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The cheapest state to get a plumber license is Alabama at $30. The most expensive is California at $450. The national average is $115.
Lowest
$30
Alabama
Average
$115
across 35 states
Median
$75
20 states at or below
Range
$420
spread across states
| # | State | Renewal Fee | Initial Fees | Renewal Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | $30 (journeyman) / $175 (master) / $10 (apprentice) | $270 | Annual (implied) |
| #1 | Colorado | $30 | $245 | Licenses expire on the last day of February in odd-numbered years (~2-year cycle) |
| #1 | Indiana | $30 (journeyman) / $100 (contractor) | $120 | 2 years |
| #4 | Texas | $35 (Tradesman) / $40 (Journeyman) / $75 (Master) | $208.50 | Annual (1 year) |
| #5 | South Carolina | $40 | $190 | 2 years |
| #6 | Minnesota | $43 (journeyworker) / $93 (master) | $88 | 2 years |
| #7 | Arkansas | $50 | $150 | 1 year |
| #7 | Delaware | $50 | $215 | 2 years |
| #7 | New Mexico | $50 | $105 | 3 years |
| #10 | Georgia | $60 | $250 | 2 years (renewal required by November 30 of even-numbered years) |
| #10 | Kentucky | $60 (journeyman) / $250 (master) | $110 | 1 year |
| #12 | Utah | $63 | $302-$322 | 2 years |
| #13 | Arizona | $65 | $270+ | 2 years |
| #14 | Maryland | $70 | $127 | 2 years |
| #14 | Oregon | $70 | $505 | 2 years |
| #16 | Rhode Island | $72 (journeyman) / $240 (master) | $147 | 2 years |
| #17 | Nevada | $75 | $425 | 2 years |
| #17 | Oklahoma | $75 (journeyman) / $200 (contractor) | $163 | 1 year |
| #17 | Tennessee | $75 (LLP biennial) / $200 (CMC/CMC-A biennial) | $75 | 1 year |
| #17 | West Virginia | $75 (J/M) / $90 (contractor) | $127-$135 | 1 year |
| #21 | Vermont | $90 | $245 | 2 years |
| #22 | Alaska | $100 | $250 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #22 | North Dakota | $100 (journeyman) / $200 (master) | $175 | 1 year |
| #22 | South Dakota | $100 (journeyman) / $60 (contractor) | $205 | Annual, expiring December 31 |
| #25 | Idaho | $108 | $272 | 3 years |
| #26 | Connecticut | $Contractor $150.00; Journeyperson $120.00 | $250 | Annual; all licenses expire October 31st each year |
| #27 | New Jersey | $160 | $260 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #28 | Iowa | $180 (journeyperson) / $240 (master) | $359 | 3 years |
| #28 | New Hampshire | $180 (journeyman) / $300 (master) | $288 | 2 years |
| #28 | Wisconsin | $180 (journeyman) / $500 (master) | $210 | 4 years |
| #31 | Maine | $200 | $286-$296 | 2 years (biennial, based on first licensure date) for all license types |
| #32 | Florida | $209 | $388 | Biennial (2 years) — confirmed consistent with DBPR/CILB licensing cycle references across official pages. |
| #33 | Hawaii | $306.00 (active status) | $436 | 3 years (triennial) |
| #34 | Mississippi | $400 (commercial) / $100 (residential) | $640 | 1 year |
| #35 | California | $450 (sole owner) / $700 (non-sole owner) | $650 | 2 years |
| — | District of Columbia | Varies — see details | $305 | 2 years (licenses expire March 31 of every even-numbered year) |
| — | Illinois | Varies — see details | $275 | Annual; licenses expire April 30 each year |
| — | Kansas | Varies — see details | — | N/A |
| — | Louisiana | Varies — see details | $135+ | 1 year |
| — | Massachusetts | Varies — see details | $83 | 2 years (licenses eligible for renewal February 1st of every even-numbered year; deadline May 1st of same year) |
| — | Michigan | Varies — see details | $140 | 1 year (journey) / 3 years (master/contractor) |
| — | Missouri | Varies — see details | — | N/A |
| — | Montana | Varies — see details | $600 | Annual (licenses expire September 1) |
| — | Nebraska | Varies — see details | — | Annual (1 year) at municipal level — consistent with Omaha and Lincoln |
| — | New York | Varies — see details | — | N/A |
| — | North Carolina | Varies — see details | $310 | Annual (2026 renewal forms available; multi-year renewal form also available) |
| — | Ohio | Varies — see details | $85 | 1 year |
| — | Pennsylvania | Varies — see details | — | N/A |
| — | Virginia | Varies — see details | $230 | 2 years |
| — | Washington | Varies — see details | $Approx. $497.70 ($56.40 trainee + $189.80 exam application + $80 PSI scheduling + $227.90 certification) | 3 years |
| — | Wyoming | Varies — see details | — | 1 year (annual renewal required in both Cheyenne and Casper) |
Renewal fees are per renewal cycle as reported by state licensing boards. Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full renewal details.
Alabama has the lowest renewal fee at $30. The national average renewal fee is $115.
There is significant variation across the 35 states with data. Values range from $30 to $450, with a median of $75.
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