How to Become a Plumber in New Jersey (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Jersey employs about 8,750 plumbers earning a median $78,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Department of Community Affairs - Bureau of Code Services credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in New Jersey

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
174.0Contact school for pricing$47,73995%—12 mi
267.5Contact school for pricing$37,62699%—13 mi
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367.0Contact school for pricing$47,36591%—14 mi
460.4Contact school for pricing$48,80490%—63 mi
Sponsored Ad
559.6Contact school for pricing$41,84381%—12 mi
659.5Contact school for pricing$42,51065%—52 mi
Sponsored Ad
759.1Contact school for pricing$46,91078%—12 mi
848.9Contact school for pricing$43,44584%—57 mi
Sponsored Ad
947.5$14,349$46,86345%Yes*61 mi
10Not ratedContact school for pricingNot reportedNot reported—75 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.

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.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in New Jersey

How to become a Plumber in New Jersey? New Jersey requires credentials such as PLUMBING INSPECTOR. The licensing authority is the Department of Community Affairs - Bureau of Code Services 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 New Jersey? Yes. New Jersey has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The Department of Community Affairs - Bureau of Code Services 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.

How to Become a Plumber in New Jersey

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 Department of Community Affairs - Bureau of Code Services, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in New Jersey.

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

Plumber License Requirements in New Jersey

The Department of Community Affairs - Bureau of Code Services oversees plumber licensing in New Jersey 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
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]

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.

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 ( OES data), plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters wages in New Jersey vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City21,040$78,610$90,820$47,870$145,480
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington7,150$74,860$83,660$48,400$142,210
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton730$64,940$75,490$46,460$138,040
Atlantic City-Hammonton530$64,220$75,010$45,030$111,780
Trenton-Princeton280$76,360$88,800$50,440$127,300
Vineland270$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 .

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 Community Affairs - Bureau of Code Services 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 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.

In New Jersey

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

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. Department of Community Affairs - Bureau of Code Services - Licensing Information: http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/codes/offices/licensing_cont_ed.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

  5. New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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)