How to Become a Plumber in West Virginia (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

West Virginia employs about 1,830 plumbers earning a median $56,980 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in West Virginia

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
173.8Contact school for pricing$40,44481%Yes*144 mi
261.2Contact school for pricing$42,57381%—46 mi
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358.9Contact school for pricing$44,75481%—126 mi
456.1$5,488 in-state / $11,224 out-of-state$52,68128%Yes*133 mi
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555.7$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$47,99059%Yes*168 mi
652.9$2,276 in-state / $6,884 out-of-state$48,62534%Yes*174 mi
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752.5$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$42,97056%Yes*119 mi
849.1$6,018 in-state / $14,424 out-of-state$49,18731%Yes*171 mi
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948.1$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$42,46947%Yes*121 mi
1040.9$4,842 in-state / $12,583 out-of-state$54,51924%Yes*169 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.

West Virginia employs approximately 1,830 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $56,980 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 West Virginia, 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: CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD
  • Median wage (West Virginia): $56,980 per year 1
  • Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in West Virginia

How to become a Plumber in West Virginia? West Virginia requires credentials such as Plumber License. The licensing authority is the CONTRACTOR LICENSING 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 West Virginia? Yes. West Virginia has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in West Virginia? The median annual wage for plumbers in West Virginia is $56,980 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,010 and experienced professionals can earn $83,160 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in West Virginia

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in West Virginia.

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

Plumber License Requirements in West Virginia

The CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD oversees plumber licensing in West Virginia 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Plumber LicenseSee the state licensing board for current requirements.

Additional Requirements

  • Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
  • Exam: State exam required
  • Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in West Virginia

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: West Virginia Community and Technical College System
  • Address: 1018 Kanawha Blvd E., Charleston, WV 25301
  • Phone: (304) 558-0265
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in West Virginia

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in West Virginia earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent West Virginia general wage determinations show approximately $36.58 per hour in base pay plus $24.58 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $61.16 (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 West Virginia

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria9,420$71,860$75,090$47,480$114,400
Huntington-Ashland460$62,160$64,940$39,010$86,840
Charleston260$58,940$59,220$37,310$83,800
Hagerstown-Martinsburg250$55,130$58,480$37,530$87,880
Winchester160$57,760$57,490$40,110$73,930
Morgantown160$58,780$59,170$35,610$83,910
Wheeling150$64,060$67,670$39,450$92,980
Weirton-Steubenville100$64,100$63,050$37,420$85,830
Beckley60$50,140$56,800$34,960$82,160
Parkersburg-Vienna50$49,580$55,260$36,080$77,840

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 West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 1,830 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a plumber in West Virginia with an out-of-state license? Contact the CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do plumbers earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in West Virginia is $56,980, which is $5,990 below the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In West Virginia

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. CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD - Licensing Information: https://labor.wv.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

  5. Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships: https://workforcewv.org/images/files/job-seekers/REGISTERED_STATEWIDE_APPRENTICESHIP_SPONSORS.pdf ↩︎

  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)