The Plumbing major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.
Within Trade, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Trade, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC: 47-1011 Occupation: First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,690 | 806,080 | N/A | N/A |
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC: 47-2152 Occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $62,970 | 455,940 | N/A | N/A |
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners SOC: 47-4071 Occupation: Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $49,140 | 29,050 | N/A | N/A |
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas SOC: 47-5011 Occupation: Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $62,740 | 11,040 | N/A | N/A |
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas SOC: 47-5012 Occupation: Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $65,010 | 13,090 | N/A | N/A |
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas SOC: 47-5023 Occupation: Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $59,600 | 17,410 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $78,690 | 806,080 |
| 2023 | $76,760 | 777,420 |
| 2022 | $74,080 | 720,900 |
| 2021 | $72,010 | 665,870 |
| 2020 | $67,840 | 614,080 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $62,970 | 455,940 |
| 2023 | $61,550 | 436,160 |
| 2022 | $60,090 | 427,920 |
| 2021 | $59,880 | 417,620 |
| 2020 | $56,330 | 417,440 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,140 | 29,050 |
| 2023 | $46,910 | 27,900 |
| 2022 | $45,610 | 27,660 |
| 2021 | $44,810 | 28,620 |
| 2020 | $41,120 | 29,880 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $62,740 | 11,040 |
| 2023 | $58,210 | 11,510 |
| 2022 | $51,220 | 10,950 |
| 2021 | $47,230 | 7,880 |
| 2020 | $47,920 | 9,350 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $65,010 | 13,090 |
| 2023 | $61,770 | 12,180 |
| 2022 | $55,260 | 12,190 |
| 2021 | $56,380 | 11,170 |
| 2020 | $53,820 | 15,650 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $59,600 | 17,410 |
| 2023 | $56,660 | 18,010 |
| 2022 | $51,740 | 19,010 |
| 2021 | $48,250 | 15,800 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $59,110 | 5,680 |
| 2023 | $61,590 | 4,610 |
| 2022 | $56,670 | 4,710 |
| 2021 | $53,040 | 5,370 |