Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in North Carolina

Wages, programs & career outlook

Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair the piping systems that carry water, gas, steam, and waste. Residential plumbers work on homes; pipefitters and steamfitters handle industrial and commercial systems with higher pressures and tighter tolerances.

NC Median Salary
$50,990/yr
-19% vs. national
National Median
$62,970/yr
NC Employment
14,300
Plumber & Pipefitters employed
NC Sponsors
16
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.5%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
44,000
Nationally, per yr

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in North Carolina: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship in North Carolina combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

North Carolina pay vs. national

Median plumber & pipefitter wages in North Carolina are $50,990/year, -19% below the national median of $62,970. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

North Carolina has 16 registered apprenticeship sponsors for plumber & pipefitter listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% job growth for plumber & pipefitters nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 44,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — North Carolina-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

North Carolina Wage Spread

Annual wages for Plumber & Pipefitters in North Carolina across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,690
Median
$50,990
90th pct
$72,650
Middle 50% of workers earn $45,760$62,050

Current Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Openings in North Carolina

No plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for North Carolina. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Sponsors in North Carolina

16 plumber & pipefitter-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for North Carolina. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Apex Plumbing and Heating, Inc Apex
Ohana Plumbing and Home Repair Barco Currituck County
Wiginton Fire Systems Charlotte
JATC PLUMBERS & PIPE FITTERS OF THE CAROLINAS Concord Cabarrus County
Three Way Plumbing Services Inc Concord
BROWN BROTHERS PLUMBING & HTG. COMPANY, INC. Durham
Cintas Fire Protection Durham
JD PLUMBING, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Durham
Haire Plumbing & Mechanical Co., Inc. Fayetteville
VSC Fire & Security Garner
Precision Plumbing Inc. Goldsboro
Johns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Greensboro
Plumbing Apprenticeship of the Carolinas Harrisburg
Sunland Fire Protection, Inc. High Point
Precision Plumbing - Mecklenburg Matthews
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Mint Hill
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Plumber & Pipefitter openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2152 and state NC for the most relevant results.

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in North Carolina

Program availability in North Carolina is moderate: 16 Plumber & Pipefitter-related sponsors in our directory. Candidates in major cities will find multiple options; those in smaller markets may need to commute or relocate within the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Plumber & Pipefitters earn in North Carolina?
The median annual wage for Plumber & Pipefitters in North Carolina is $50,990 as of May 2024. Wages range from $37,690 at the 10th percentile to $72,650 at the 90th percentile.
How many years does it take to become a Plumber & Pipefitter through apprenticeship?
The standard Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Plumber & Pipefitters?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship in North Carolina?
Our directory surfaces 16 Plumber & Pipefitter-related registered sponsors in North Carolina. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do Plumber & Pipefitter apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $25,495/yr in North Carolina). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Plumber & Pipefitters also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 19 Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs nationwide →
Too few North Carolina-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Plumber & Pipefitter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in North Carolina

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.