Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Oregon

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.

OR Median Salary
$93,110/yr
+48% vs. national
National Median
$62,970/yr
OR Employment
6,080
Plumber & Pipefitters employed
OR Sponsors
14
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 Oregon: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship in Oregon 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.

Oregon pay vs. national

Median plumber & pipefitter wages in Oregon are $93,110/year, +48% above the national median of $62,970. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Oregon has 14 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 — Oregon-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Oregon Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$53,930
Median
$93,110
90th pct
$131,420
Middle 50% of workers earn $64,550$113,570

Current Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Openings in Oregon

No plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Oregon. 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 Oregon

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

Organization City County
MID-VALLEY STEAMFITTERS/PIPEFITTERS JATC Albany
NORTH COAST PLUMBERS JATC Astoria
AREA III PLUMBERS JATC Eugene
KLAMATH BASIN PLUMBERS JATC Klamath Falls
AREA I PLUMBERS JATC Lake Oswego
OR & SW-WA SPRINKLER FITTERS JATC Portland
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU JATC Portland
AREA II PLUMBERS JATC Salem
AREA V (ROGUE VALLEY) PLUMBERS JATC Springfield
AREA VII PLUMBERS JATC Springfield
CLEAN WATER SERVICES JATC Tigard
OR SW-WA NW-CA MTL TRDS PIPEFITTERS JATC Tualatin
OR SW-WA NW-CA PLMBR & STMFITTR JATC Tualatin
OREGON/S.W. WASHINGTON/N.W. CALIFORNIA PLUMBERS AND STEAMFITTERS JATC Tualatin
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Plumber & Pipefitter openings

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

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Oregon

Oregon has 14 registered sponsors our directory identifies as Plumber & Pipefitter-adjacent — a functional apprenticeship pipeline concentrated in metro areas. Union locals and joint apprenticeship committees account for most placements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Plumber & Pipefitter salary in Oregon?
The BLS reports a median wage of $93,110/yr for Plumber & Pipefitters in Oregon (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship?
A typical Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
What's the difference between a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship and trade school?
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 Oregon?
Our directory surfaces 14 Plumber & Pipefitter-related registered sponsors in Oregon. 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 $46,555/yr in Oregon). 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 Oregon-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Plumber & Pipefitter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Oregon

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