How to Become a Plumber in Rhode Island (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island employs about 1,820 plumbers earning a median $76,470 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most plumbers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Rhode Island.

Compare Plumber Schools in Rhode Island

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%—151 mi
267.0Contact school for pricing$47,36591%—150 mi
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362.3$37,275$62,15160%Yes*12 mi
459.6Contact school for pricing$41,84381%—156 mi
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559.1Contact school for pricing$46,91078%—151 mi
658.2Contact school for pricing$54,08878%—86 mi
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754.0Contact school for pricing$48,03774%—21 mi
847.5$14,349$46,86345%Yes*101 mi
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946.5$4,156 in-state / $7,036 out-of-state$53,54328%Yes*140 mi
1032.6$14,337$46,28132%—85 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.

Rhode Island employs approximately 1,820 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $76,470 1. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.21x 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 Rhode Island, 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 (Rhode Island): $76,470 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Rhode Island

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

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 Rhode Island? The median annual wage for plumbers in Rhode Island is $76,470 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,680 and experienced professionals can earn $110,360 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Rhode Island

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.
  4. Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
  • Address: 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920-0943
  • Phone: (401) 462-8536
  • Email: [email protected]

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick3,000$79,820$82,000$49,590$110,770

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 Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 1,820 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do plumbers earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Rhode Island is $76,470, which is $13,500 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Rhode Island

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. Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/apprenticeship/ ↩︎

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)