How to Become a Plumber in North Dakota (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Dakota employs about 1,620 plumbers earning a median $63,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the ND State Plumbing Board credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in North Dakota

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
172.6$5,974 in-state / $6,973 out-of-state$60,58755%Yes*44 mi
268.7$6,121$49,85950%Yes*146 mi
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364.5$5,908$54,58147%Yes*52 mi
463.7$6,124$58,69145%Yes*154 mi
Sponsored Ad
563.6$6,289$54,67156%Yes*90 mi
661.9$2,794Not reported43%Yes*192 mi
Sponsored Ad
758.9$5,940$59,90642%Yes*204 mi
858.5$6,491$52,39052%Yes*155 mi
Sponsored Ad
955.7$6,254$55,47350%Yes*99 mi
1051.7$6,267$55,03566%Yes*198 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.

North Dakota employs approximately 1,620 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,560 1. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.26x 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 North Dakota, 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: ND State Plumbing Board
  • Median wage (North Dakota): $63,560 per year 1
  • Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in North Dakota

How to become a Plumber in North Dakota? North Dakota requires credentials such as Plumbers (Master), Water Conditioning Installers, Plumbers (Journeyman). The licensing authority is the ND State Plumbing Board 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 North Dakota? Yes. North Dakota has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The ND State Plumbing Board oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in North Dakota? The median annual wage for plumbers in North Dakota is $63,560 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,520 and experienced professionals can earn $83,560 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in North Dakota

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 ND State Plumbing Board, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in North Dakota.

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

Plumber License Requirements in North Dakota

The ND State Plumbing Board oversees plumber licensing in North Dakota 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Plumbers (Master)For more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.
Water Conditioning InstallersFor more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.
Plumbers (Journeyman)For more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.
Plumbers (Apprentice)For more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.
Water Conditioning ApprenticesFor more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.

Additional Requirements

  • Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
  • Exam: State exam required
  • Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in North Dakota

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Bismarck Field Office
  • Address: 304 E. Broadway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5900
  • Phone: (701) 250-4700
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in North Dakota

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in North Dakota earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent North Dakota general wage determinations show approximately $40.53 per hour in base pay plus $20.60 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $61.13 (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 North Dakota

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Fargo670$63,350$65,900$45,460$82,830
Grand Forks240$62,940$65,090$45,850$83,820
Bismarck220$70,310$70,030$46,830$94,940
Minot150$62,400$65,250$46,030$82,380

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 North Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 1,620 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

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

How much do plumbers earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in North Dakota is $63,560, which is $590 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In North Dakota

Top local programs

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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. ND State Plumbing Board - Licensing Information: http://www.ndplumbingboard.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

  5. North Dakota Workforce Development - 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)