Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Wisconsin

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.

WI Median Salary
$78,510/yr
+25% vs. national
National Median
$62,970/yr
WI Employment
9,120
Plumber & Pipefitters employed
WI Sponsors
26
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 Wisconsin: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship in Wisconsin 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.

Wisconsin pay vs. national

Median plumber & pipefitter wages in Wisconsin are $78,510/year, +25% above the national median of $62,970. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Wisconsin has 26 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 — Wisconsin-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Wisconsin Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$48,960
Median
$78,510
90th pct
$114,460
Middle 50% of workers earn $60,990$100,710

Current Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Openings in Wisconsin

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

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

Organization City County
Central WI Area Plumbing JAC Amherst Portage County
Appleton Area Plumbing JAC Appleton Outagamie County
Appleton Area Steamfitter JAC Appleton Outagamie County
Fond du Lac Area Plumbing JAC Appleton Outagamie County
Green Bay Area Steamfitting JAC Appleton Outagamie County
Northeast WI Area Plumbing JAC Appleton Outagamie County
Western WI Area Plumbing JAC Appleton Outagamie County
Northern WI Plumbing Advisory Committee Ashland Ashland County
Eau Claire Area Plumbing JAC Eau Claire Eau Claire County
Eau Claire Area Steamfitting JAC Eau Claire Eau Claire County
La Crosse Area Plumbing JAC Eau Claire Eau Claire County
La Crosse Area Steamfitting JAC Eau Claire Eau Claire County
Tri-City Area Steamfitting JAC Eau Claire Eau Claire County
Wausau Area Plumbing JAC Eau Claire Eau Claire County
Southwest WI Area Plumbing Advisory Comm Fennimore Grant County
Madison Area Plumbing JAC Fitchburg Dane County
Westlake Pipe & Fittings Janesville
Tyco Fire Products LP Marinette Marinette County
Marshfield Area Plumbing JAC Marshfield
Milwaukee Area Sprinkler Fitter JAC Menomonee Falls Waukesha County
Madison Area Steamfitting JAC Milwaukee Milwaukee County
Milwaukee Area Plumbing JAC Milwaukee Milwaukee County
SE WI Area Steamfitting JAC Milwaukee Milwaukee County
Rhinelander Area Plumbing JAC Rhinelander
K-R-W Steamfitting JAC Sturtevant Racine County
+ 1 more sponsors in Wisconsin
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Plumber & Pipefitter openings

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

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has 26 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 do Plumber & Pipefitters earn in Wisconsin?
The BLS reports a median wage of $78,510/yr for Plumber & Pipefitters in Wisconsin (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship?
Most Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
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.
How do I find a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship in Wisconsin?
Contact one of the 26 Plumber & Pipefitter-adjacent registered sponsors in Wisconsin (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Plumber & Pipefitter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Wisconsin, a first-year Plumber & Pipefitter apprentice might earn around $39,255/yr (roughly half the $78,510 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year 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 Wisconsin-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Plumber & Pipefitter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Wisconsin

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