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

"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 apprenticeships are available for plumbers in New Jersey?"

"In New Jersey, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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 New Jersey

Q: "How much do plumbers earn in New Jersey?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), plumbers in New Jersey earned a median annual wage of approximately $78,240. Employment concentration in New Jersey is roughly 0.68 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do plumbers need a license in New Jersey?"

"Yes. New Jersey requires state-level licensing or registration for plumbers, administered by the Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"New Jersey currently employs approximately 8,750 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 New Jersey?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers on federally funded construction projects in New Jersey earn a prevailing wage of approximately $56.30 per hour in base pay plus $50.76 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $107.06 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Jersey plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn a median annual wage of $78,240 ($37.61/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 8,750 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 22.6% above the national median of $63,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $78,240 ($37.61/hr)
25th percentile: $61,810 per year
75th percentile: $106,830 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $136,710 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,720 per year
Workers employed in New Jersey: 8,750
Versus national median: 22.6% above the U.S. median of $63,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.68 - this occupation is less concentrated in New Jersey than the national average

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

New Jersey employs approximately 8,750 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $78,240 ¹. 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 New Jersey, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Plumber in New Jersey

How do I become a plumber in New Jersey? New Jersey requires credentials such as PLUMBER, PLUMBING INSPECTOR. The licensing authority is the Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers 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 New Jersey? Yes. New Jersey has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for plumbers in New Jersey is $78,240 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,720 and experienced professionals can earn $136,710 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: Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers
Median wage (New Jersey): $78,240 per year ¹
Exam requirement: No exam required

Plumber License Requirements in New Jersey

The Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers oversees plumber licensing in New Jersey ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
PLUMBER
PLUMBING INSPECTOR

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: No exam required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in New Jersey

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. New Jersey’s apprenticeship program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship ⁵.

Contact Information:

Office: Cape May County Technical Schools
Address: 188 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: (609) 380-0200
Email: [email protected]

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	21,040	$78,610	$90,820	$47,870	$145,480
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	7,150	$74,860	$83,660	$48,400	$142,210
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	730	$64,940	$75,490	$46,460	$138,040
Atlantic City-Hammonton	530	$64,220	$75,010	$45,030	$111,780
Trenton-Princeton	280	$76,360	$88,800	$50,440	$127,300
Vineland	270	$77,060	$90,460	$47,460	$133,050

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 New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Atlantic City-Hammonton	530	$64,220
Trenton-Princeton	280	$76,360
Vineland	270	$77,060

Federal Prevailing Wage in New Jersey

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in New Jersey earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent New Jersey general wage determinations show approximately $56.30 per hour in base pay plus $50.76 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $107.06 (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 New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for plumbers in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 8,750 plumbers ¹. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a plumber in New Jersey with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in New Jersey? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New Jersey. You can also contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do plumbers earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in New Jersey is $78,240, which is $15,270 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers - Licensing Information: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu/Pages/default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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)