What apprenticeships are available for steamfitters in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Apprenticeship Minnesota, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Steamfitter in Minnesota (2026)

Q: How much do steamfitters earn in Minnesota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), steamfitters in Minnesota earned a median annual wage of approximately $94,410. Employment concentration in Minnesota is about 1.21 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for steamfitters in Minnesota?

Minnesota currently employs approximately 10,720 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Minnesota plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn a median annual wage of $94,410 ($45.39/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 10,720 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 48.0% above the national median of $63,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $94,410 ($45.39/hr)
25th percentile: $61,150 per year
75th percentile: $108,750 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $121,050 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,720 per year
Workers employed in Minnesota: 10,720
Versus national median: 48.0% above the U.S. median of $63,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.21 - this occupation is more concentrated in Minnesota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Minnesota employs about 10,720 steamfitters earning a median $94,410 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most steamfitters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Minnesota.

Compare Steamfitter Schools in Minnesota

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.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	North Dakota State College of Science	72.6	$5,974 in-state / $6,973 out-of-state	$60,587	55%	Yes*	165 mi
2	Ridgewater College	68.7	$6,121	$49,859	50%	Yes*	80 mi
3	Northwood Technical College	66.6	$4,926 in-state / $7,169 out-of-state	$49,705	56%	Yes*	83 mi
4	Minnesota State Community and Technical College	64.5	$5,908	$54,581	47%	Yes*	143 mi
5	St Cloud Technical and Community College	63.7	$6,124	$58,691	45%	Yes*	39 mi
6	Chippewa Valley Technical College	61.2	$4,844 in-state / $7,087 out-of-state	$57,493	50%	Yes*	102 mi
7	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940	$59,906	42%	Yes*	17 mi
8	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491	$52,390	52%	Yes*	110 mi
9	Western Technical College	56.2	$4,820 in-state / $7,078 out-of-state	$53,114	34%	Yes*	151 mi
10	Northwest Technical College	55.7	$6,254	$55,473	50%	Yes*	160 mi

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.

Minnesota employs approximately 10,720 steamfitters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $94,410 ¹. The state’s concentration of steamfitter jobs is 1.21x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, steamfitter 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 Steamfitter in Minnesota, 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 (Minnesota): $94,410 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Steamfitter in Minnesota

How to become a Steamfitter in Minnesota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for steamfitters in Minnesota.

How long does it take? Most paths into the steamfitter 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 steamfitters earn in Minnesota? The median annual wage for steamfitters in Minnesota is $94,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,720 and experienced professionals can earn $121,050 or more ¹.

How to Become a Steamfitter in Minnesota

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Minnesota training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Minnesota that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in Minnesota.
Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Minnesota, 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 state board before you apply.

Steamfitter Apprenticeship Information in Minnesota

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

Contact Information:

Office: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Apprenticeship Unit
Address: 443 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4303
Phone: (651) 284-5090
Email: [email protected]

Steamfitter Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	6,730	$101,630	$92,030	$51,370	$121,720
St. Cloud	830	$90,230	$86,590	$50,770	$116,850
Sioux Falls	810	$55,000	$56,890	$40,260	$76,480
Fargo	670	$63,350	$65,900	$45,460	$82,830
Rochester	490	$84,880	$82,140	$48,760	$106,700
Duluth	420	$85,060	$80,110	$46,300	$109,350
La Crosse-Onalaska	280	$82,610	$82,140	$49,770	$105,590
Grand Forks	240	$62,940	$65,090	$45,850	$83,820
Mankato	130	$74,450	$77,530	$48,870	$114,890

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 steamfitters in Minnesota? Minnesota currently employs approximately 10,720 steamfitters ¹. Nationally, steamfitter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do steamfitters earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for steamfitters in Minnesota is $94,410, which is $31,440 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data ¹.

In Minnesota

Best Trade Schools in Minnesota (2026)

Explore More Trades in Minnesota

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Apprenticeship Minnesota: https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/apprenticeshipsponsor/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)