Trade Schools
If you live in Minnesota and you want to become a plumber, this page is for you.
With a job growth estimated at 6 percent over the next decade, this field is expected to provide work opportunities to qualified professionals.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in the field, you have to prepare for tasks such as:
- Reading and interpreting blueprints
- Installing, repairing, and maintaining plumbing systems in buildings
- Fixing and repairing various appliances
- Preparing cost estimates
- Handling customer queries
- And more
Plumbers annual wages range from less than $40,000 to more than $100,000, depending on experience, industry of employment, and many other factors.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage reported by workers in this profession was calculated at $61,550 as of May 2023.
Most employers require plumbers to hold a trade school diploma or to have completed an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships typically last between four and five years and include technical instruction and paid on-the-job training.
To help you choose the format that best meets your needs and learning style, on this page, we have compiled information about the best plumber schools in Minnesota.
Most states also require plumbers to be licensed before being allowed to work independently.
1Local 15 Plumbers Training Center
About the School
Local 15 Plumbers Training Center offers state-of-the-art facilities and over 45 industry-certified instructors.
The center provides a Plumber Apprenticeship Training Program for the Minneapolis and St. Cloud areas.
Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED.
Classes are held in the evening starting in September and run through April each year.
Apprentices typically have classes two nights a week, starting at 5 p.m. and lasting 3.5 to four hours each night.
Contact Information
- Address: 8625 Monticello Ln N., Suite 2, Maple Grove, MN 55369
- Phone: (612) 374-5262
- Website: https://www.training15.com
2Hennepin Technical College
About the School
Hennepin Technical College offers a Plumbing program that prepares students to start a career as a plumber or pipefitter with a plumbing contractor.
Students learn important technical skills, such as:
- Safety procedures
- Plumbing codes
- Using tools
- Reading blueprints
- Installing plumbing systems.
The program is available during the daytime at the Brooklyn Park campus and in the evening in Eden Prairie.
The pre-apprenticeship curriculum is designed to help students for entry-level employment in Minnesota with an established Plumbing contractor.
Contact Information
- Address: 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
- Phone: 952-995-1300
- Website: https://hennepintech.edu
3St. Cloud Technical & Community College
About the School
St. Cloud Technical & Community College offers a Plumbing degree that gives students skills and experience in many areas to help them become plumbers.
The following degrees are available:
- Plumbing Diploma- a 37-credit program
- Plumbing, Shop Management Associate of Applied Science- a 60-credit program
Courses Offered
Students learn skills that will transfer directly to the workforce, skills such as:
- Blueprint Reading
- Estimating plumbing jobs
- Knowledge of MN code
- Problem-solving
- Soldering and brazing
The Diploma program includes the following classes in its course list:
- Piping Procedures
- Plumbing Calculations
- Minnesota State Plumbing Code
- Blueprint Reading and Estimating
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1540 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN 56303
- Phone: (800) 222-1009
- Website: https://sctcc.edu
4Minnesota West Community & Technical College
About the School
Minnesota West Community & Technical College offers a Plumbing program that equips students with the foundational skills for the workplace, offering them hands-on experience in plumbing system construction and maintenance.
The program is available in Pipestone.
The Plumbing Technology Diploma program can be completed in one year by full-time students and awards 32 credits.
A two-semester, nine-credit Certificate program is also available.
Courses Offered
The Certificate program includes the following classes:
- Introduction to Plumbing
- Materials and Fittings
- Plumbing Essentials
Additionally, the Diploma Program also includes courses such as:
- Plumbing Installation and Fixtures
- Code I
- Print Reading
- Plumbing Repair and Service
- Water Piping and Sizing
- Drainage, Waste, and Venting
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1314 North Hiawatha, Pipestone, MN 56164
- Phone: 800-658-2330
- Website: https://www.mnwest.edu
5Saint Paul College
About the School
Saint Paul College offers a Plumbing Diploma program that is available part-time in the evening.
The program trains apprentices in commercial, residential, and industrial plumbing.
The program has the following outcomes:
- Apply math and science skills in the plumbing field
- Apply code knowledge to install piping in commercial, residential, and industrial buildings
- Assemble fittings, fixtures, and piping used in multiple piping systems
Courses Offered
The program includes the following courses:
- Pre-Apprenticeship Plumbing
- Job Safety & Health
- Plumbing Welding
- Basic Drawing
- Plumbing 1
- Plumbing 2
- Gas Installation & Gas Controls
- Advanced Blueprint & Heavy Rigging
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 235 Marshall Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55102
- Phone: 651-846-1600
- Website: https://catalog.saintpaul.edu
6Northland Community & Technical College
About the School
Northland Community & Technical College offers a Plumbing program that prepares students to begin a career in plumbing and pipe fitting.
Students develop skills in water systems, piping procedures, plumbing and piping systems, residential and commercial system installation, and more.
The Diploma program includes 34 credits.
The program is available in East Grand Forks.
Students may get a diploma in just nine months.
Class credits also count towards apprenticeship hours.
The program includes in-depth training in residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing systems.
Tuition for this program is $5,610
Additional costs bring the total for this program to $7,728.27.
Contact Information
- Address: 2022 Central Avenue NE, East Grand Forks, MN 56721
- Phone: 800.959.6282
- Website: https://www.northlandcollege.edu
7Ridgewater College
About the School
Ridgewater College offers a Plumbing program that teaches students the skills to install, maintain, and repair water systems in a wide variety of facilities.
Plumbers combine technical knowledge with hands-on practical skills in a variety of construction environments.
Students learn skills such as:
- Blueprint reading interpretation
- Basic and advanced plumbing procedures
- Water distribution and drainage
- Troubleshooting
- Customer service and job management
- And more
Tuition and fees sum up to $7,894.
Contact Information
- Address: 2 Century Ave SE, Hutchinson, MN 55350
- Phone: 320-234-8500
- Website: https://ridgewater.edu
8Minnesota State Community and Technical College
About the School
Minnesota State Community and Technical College offers immersive, hands-on experiences, a strong emphasis on Minnesota and North Dakota plumbing codes, and an internship in the field.
Graduates are eligible for applicable hours on their apprenticeship card.
The Diploma program includes 36 credits and is available at the Moorhead Campus.
Students learn:
- Proper, safe techniques and procedures for installation of plumbing systems, fixtures, and faucets
- Uses of common plumbing tools, materials, and fittings
- Analysis of blueprints and isometric drawings
- Plumbing code rules and regulations
- Professional ethics, communications, and other soft skills
Contact Information
- Address: 900 Hwy 34 E Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
- Phone: 218-846-3700
- Website: https://www.minnesota.edu
9Minnesota State College- Southeast
About the School
Minnesota State College- Southeast offers a Foundations of Plumbing online program.
The course trains students for a career in plumbing by teaching the fundamental, job-ready skills relevant to the plumbing and piping industry.
Students in this self-paced program learn specialized plumbing skills and terminology specific to residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing systems.
The course also teaches math, geometry, and physical principles needed to work on plumbing systems.
The 12-month, 145-hour program costs $2,245.
Courses Offered
Students learn:
- Basic concepts of plumbing safety and safety procedures for material and equipment use
- The use and meaning of specialty drawings used in construction
- The application and installation of standard plumbing fixtures
- How to identify piping systems and fixture types used in plumbing work
- And many other skills and concepts
Contact Information
- Address: 308 Pioneer Road, Custom Training and Education, Red Wing, MN 55066 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.southeastmn.edu
10Northwest Technical College
Northwest Technical College prepares students for careers in highly skilled fields.
The college provides certificate, diploma, and degree programs carefully designed to serve graduates and employers in Northern Minnesota.
Courses Offered
Northwest Technical College offers the following Plumbing courses:
- Introduction to Plumbing
- Plumbing Code Interpretation
- Piping System Fabrication
- Plumbing Design and Installation
- Plumbing Design and Installation Lab
- Plumbing Repair and Service Technology
- Hydronic Design and Controls
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 905 Grant Avenue SE, Bemidji, MN 56601-4907
- Phone: (218) 333-6600 | (800) 942-8324
- Website: https://www.ntcmn.edu
Schools Summary Table
Regional Salary in Minnesota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 280 | $82,940 | $39.88 | $106,450 | $53,780 |
| Mankato, MN | 110 | $70,680 | $33.98 | $95,530 | $46,260 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 5,070 | $89,340 | $42.95 | $122,730 | $50,220 |
| Rochester, MN | 460 | $86,710 | $41.69 | $117,390 | $48,510 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 800 | $79,290 | $38.12 | $102,460 | $51,940 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Minnesota is home to many trade schools that can prepare you with the skills needed to become a plumber through a combination of classroom and hands-on learning.
Now that you have read our selection of the best training options available in your state, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your needs.
