Plumbing Schools in Washington

As a plumber, a typical day’s work will involve upgrading, maintaining, repairing, and installing various plumbing fixtures for households and business organizations. Ultimately, professionals in this field enjoy competitive salaries and several opportunities to grow their careers and improve their returns.

In the following sections, we will explore the scope of starting a plumbing career in Washington. We will explore individual requirements needed to begin the journey while highlighting particular ways for candidates to improve their career prospects.

Interested candidates will also discover the top programs in the school for a comprehensive introduction to the field and possible salary ranges they may fall into once they secure employment.

How to Become a Plumber in Washington

The following are all the major requirements that an aspiring plumber in Washington must consider.

Age Requirement

Before they can start receiving plumbing training to contribute towards obtaining a license in the state, candidates must ensure they meet the minimum age requirement of 16 years old.

Education Requirements

To obtain a plumbing license in Washington, candidates should also have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Having either of these makes securing enrollment into worthwhile training programs easier, which is a necessary step, as we’ll see next.

Acquire Technical Training

Those who meet the minimum age and educational requirements may proceed to receive plumbing training under the supervision of a certified plumber or in an academic environment.

In either training destination, they must receive both classroom and hands-on training.

They can also earn valuable degrees for career growth and transfer to other disciplines through academic training.

Through apprenticeship programs, they will be able to emerge themselves in the real-world requirements of the job right from the very start. Some “on-the-job” training programs and apprenticeships also allow candidates to earn while they learn.

Certification & Employment

After completing their training, plumbers may choose to obtain certification to network with fellow professionals and enjoy other career growth opportunities. They will also have to meet the licensing requirements outlined below.

Once these steps have been completed, they may secure employment with an organization that suits their discipline.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• How to become a CNC machinist in Washington

Licensure & Certification Requirements

To receive a plumbing license in Washington and become a full-fledged professional, candidates must register with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. They must also participate in the Plumbing Certification program, which will give them official licenses specific to their level of expertise.

The Department offers licenses in three levels: trainee, journeyman, and contractor.

Individuals who have completed the steps outlined above will start their careers by obtaining a journeyman license. To qualify, they must have 4 years of experience working as a trainee or at least 8,000 hours of experience on the job.

Journeyman plumbers may earn licenses in sub-disciplines such as residential, residential service, and pump and irrigation plumbing.

Top Plumbing Schools in Washington

The following are some prominent plumbing training programs in Washington.

Explore plumbing schools in Washington by city:

• Plumbing schools in Seattle

Salary & Career Outlook

In Washington, a plumber starting their career typically goes home with an annual average salary of $65,975. This is relevant for those still among the lowest-paid in the state.

Those who somehow manage to make it among the midpoint earners right from the start may look forward to an annual average salary of up to $111,249. With time, candidates may scale their earnings to $187,592 — relevant for Washington’s top 10% of highest-paid plumbers.

Along with time and experience, location also plays a key role in influencing these figures. Tacoma and Seattle, for example, have the highest salaries in the state for plumbers, with annual average salaries of $132,955 and $117,905, respectively.

Spokane Valley, Kent, and Vancouver follow them in the top five, with annual average salaries of $107,276, $100,188, and $98,291.