Plumber Classes in New York (Top Schools)

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Those who wish to become plumbers in the state of New York must register with the Secretary of State.

The state of New York does not directly provide licenses and set requirements, but you must comply with local regulations in the area or areas where you wish to work.

In New York City, it is strictly forbidden to work without a license and you must first gain experience as an apprentice, then apply to become a journeyman, and finally, if you wish, apply and complete an exam to become a master plumber.

These are the minimum requirements for becoming a plumber in New York City:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be able to read, write, and understand English
  • Be fit to perform work
  • Have moral character so as to not affect your job
  • Have at least two years of experience as an apprentice plumber

New York Plumbing License Reciprocity

New York State does not have reciprocity agreements, but it is our suggestion to take a closer look at individual cities’ and counties’ requirements as they might have agreements with other states.

New York Plumbing Master License Requirements

A master plumber who is licensed by New York City can perform all plumbing jobs, but so as to become a master plumber, he/she must pay a $200 fee for the license and meet one of the following levels of experience:

  • Seven years of applicable experience working directly under a master plumber
  • Two of those years must be as a licensed journeyman plumber
  • A bachelor’s degree in appropriate engineering technology from a college or university registered by the New York State Department of Education and at least five years of total experience within the seven years. At least two years of this experience must be in New York City
  • A New York State-licensed professional with at least three years of experience within the five years prior. At least one year of this experience must be in New York City.
  • At least seven years of total experience within ten years prior to application with at least two years of experience under the supervision of a licensed Master Plumber in the United States; at least two years of this experience must be obtained as a Department of Buildings’ registered Journeyman Plumber.
  • Experience as an employee of a government agency, private inspection agency or other entity accepted by the Buildings Commissioner whose duties primarily involve the plumbing work for compliance with the New York City Plumbing Code combined with your work experience equals seven years of work experience required within ten years prior to application
  • Pass a background check

Applicants must submit the following documents in person to the NYC Department of Buildings:

Master Plumber Exam

To obtain your license, you must pass a written and practical exam.

So as to be allowed to take the test, you must fill out an application for the written section as well as an application for the practical section, along with submitting a $525 fee and $350 fee.

The administrator will email directions for scheduling the exam on which you need a passing score of 70% for the written section in order to take your practical exam.

New York Plumbing Journeyman License Requirements

To register for a journeyman license, you must submit applications through the Department of Buildings Licensing platform.

You must also upload the following documents with your application:

  • Photo Identification (driver’s license, passport or green card)
  • Original Social Security Card
  • DPL1 Form
  • Department of Labor approved apprenticeship/training program certificate
  • Typed notarized affidavits from all past or current employers you have indicated that will attest to your experience and qualification
  • Social Security History of Earnings
  • Child Support Form
  • Registration fee of $50.00

 Affidavits must include the following information and must be an exact match to what was submitted in your online application:

  • Your job title (Helper, Journeyman, etc.)
  • Name of the company
  • A detailed description of your duties
  • Your employment dates for each licensee you worked with
  • Whether your employment was full- or part-time
  • A statement by the licensee

Plumbing Journeyman Exam

New York does not require an exam to become a journeyman plumber.

New York Plumbing Apprenticeship Requirements

An apprentice in New York City can be a person who is at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or a GED.

New York Plumber Apprentice Jobs

New York has various training centers where you can find apprenticeship programs and these include:

Plumbing Trade Schools in New York

SUNY Empire State College
Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
Tuition: Interested parties must request more information
Contact: 1-800-GO-TO-ESC

LaGuardia Community College
Location: Queens, New York
Tuition: $2,239 for a three-month program
Contact: (718) 482-5231

Apex Technical School
Location: Queen, New York City, New York
Tuition: Interested parties must request more information
Contact: (212) 645-3300

Harlem School of Technology
Location: New York, New York
Tuition: Interested parties must request more information
Contact: (212) 932-2849

Coop Tech
Location: Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island
Tuition: N/A — applicants must be enrolled in a Department of Education High School
Contact:
Queens: (212) 369-8800 ext. 1351 OR ext. 2311
Brooklyn: (718) 290-8600 ext. 2571
Manhattan: (212) 369-8800 ext. 1351 OR ext. 2311
Bronx: (718) 589-2531 ext. 5091
Staten Island: (212) 369-8800 ext. 2311

Salary

The average Plumber salary in New York is $ 61,677, but the median salaries among major cities differ a lot, as can be seen in the table below.

Annual Salary Range:

$53K
$61K
$70K

Average Salary of Plumbers in New York

City NameSalary
New York$69,552
Buffalo$54,970
Rochester$56,664
Yonkers$66,257
Syracuse$56,656
Albany$58,418
New Rochelle$65,848
Mount Vernon$66,228
Schenectady$58,190
Utica$55,044
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY1,210$72,160$34.69$114,240$38,480
Binghamton, NY260$68,600$32.98$104,930$39,010
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY1,370$71,060$34.16$106,660$39,420
Elmira, NY120$70,310$33.8$89,900$40,190
Glens Falls, NY110$60,820$29.24$106,270$32,200
Ithaca, NY110$75,340$36.22$85,090$43,710
Kingston, NY160$69,430$33.38$115,040$37,930
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA25,180$88,140$42.38$137,740$45,970
Rochester, NY1,540$66,130$31.79$102,900$38,490
Syracuse, NY1,020$67,980$32.68$102,410$38,730
Utica-Rome, NY140$67,970$32.68$105,600$38,240
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY100$78,000$37.5$106,380$44,480
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, OCC 47-2152, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

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