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2-step progression from Plumber (Journeyman) to Plumbing Contractor. Potential salary increase of 25% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$62,970
Plumber (Journeyman)
Top Salary
$78,690
Plumbing Contractor
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$62,970
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
Avg. Licensing Cost
$122
Avg. Timeline
4.2 years – 4.4 years
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Median Salary
$78,690
Master plumber license + contractor license
Avg. Licensing Cost
$309
Avg. Timeline
1.9 years – 2.2 years
The plumbing career ladder is a professional progression from Plumber (Journeyman) to Plumbing Contractor. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Plumber (Journeyman) ($62,970 median) to Plumbing Contractor ($78,690 median) represents a 25% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Plumber (Journeyman): Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam. Plumbing Contractor: Master plumber license + contractor license. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.