If you’re passionate about construction, a career in plumbing can be both personally rewarding and financially stable.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage reported by plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $61,550, as of May 2023.
This profession is expected to grow 6 percent over the next decade, so new jobs will appear as workers retire and new buildings are constructed.
If you live in Texas and want to start a recession-proof career in the plumbing field, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best Plumbing schools in your state and the programs they offer.
Our selection includes certificate programs as well as paid apprenticeships.
Programs focus on teaching job-ready skills, such as:
- Reading blueprints
- Understanding and applying plumbing code requirements
- Installing plumbing systems
- Repairing plumbing fixtures
- Providing information to customers about their plumbing
- And more
So, if you’re interested in starting a career in this field we encourage you to start by reading our list.
#1Texas Southmost College
About the School
Texas Southmost College offers a Workforce Training Plumbing program.
The program is designed to prepare students to apply calculations related to the plumbing trade, proper hand and power tool usage, and standard industry safety practices.
Students learn how to cut, measure, join, and support various types of piping, pipe valves, and pipe-hanging systems.
The program can be completed in 14 weeks to help students prepare for this trade in a short period.
Courses Offered
The following featured courses are included in the program:
- Introduction to the Plumbing Trade- 80 hours
- Plumbing Maintenance and Repair- 80 hours
The 160-hour program prepares students for:
- Blueprint Reading
- Mathematics
- Safety
- Codes & Standards
- Plumbing Installation
- Plumbing fixtures
- OSHA 10
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 80 Ft Brown St, Brownsville, TX 78520
- Phone: 956-295-3600
- Website: https://www.tsc.edu
#2Dallas College
About the School
Dallas College offers a variety of programs that prepare students for university transfer or fast track into a rewarding career.
The Plumbing Technology program prepares students for an in-demand industry and prepares them to enter quickly into an entry-level certificate that stacks toward an associate degree.
Most of the training is done in a laboratory setting, providing students with hands-on experience to help them make a seamless transition from the classroom to the field.
Courses Offered
The following credentials are available over the four-semester program:
- Rising Plumber, Level I Certificate- two semesters total
- Tradesman Plumber, Level I Certificate- two semesters total
- Plumbing Technology, associate degree- four semesters total
The program is offered in Cedar Valley, Eastfield, and North Lake.
Contact Information
- Address: 1601 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215
- Phone: 972-669-6400
- Website: https://www.dallascollege.edu
#3North Central Texas College
About the School
North Central Texas College offers Construction Management & Plumbing programs.
The Construction Management program equips students with a varied skill set developed through a combination of theory and hands-on skills.
The program has a strong focus on a plumbing concentration.
This helps students understand the plumbing aspects of a project while still having the skill set to manage the overall project.
The Plumbing program is an approved curriculum for the Tradesman Plumber license with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
Students may use these skills in a variety of work environments where plumbing maintenance is needed.
Contact Information
- Address: 1525 W. California St, Gainesville, TX 76240
- Website: https://www.nctc.edu
#4Austin Community College
Austin Community College prepares students for a rewarding career through its Plumbing program.
This hands-on instruction program in Continuing Education has been designed to deliver the skills students need in a short period of time so they can enter this occupation quickly.
Courses Offered
The program consists of three-course sections:
- Introduction to the Construction Industry
- Introduction to the Plumbing Trade
- Residential Construction Plumbing
Students can complete the program in 20 weeks if they commit 10.5 hours per week to the program.
The following certifications are available:
- NCCER Core Construction
- NCCER Level 1 Plumber
Tuition is $1,400 for students on the fast track.
Contact Information
- Address: 11928 Stonehollow Dr, Austin, TX 78758
- Website: https://continue.austincc.edu
#5Lamar Institute of Technology
About the School
Lamar Institute of Technology offers a Plumbing Technology- Certificate program.
The curriculum is designed for students who like working with their hands, solving problems, and helping others.
Plumbers install, maintain, and repair piping systems that supply water and gas as well as waste removal from homes and businesses.
Courses Offered
The plumbing program teaches students about the different types of water supply systems, reading and sketching blueprints, and building codes, installing and maintaining plumbing piping and fixtures, and allowing them to work with a variety of different tools and equipment.
A graduate of the three-semester program is awarded a Level I Certificate in Plumbing Technology.
The program includes 33 credits and is structured as follows:
- 19 lecture hours
- 75 lab hours
Contact Information
- Address: 855 East Lavaca Beaumont TX 77705
- Phone: 800-950-6989
- Website: https://www.lit.edu
#6San Jacinto College
About the School
San Jacinto College offers a Plumbing Technology Certificate program for students who like working with their hands, solving problems, and helping others.
The Occupational Certificate prepares students for an entry-level career through hands-on training.
Students learn how to read and sketch blueprints and plumbing codes, and how to install and maintain plumbing piping and fixtures.
Full-time students can complete the 16 credits for this certificate in two semesters.
The program is available at the college’s North Campus.
The Plumbing Technology Occupational Certificate program is led by experienced instructors who are experts in their fields.
San Jacinto College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Contact Information
- Address: 5800 Uvalde Rd, Houston, TX 77049
- Phone: (281) 998-6150×7346
- Website: https://www.sanjac.edu
#7Collin College
About the School
Collin College offers a Construction Technology- Plumbing program.
This program prepares students for entry-level employment as plumbers’ apprentices.
The program provides students with a comprehensive foundation, including theory, diagnosis, repair, and maintenance, with an emphasis on current procedures and best practices.
Students take courses in:
- Plumbing Codes
- Residential and Commercial Plumbing Fixtures
- Field Measuring and Layout
- Pipe Fitting Equipment & Safety
Graduates are eligible to sit for the Tradesperson Plumbing Exam administered by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
The following program options are available:
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)- Construction Technology- Plumbing
- Certificate Level 1- Construction Technology- Plumbing
- Certificate Level I Construction Technology- Plumbing Management
- Certificate Level 2- Construction Technology- Plumbing and Management
Contact Information
- Address: 9700 Wade Blvd. Frisco, TX 75035
- Phone: 972.881.5760
- Website: https://www.collin.edu
#8Houston Community College
About the School
Houston Community College offers a Plumbing Technology, OSA program.
Students engage in interactive learning of the wide range of systems of plumbing process that includes fixtures, pipes, valves, drains, and devices that distribute water and remove waste.
This program costs $1,198.
The program includes the following sections:
- Introduction to the Plumbing Trade- 80 hours
- Piping Standards and Materials- 80 hours
After successfully completing the program, students receive:
- HCC- Certificate of Completion
- OSHA 10 Certification
Contact Information
- Address: 3100 Main Street, Houston TX 77002
- Phone: 713.718.2000
- Website: https://www.hccs.edu
#9Tyler Junior College
About the School
Tyler Junior College offers a Plumbing Technician Online Certification Program.
The program is designed to prepare students to function as entry-level plumbers and plumber assistants in residential and commercial environments.
Students prepare for tasks such as installing, maintaining, and repairing many different types of pipe systems.
Tuition for this program is $2,299
Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
National certification is available for students who complete this course including OSHA 10-hour Certification.
The courses covered by this program include:
- Describing the building trades and technology industry
- Identifying the professional skills required for success and career advancement
- Reading common construction drawings and plans
- Understanding and complying with local plumbing codes
- Interpreting plumbing drawings
- And many other skills
Contact Information
- Address: 1530 SSW Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
- Phone: 800-687-5680
- Website: https://www.tjc.edu
#10National Technical Institute
The National Technical Institute offers HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrician training programs in Houston, Texas, Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as online.
Classes are available in day and night schedules to accommodate different lifestyles.
Financing is available for those who qualify.
Courses Offered
The Houston Plumbing training program provides a curriculum shaped by experts.
The Fusion Training Program enables students to combine online learning with hands-on experience once a week.
Depending on the program selection, students can complete the program in 16 weeks.
Classes cover plumbing essentials, mathematics, blueprint reading, waste systems, water supply systems, finish, and advanced plumbing techniques.
Plumbing professionals in Houston play a crucial role in setting up and maintaining water and waste systems in both commercial and residential settings.
Contact Information
- Address: 1870 Whitney Mesa Dr. Henderson, NV 89014
- Phone: (702) 948-9000
- Website: https://www.ntitraining.com
Schools Summary Table
Plumbing Salary by Metro Area in Texas
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 360 | $52,900 | $25.43 | $76,980 | $34,840 |
| Amarillo, TX | 430 | $51,640 | $24.83 | $67,000 | $31,810 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 4,740 | $64,210 | $30.87 | $84,670 | $39,090 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 820 | $63,480 | $30.52 | $81,340 | $37,470 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 330 | $47,220 | $22.70 | $59,780 | $30,540 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 500 | $55,920 | $26.89 | $74,660 | $35,660 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 750 | $59,390 | $28.55 | $78,000 | $36,420 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 11,120 | $62,910 | $30.24 | $82,760 | $38,480 |
| El Paso, TX | 710 | $53,500 | $25.72 | $73,850 | $30,810 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 11,150 | $60,950 | $29.30 | $81,980 | $38,080 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 330 | $53,350 | $25.65 | $66,860 | $36,240 |
| Laredo, TX | 130 | $47,790 | $22.98 | $65,170 | $30,260 |
| Longview, TX | 410 | $51,570 | $24.80 | $74,310 | $33,970 |
| Lubbock, TX | 530 | $54,820 | $26.36 | $78,780 | $34,140 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 370 | $47,020 | $22.61 | $61,890 | $29,640 |
| Midland, TX | 410 | $57,890 | $27.83 | $77,130 | $39,470 |
| Odessa, TX | 230 | $54,740 | $26.32 | $73,690 | $37,250 |
| San Angelo, TX | 180 | $52,250 | $25.12 | $68,180 | $34,010 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 3,040 | $58,510 | $28.13 | $79,310 | $37,230 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 190 | $52,560 | $25.27 | $74,220 | $35,920 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 130 | $51,840 | $24.93 | $71,290 | $34,620 |
| Tyler, TX | 330 | $54,600 | $26.25 | $74,830 | $35,790 |
| Victoria, TX | 110 | $52,390 | $25.19 | $65,090 | $36,880 |
| Waco, TX | 670 | $58,770 | $28.25 | $77,040 | $36,060 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 170 | $51,560 | $24.79 | $66,610 | $32,030 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of learning opportunities available if you live in Texas and want to start a career as a plumber.
Now that you have read our selection of the best Plumbing schools in your state and the programs they offer, it’s time to continue your research and apply for the one that best fits your learning style, schedule, and career aspirations.
