Best institutions to study Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services
Compare 163 U.S. colleges offering Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 41 states.
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs report a median of $35,730 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 46.05 and the Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters occupation (BLS SOC).
About Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs
The Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services program prepares students for a career in the construction trades, focusing on essential skills for plumbing and water supply systems. This program is ideal for individuals interested in maintaining and installing piping systems, ensuring sanitation, and providing access to clean water in various settings. Students will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience in areas such as pipefitting, plumbing technology, and well drilling. This program addresses the critical need for skilled professionals in a field that has been vital to human health and infrastructure since the emergence of sedentary societies.
Learn more about Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services →
Core skills and knowledge in this program include building and construction principles, mechanical systems, mathematics, and customer service. Coursework covers essential tasks such as installing piping systems, assembling pipe sections, and ensuring proper sanitation and water supply.
Top 18 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree | $82,191 | 309 | 40% | — | $7,427 |
| 2 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College Chicago, IL Public · Certificate degree | $82,055 | 30 | 31% | — | $6,726 |
| 3 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · Certificate degree | $79,589 | 56 | 65% | — | — |
| 4 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Certificate degree | $44,240 | 16 | 45% | — | — |
| 5 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $43,556 | 63 | 53% | $17,520 | $6,500 |
| 6 | Industrial Management Training Institute Waterbury, CT Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $42,300 | 3 | 78% | $49,940 | $9,500 |
| 7 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $40,744 | 23 | 60% | $36,659 | $19,000 |
| 8 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Certificate degree | $40,030 | 81 | 42% | — | — |
| 9 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $35,730 | 28 | 90% | $19,184 | $7,521 |
| 10 | South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FL Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $35,252 | 272 | 83% | $29,731 | $9,500 |
| 11 | Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL Public · Certificate degree | $35,066 | 8 | 69% | — | — |
| 12 | Pennco Tech - Bristol Bristol, PA Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $31,668 | 55 | 84% | $22,272 | $9,500 |
| 13 | Adult and Continuing Education - BCTS Hackensack, NJ Public · Certificate degree | $30,184 | 44 | 91% | — | — |
| 14 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $29,497 | 181 | 78% | $17,771 | $9,500 |
| 15 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN Public · Certificate degree | $27,133 | 15 | 81% | — | — |
| 16 | Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Paterson, NJ Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $24,973 | 68 | 81% | $23,023 | $10,728 |
| 17 | Berk Trade and Business School Long Island City, NY Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $22,660 | 37 | 95% | $15,664 | $6,333 |
| 18 | NUC University Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $19,156 | 131 | 54% | $9,377 | $9,500 |
Offered across 41 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2152, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services program can pursue various careers in plumbing and related fields. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.5% and approximately 44,000 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $62,970, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 46.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 46.05 (Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services) maps to 7 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 47-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers |
| 47-2152 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfittersprimary |
| 47-4071 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners |
| 47-5011 | Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas |
| 47-5012 | Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas |
| 47-5023 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas |
| 47-5032 | Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
- Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
- Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
- Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
Concentrations within Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler FitterCIP 46.0502
A program that prepares individuals to design, install, and test industrial and commercial piping systems and automatic fire and exposure protection systems
- Plumbing Technology/PlumberCIP 46.0503
A program that prepares individuals to practice as licensed plumbers by applying technical knowledge and skills to lay out, assemble, install, and maintain piping fixtures and systems for steam, natur
- Well Drilling/DrillerCIP 46.0504
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, maintain, repair, and operate well drilling equipment; locate, drill, construct, and develop water, gas, and oil
- Blasting/BlasterCIP 46.0505
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in using a variety of explosive materials to aid in the construction process
- Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, OtherCIP 46.0599
Any instructional program in plumbing and related water supply services not listed above.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Pipefitting/Pipefitter, Plumbing Technology/Plumber, Well Drilling/Driller, and others.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, active listening, and mechanical skills.
What is the typical educational requirement for careers in this field?+
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
What is the job outlook for plumbing professionals?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.5% and 44,000 annual openings.
How much do Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates earn?+
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates report median earnings of $35,730 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters occupation pays about $72,170 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services?+
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services maps to CIP 46.05 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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