How to Become a Plumber in Massachusetts

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How to Become a Plumber in Massachusetts

Being a plumber doesn’t only mean you hold a job.

You know a trade and work in a field with plenty of possibilities of developing a career.

If you’re interested in this occupation and you live in Massachusetts, you can learn here more about what you have to do to get started on this path.

Plumber Job Description and Responsibilities

Long gone are the days when plumbers were working with lead found in the sewage system of a city.

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These days, they’re working with various systems that use pipes.

Their daily activities involve:

  • Reading or drafting blueprints
  • Installation of the piping system
  • Maintaining it
  • Repairing the pipes and attachments when needed
  • Ensuring the safety standards
  • Meeting building regulations
  • Using special equipment to measure or solder

In this state, plumbers need to be licensed to perform these tasks.

There are just a limited amount of tasks that an individual with no license can perform to a piping system.

Plumbers in Massachusetts are overseen by the Board of Registration of Plumbers and Gas Fitters who issues the licenses for this trade.

There are 3 types of licenses you can have in Massachusetts:

  • Apprentice Plumber
  • Journeyman Plumber
  • Master Plumber

Becoming an Apprentice Plumber

Apprentices learn the trade while also working.

They’re performing tasks while supervised by a master plumber.

As an apprentice, you’ll learn how to read and interpret blueprints, install pipes, or perform various bending tasks.

After you complete a 300-hour vocational training program or a 550-hour plumbing tier program you’ll need to apply for an apprentice license.

The apprenticeship period lasts for about 5 years in total.

While you can enroll in the apprenticeship program directly, you can also enroll in a vocational school designed for adult education.

No matter where you choose to enroll, you’ll have to meet certain minimum requirements, such as:

  • Being at least 18 years old
  • Having a clean criminal record
  • Having a driver’s license
  • Being allowed to work in the US
  • Knowing English
  • Knowing math

Do know that apprentices still need some classroom education even if they enroll directly in such training programs.

Design and state regulations are part of the curriculum taught in a classroom setting.

You’ll also learn more about:

  • Welding,
  • Pipe fitting,
  • Blueprint reading
  • Safety regulations and meeting them
  • Which tools to use for which task

No person can be an apprentice for over 10 years.

Becoming a Journeyman Plumber

Apprentice plumbers can become journeymen plumbers after accumulating at least 3 years of experience.

Journeymen plumbers are still working while supervised by a master plumber.

This usually happens more on complex tasks.

There are a few other requirements to meet before obtaining this license.

These include:

  • Accumulating 8,000 hours of experience
  • 150 hours of formal study
  • Paying the application fee
  • Passing the examination

Journeymen plumbers need to renew their licenses every 2 years.

Becoming a Master Plumber

This position is the highest possible in the plumbing world in Massachusetts.

Not all Journeymen choose to become master plumbers.

You’re eligible to become a master plumber after accumulating at least 1 year of experience as a journeyman.

You’ll have to attend some formal education hours in a classroom setting as well as to pass the master plumber exam.

Plumber Salary Information

Your experience will generally dictate how much you’ll earn.

Do know that you’ll start earning a salary as soon as you start your apprenticeship position.

Your paycheck will slowly increase the more you work.

Annual Salary Range:
$47K
$62K
$79K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Boston $64,857
Worcester $60,615
Springfield $59,722
Cambridge $64,857
Lowell $62,744
Brockton $62,342
New Bedford $60,672
Quincy $64,857
Lynn $64,857
Fall River $60,672

Regional Salary in Massachusetts

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Barnstable Town, MA580$74,610$35.87$100,940$46,410
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH12,000$90,580$43.55$135,140$47,620
Leominster-Gardner, MA180$74,030$35.59$101,190$44,330
New Bedford, MA180$73,990$35.57$125,270$42,790
Pittsfield, MA190$76,570$36.81$123,820$42,120
Springfield, MA-CT1,140$83,700$40.24$125,830$44,840
Worcester, MA-CT1,100$86,070$41.38$126,500$45,340
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, OCC Code 47-2152, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Additional Information

There are a few aspects that are not apparent to those who are not familiar with this type of occupation.

For instance, you cannot work as a plumber in another state than Massachusetts, if this is where you became licensed.

Additionally, if you earned your license in a different state, you cannot work as a plumber in Massachusetts.

Union Membership

Plumbers have the possibility of joining a union, but this is not mandatory.

There are many advantages to joining a union, such as:

  • Receiving help in finding full-time employment
  • Having your contract and salary negotiated for you
  • Receiving healthcare insurance
  • Having access to a retirement plan

Some individuals prefer to negotiate their contracts and salary themselves, therefore they won’t see this aspect as an advantage.

Another disadvantage would be having to pay a yearly membership fee or having to agree and follow the decisions the union makes even if the members disagree.

Insurance

Plumbers need to have insurance in case of accidents.

Generally, when working for a company, the insurance is covered by the company, otherwise, you’ll have to purchase it.

Schools Offering Plumbing Programs in Massachusetts

School Name Address
Southeastern Tech 250 Foundry Street South Easton, MA 02375
The Peterson School 25 Montvale Avenue Woburn, MA 01801
The Peterson School 350 University Avenue Westwood, MA 02090
THE PLUMBING ACADEMY INC. 18 LONERGAN RD MIDDLETON, MA 01949
The Peterson School 705 Plantation Street Worcester, MA 01605
Masters Plumbing & Gas School 4 Juniper Hill Road East Sandwich, MA 02537
M.E.P. Con. Ed., LLC 29 Main St, Suite 1A, Kingston, MA 02364
UA Local 12 Plumbers & Gasfitters 1240 Massachusetts Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125
PHCC of MA Continuing Education Online 400 Washington St #401, Braintree, MA 02184
Bay Path RVTHS 57 Old Muggett Hill Road Charlton, MA 01507
SouthEastern Regional Vo-Tech. 250 Foundry, Rt. 106 South Easton, MA 02375
MotoRing Technical Training Institute 1241 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA 02771
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School 220 Sandwich Rd. Bourne, MA 02532
Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School 80 Locust Street, Northampton, Ma 01060
Minueteman Technical Institute 758 Marrett Road LexingtonMA02421
Worcester Public Schools 1 Skyline Drive, Worcester, MA 01605
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