Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Washington

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.

WA Median Salary
$79,070/yr
+26% vs. national
National Median
$62,970/yr
WA Employment
12,210
Plumber & Pipefitters employed
WA Sponsors
9
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 Washington: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship in Washington 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.

Washington pay vs. national

Median plumber & pipefitter wages in Washington are $79,070/year, +26% above the national median of $62,970. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Washington has 9 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 — Washington-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Washington Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$47,570
Median
$79,070
90th pct
$139,280
Middle 50% of workers earn $59,760$106,100

Current Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Openings in Washington

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

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

Organization City County
Construction Industry Training Council of Washington - Plumber Bellevue
Greater Western Washington Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Committee Burlington
EASTERN WA-NE OREGON PIPE TRADES JATC Pasco
Eastern Washington - Northeast Oregon Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Committee Pasco
Seattle Area Plumbers Housing Plumbers Pipefitters HVAC-Service Controls Technician/Refrigeration Mechanics and Marine Pipefitters Apprenticeship Committee Renton
Seattle and Vicinity Sprinkler Fitters Apprenticeship Committee Seattle
Evergreen Rural Water of Washington Apprenticeship Committee Shelton
Inland Empire Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Apprenticeship Training Committee Spokane
MCA Plumbing LLC dba Roto-Rooter Spokane Valley
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Plumber & Pipefitter openings

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

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Washington

The 9 Plumber & Pipefitter-related registered sponsors in Washington mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Plumber & Pipefitter salary in Washington?
The median annual wage for Plumber & Pipefitters in Washington is $79,070 as of May 2024. Wages range from $47,570 at the 10th percentile to $139,280 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.
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.
How do I find a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship in Washington?
Our directory surfaces 9 Plumber & Pipefitter-related registered sponsors in Washington. 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 $39,535/yr in Washington). 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 Washington-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Plumber & Pipefitter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Washington

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