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Plumber · Texas

Plumber programs in Texas

In Texas, a first-year plumber is either paid — or paying.

Tuition on the school path is real money. First-year pay on the apprenticeship path is a paycheck. Seats are not guaranteed on either side.

Plumber in the United States

Updated Apr 2026

Houston plumber JATC · UA Local 68 — $16–$21/hr

First-year share of Houston plumber scale · Apr 2026

Year one in Texas

One paid path and one school path. The full list is below.

Paid training · listed first

PHCC Texas plumber apprenticeship

PHCC Texas chapters · Houston / DFW / Austin / San Antonio

Tuition: $0–$3,000
First-year wage: $15–$20/hr

You pay · no paycheck in class

TSTC / public technical college plumbing

TSTC and Texas community colleges · Multiple campuses

Tuition: $7,000–$14,000
First-year wage: $0 during school

All programs on this page

PHCC Texas plumber apprenticeship

ApprenticeshipSeats: Open

Tuition / net cost

$0–$3,000

Employer-sponsored. Some classroom fees.

First-year wage

$15–$20/hr

Paid helper / first-year scale.

Term

4 years

Steps to local journeyman plumber rates

PHCC Texas chapters·Houston / DFW / Austin / San Antonio

Source: PHCC Texas chapter pages (2026-03)

Houston plumber JATC (UA 68)

ApprenticeshipSeats: Unknown

Tuition / net cost

Paid OJT. Related instruction included.

First-year wage

$16–$21/hr

First-year share of Houston plumber scale.

Term

5 years

Texas plumber wages trail the coasts; overtime on commercial work moves annual pay

UA Local 68·Houston

Source: UA 68 public apprenticeship notes (2026-04)

TSTC / public technical college plumbing

Trade schoolSeats: Open

Tuition / net cost

$7,000–$14,000

In-state technical-college range.

First-year wage

$0 during school

Unpaid classroom. Texas plumbing entry often $16–$21/hr after.

Term

12–18 months

Texas plumber median below coastal states

TSTC and Texas community colleges·Multiple campuses

Source: TSTC / THECB catalogs (2026-02)

Other plumber states

Get plumber numbers for another state

We only write when new year-one numbers go up.