Best institutions to study Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter
A program that prepares individuals to design, install, and test industrial and commercial piping systems and automatic fire and exposure protection systems.
21 U.S. institutions graduated 698 Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 46.0502, a specialization of Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services (CIP 46.05), and leads most directly to the Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters occupation (BLS SOC 47-2152).
About Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter programs
A program that prepares individuals to design, install, and test industrial and commercial piping systems and automatic fire and exposure protection systems. Includes instruction in water systems, steam systems, heating and cooling systems, lubricating systems, piping materials, installation tools operation and maintenance, valve installation and repair, technical mathematics, blueprint interpretation, and applicable codes and standards.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter program prepares individuals for careers in designing, installing, and testing piping systems and fire protection systems. This program is ideal for those interested in the construction trades and looking to gain hands-on experience in plumbing and related water supply services.
Students will acquire essential skills in areas such as water systems, steam systems, heating and cooling systems, and piping materials. Coursework includes technical mathematics, blueprint interpretation, and an understanding of applicable codes and standards.
Credentials awarded
What Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years273 graduates / yr · 8 institutions39%
- Associate's degree212 graduates / yr · 5 institutions30%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year190 graduates / yr · 12 institutions27%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years23 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.3%
Graduates over time
Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 528 |
| 2013 | 653 |
| 2014 | 636 |
| 2015 | 485 |
| 2016 | 602 |
| 2017 | 510 |
| 2018 | 708 |
| 2019 | 774 |
| 2020 | 594 |
| 2021 | 638 |
| 2022 | 663 |
| 2023 | 526 |
| 2024 | 613 |
| 2025 | 698 |
Top 21 institutions for Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 309 | 40% | — | $82,191 |
| 2 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 54 | 25% | — | — |
| 3 | Philadelphia Technician Training Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 41 | 50% | $22,992 | — |
| 4 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MIPublicAssociate's | 30 | 33% | — | — |
| 5 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College Chicago, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 28 | 31% | — | $82,055 |
| 6 | St Philip's College San Antonio, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 28 | 28% | — | — |
| 7 | Linn - Benton Community College Albany, ORPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 22 | 29% | — | — |
| 8 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 71% | — | — |
| 9 | Macomb Community College Warren, MIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 20 | 18% | — | — |
| 10 | Lively Technical College Tallahassee, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 51% | — | — |
| 11 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 30% | — | — |
| 12 | Atlantic Technical College Coconut Creek, FLPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 18 | 65% | — | — |
| 13 | Lee College Baytown, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 53% | — | — |
| 14 | Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 16 | 40% | — | — |
| 15 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 65% | — | $79,589 |
| 16 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown Morristown, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 80% | — | — |
| 17 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Jackson Jackson, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 80% | — | — |
| 18 | Mid - State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 52% | — | — |
| 19 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 5 | 41% | — | — |
| 20 | Montana State University - Northern Havre, MTPublicAssociate's | 5 | 41% | — | — |
| 21 | Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 31% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services field (CIP 46.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 12 states
Where Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter graduates come from. Each state links to all Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 309 | Ivy Tech Community College309 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 75 | Milwaukee Area Technical College54 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 65 | St Philip's College28 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 50 | Washtenaw Community College30 / yr |
| Tennessee | 3 | 43 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville22 / yr |
| Florida | 3 | 42 | Lively Technical College19 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 41 | Philadelphia Technician Training41 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 28 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College28 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 22 | Linn - Benton Community College22 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 16 | Saint Paul College16 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 5 | Montana State University - Northern5 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 2 | Coastal Alabama Community College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2152, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, with an annual job outlook of 44,000 openings and a median wage of $62,970. The typical education required is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a viable option for many aspiring professionals.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 46.0502
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfittersprimary SOC 47-2152 | $63,800 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~44,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC 47-1011 | $79,920 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~74,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services (CIP 46.05).
- Plumbing Technology/CIP 46.0503
Plumber 3,426 graduates / yr150 institutions - Plumbing and Related Water Supply ServicesCIP 46.0599limited data63 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Well Drilling/CIP 46.0504
Driller limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes 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.
See all Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs →
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn various credentials, including an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, an Associate's degree, or shorter awards.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, active listening, and technical skills related to pipefitting and sprinkler systems.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a projected growth rate of 4.5%.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 21 colleges offering the Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter program in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter?+
Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter is CIP 46.0502 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services (CIP 46.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to design, install, and test industrial and commercial piping systems and automatic fire and exposure protection systems. Includes instruction in water systems, steam systems, heating and cooling systems, lubricating systems, piping materials, installation tools operation and maintenance, valve installation and repair, technical mathematics, blueprint interpretation, and applicable codes and standards.
How many institutions offer Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter programs?+
21 U.S. institutions reported Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 12 states, awarding 698 credentials in the year. That is 16.6% of all Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services graduates.
How much do Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters occupation, which Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter most directly leads to, pays a median of $63,800 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services field report median earnings of $82,055 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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