Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Rhode Island

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.

RI Median Salary
$64,630/yr
+3% vs. national
National Median
$62,970/yr
RI Employment
1,790
Plumber & Pipefitters employed
RI Sponsors
110
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 Rhode Island: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship in Rhode Island 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.

Rhode Island pay vs. national

Median plumber & pipefitter wages in Rhode Island are $64,630/year, +3% above the national median of $62,970. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Rhode Island has 110 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 — Rhode Island-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Rhode Island Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$47,880
Median
$64,630
90th pct
$106,530
Middle 50% of workers earn $50,570$81,850

Current Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Openings in Rhode Island

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

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

Organization City County
Fellowship Plumbing & Mechanical LLC Albion Providence County
Big Dog Plumbing & Heating Ashaway Washington County
WJR Plg & Htg Ashaway Washington County
DiOrio Plumbing & Heating Inc Barrington Bristol County
Steven A Dubois Inc dba Oceanside Plumbing & Heating Bradford Washington County
Bills Direct Plumbing & Heating LLC Bristol Bristol County
MJF Plumbing & Heating LLC Bristol Bristol County
Tim the Plumber Inc formerly TA Gardiner Plg & Htg Inc Bristol Bristol County
South County Plumbing & Mechanical Inc Charlestown Washington County
Hawkes Plg & Htg Inc Chepachet Providence County
C W Cummings Plumbing Co Inc Coventry Kent County
Great American Plumbing LLC Coventry Kent County
J&M Plumbing LLC Coventry Kent County
Autiello Plumbing & Heating LLC Cranston Providence County
Haven Plumbing & Heating Co Inc Cranston Providence County
Knight Plumbing & Heating Cranston Providence County
L & F Plumbing Inc Cranston Providence County
Malone Plumbing and Heating Inc Cranston Providence County
Paolino Plumbing & Heating Inc Cranston Providence County
Phillips Plumbing & Mechanical Inc Cranston Providence County
Roman Hydro Plumbing & Heating LLC Cranston Providence County
Statewide Plumbing & Heating Co Inc Cranston Providence County
The Plumber Company Cranston Providence County
PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS L.U. No.51 JAC E Providence
Drakes Plumbing LLC East Greenwich Kent County
+ 85 more sponsors in Rhode Island
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Plumber & Pipefitter openings

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

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Rhode Island

With 110 Plumber & Pipefitter-adjacent sponsors on record, Rhode Island ranks among the stronger states for this trade's apprenticeship access.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Plumber & Pipefitters earn in Rhode Island?
Plumber & Pipefitters in Rhode Island earn a median salary of $64,630/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $62,970 for the trade.
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.
Should I do a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship or go to 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 Rhode Island?
Contact one of the 110 Plumber & Pipefitter-adjacent registered sponsors in Rhode Island (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
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 $32,315/yr in Rhode Island). 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 Rhode Island-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Plumber & Pipefitter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Rhode Island

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