Best colleges for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services by graduate earnings are Ivy Tech Community College ($82,191), City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College ($82,055) and Fox Valley Technical College ($79,589), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, IN): $82,191, 309 graduates a year
- City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College (Chicago, IL): $82,055, 30 graduates a year
- Fox Valley Technical College (Appleton, WI): $79,589, 56 graduates a year
- Ranken Technical College (Saint Louis, MO): $43,556, 63 graduates a year
- New England Institute of Technology (East Greenwich, RI): $40,744, 23 graduates a year
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 median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,730 (College Scorecard, 2019), 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
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | 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 | $82,055 | 30 | 31% | — | $6,726 |
| 3 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · Certificate | $79,589 | 56 | 65% | — | — |
| 4 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $43,556 | 63 | 53% | $17,520 | $6,500 |
| 5 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $40,744 | 23 | 60% | $36,659 | $19,000 |
| 6 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Certificate | $40,030 | 81 | 42% | — | — |
| 7 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $35,730 | 28 | 90% | $19,184 | $7,521 |
| 8 | South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FL Private for-profit · Certificate | $35,252 | 272 | 83% | $29,731 | $9,500 |
| 9 | Pennco Tech-Bristol Bristol, PA Private for-profit · Certificate | $31,668 | 55 | 84% | $22,272 | $9,500 |
| 10 | Adult and Continuing Education-BCTS Hackensack, NJ Public · Certificate | $30,184 | 44 | 91% | — | — |
| 11 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $29,497 | 181 | 78% | $17,771 | $9,500 |
| 12 | Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Paterson, NJ Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,973 | 68 | 81% | $23,023 | $10,728 |
| 13 | Berk Trade and Business School Long Island City, NY Private for-profit · Certificate | $22,660 | 37 | 95% | $15,664 | $6,333 |
| 14 | NUC University Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · Certificate | $19,156 | 131 | 54% | $9,377 | $9,500 |
| 15 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Certificate Small program | $44,240 | 16 | 45% | — | — |
| 16 | Industrial Management Training Institute Waterbury, CT Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $42,300 | 3 | 78% | $49,940 | $9,500 |
| 17 | Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL Public · Certificate Small program | $35,066 | 8 | 69% | — | — |
| 18 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN Public · Certificate Small program | $27,133 | 15 | 81% | — | — |
Specializations within Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services
4 of the 5 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 46.05 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Plumbing Technology/CIP 46.0503
Plumber 3,426 graduates / yr150 institutions39 states - Pipefitting/CIP 46.0502
Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter 698 graduates / yr21 institutions12 states - Plumbing and Related Water Supply ServicesCIP 46.0599limited data63 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
- Well Drilling/CIP 46.0504
Driller limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states
Show all 5 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Blasting/
Blaster46.0505
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
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.
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 one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,730, College Scorecard (2019); 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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