbers in Nebraska?"

"Nebraska currently employs approximately 4,110 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Q: "What is the federal prevailing wage for plumbers in Nebraska?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers on federally funded construction projects in Nebraska earn a prevailing wage of 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: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Nebraska plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn a median annual wage of $60,970 ($29.31/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,110 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -4.4% below the national median of $63,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,970 ($29.31/hr)
25th percentile: $48,280 per year
75th percentile: $81,900 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $98,030 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,830 per year
Workers employed in Nebraska: 4,110
Versus national median: -4.4% below the U.S. median of $63,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.34 - this occupation is more concentrated in Nebraska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

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.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Plumber in Nebraska

How do I 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 take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an 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.

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

Plumber License Requirements in Nebraska

The Local Officials oversees plumber licensing in Nebraska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Plumber	Occupational Description Plumbers assemble, install, or repair pipes, fittings, or fixtures of heating, water, or drainage systems, according to specifications or plumbing codes.

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]

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters wages in Nebraska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	2,430	$63,400	$71,120	$46,710	$98,540
Lincoln	650	$60,670	$61,520	$40,620	$87,660
Sioux City	240	$60,890	$66,450	$45,580	$97,410
Grand Island	150	$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 2025.

Top Metros for Plumbers in Nebraska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest plumber employment within Nebraska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Omaha	2,430	$63,400
Lincoln	650	$60,670
Grand Island	150	$55,850

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.

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

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 accredited 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.

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Local Officials - Licensing Information: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=18-1907 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
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.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)