How to Become a Plumber in Ohio (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Ohio employs about 16,390 plumbers earning a median $63,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most plumbers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Ohio.

Compare Plumber Schools in Ohio

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
164.8Contact school for pricing$32,93186%—74 mi
258.9Contact school for pricing$44,75481%—8 mi
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358.2$4,265 in-state / $8,860 out-of-state$52,81431%Yes*112 mi
456.1$5,488 in-state / $11,224 out-of-state$52,68128%Yes*1 mi
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555.7$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$47,99059%Yes*109 mi
652.5$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$42,97056%Yes*102 mi
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750.8Contact school for pricing$44,41069%—105 mi
849.9$5,870 in-state / $10,502 out-of-state$55,40135%Yes*115 mi
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947.6$3,249 in-state / $7,249 out-of-state$49,69831%Yes*126 mi
1040.9$4,842 in-state / $12,583 out-of-state$54,51924%Yes*161 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.

Ohio employs approximately 16,390 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,330 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 Ohio, including 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
  • Median wage (Ohio): $63,330 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Ohio

How to become a Plumber in Ohio? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for plumbers in Ohio.

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.

What do plumbers earn in Ohio? The median annual wage for plumbers in Ohio is $63,330 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,470 and experienced professionals can earn $101,410 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Ohio

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Ohio 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 Ohio that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in Ohio.
  4. Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Ohio, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.

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

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Ohio

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services - ApprenticeOhio
  • Phone: (614) 466-6282
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Ohio

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Ohio earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Ohio general wage determinations show approximately $27.79 per hour in base pay plus $14.49 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $42.28 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 4.

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 Ohio

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Cincinnati3,640$65,160$70,570$46,830$101,800
Columbus3,060$63,260$69,140$40,820$103,000
Cleveland3,040$63,020$69,670$46,330$101,220
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek1,130$62,940$69,230$46,680$99,180
Toledo1,100$66,920$73,220$46,530$103,520
Akron1,070$63,450$69,090$44,780$99,710
Canton-Massillon460$59,960$65,310$39,100$90,440
Huntington-Ashland460$62,160$64,940$39,010$86,840
Youngstown-Warren410$59,680$65,370$39,190$94,370
Lima170$61,160$70,290$47,010$98,240
Wheeling150$64,060$67,670$39,450$92,980
Mansfield120$59,770$62,640$44,950$85,300
Sandusky110$65,780$69,430$47,380$96,410
Weirton-Steubenville100$64,100$63,050$37,420$85,830
Springfield90$58,060$62,790$45,410$78,660

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 Ohio? Ohio currently employs approximately 16,390 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do plumbers earn in Ohio compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Ohio is $63,330, which is $360 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Ohio

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Ohio

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. Ohio Office of Apprenticeship: http://jfs.ohio.gov/apprenticeship/Apprenticeship-Opportunities.stm ↩︎

  4. 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)