Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter Career Assessment
Water, gas, and piping systems
Welcome
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair the pipes that carry water, gas, steam, and other liquids in homes, businesses, and industry.
You will explore what this essential trade is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter?
Plumbers install water, drain, and gas lines and fixtures in homes and buildings. Pipefitters and steamfitters work on larger pipe systems in plants, refineries, and oil and gas sites. In ND, plumbers must be licensed.
The Reality: The work can be dirty, wet, and in tight spaces. Emergencies like burst pipes happen at night and on weekends. Pipefitters may travel for plant and pipeline jobs.
Your Responsibilities:
- Read blueprints and plans
- Install water, drain, and gas pipes
- Install sinks, toilets, water heaters, and fixtures
- Find and fix leaks and clogs
- Cut, bend, and join pipes
- Test systems for leaks
- Follow the plumbing code
- Install large piping systems in industry (pipefitters)
You keep clean water flowing and systems safe.
A Day in the Life
7:00 AM — Meet your journeyman at a new building site.
7:30 AM — Install drain pipes under the concrete slab.
10:00 AM — Test the lines for leaks.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
12:30 PM — Service call: a water heater is leaking at a home. Replace it.
3:00 PM — Back to the site to rough in water lines.
5:00 PM — Log your apprentice hours.
Hands-on work with a mix of new construction and repairs.
Training in North Dakota
North Dakota requires registration and a license. Most plumbers learn through a 4-year registered apprenticeship, earning pay while they learn.
Training Pathways:
- Apprenticeship (4 years): At least 1,900 hours a year (7,600 total) under a licensed master plumber.
- College first: NDSCS's plumbing certificate can count for up to 2,040 hours of credit.
- Union apprenticeship: UA Local 300 (Plumbers & Pipefitters) offers paid apprenticeships in ND.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton) — Plumbing Certificate (36 credits), with up to 2,040 hours of credit from the ND State Plumbing Board
- UA Local 300 Plumbers & Pipefitters — paid union apprenticeship (ua300.com)
- ND plumbing and mechanical contractors — registered apprenticeships
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Basic math. Must register as an apprentice with the ND State Board of Plumbing within 30 days of starting work.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
North Dakota licensing is required. The ND State Board of Plumbing registers apprentices and licenses plumbers.
License Levels in ND:
- Apprentice registration — renewed yearly by December 31
- Journeyman plumber — after 4 years of apprenticeship and passing the exam (70% to pass)
- Master plumber — age 21+, after 2 years as a journeyman, and passing the exam (80% to pass)
The Exams: Written exams on the plumbing code and practice.
Cost: Journeyman exam about $100; master exam about $200. Prices change, so check with the board.
Keeping It Current: Licenses renew with 2–4 hours of continuing education every 2 years.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $21.89–$23.92/hour ($45,520–$49,760/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $30.56/hour ($63,560/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $36.95–$40.17/hour ($76,860–$83,560/year)
What that means: ND pay is close to the national median. Apprentices start lower and earn raises as they progress.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 1,720 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 1,860 (about 8% growth). Expect about 160 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 5% growth — faster than average.
Outlook: Good, with about 160 openings a year in ND. Plumbing is always needed.
Who Hires in ND: Plumbing and mechanical contractors, builders, industrial plants, and pipeline and oil and gas companies in western ND.
Work Setting: Homes, construction sites, and industrial plants. Cold job sites in winter. Emergency calls at odd hours. Pipefitters may travel.
Physical Demands: High. Heavy lifting, kneeling, crawling in tight spaces, and working in wet and dirty conditions.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 47-2152); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Journeyman Plumber — Work on your own.
Path 2: Master Plumber — Supervise and plan work.
Path 3: Plumbing Contractor — Run your own business.
Path 4: Pipefitter or Steamfitter — Work on large industrial systems.
Path 5: Plumbing Inspector — Check work for code safety.
Path 6: Estimator or Project Manager — Plan projects.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Earn while you learn
- Always needed
- Can run your own business
- Solid pay after licensing
- Every job is different
- Union and non-union options
What's Hard:
- Dirty and wet work
- Tight spaces
- Emergency calls at night
- Cold job sites
- Physically demanding
- 4-year apprenticeship
Be Honest: Are you OK with dirty, wet work in tight spaces? Can you commit to a 4-year apprenticeship? Can you handle emergency calls?