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How to become a plumber in New York

To work as a plumber in New York, you may need a license from the city or county where you work. New York doesn't issue a statewide license to individual plumbers, and only some cities and counties license them.

See your steps

Your license

I'll work in

To work as a plumber, the New York City Department of Buildings issues the Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration.

Exam
New York City doesn't list one
License
$50
Go to the New York City office

To run a business, the business needs its own license. What the business needs

Each city or county sets its own rules.

Your steps

  1. Step 1, Start here

    Find the office that licenses plumbers where you will work

    Only some cities and counties license plumbers, and each one sets its own rules. Ask the building department in the city or county where you will work.

  2. Step 2,

    Check what that license requires

    Each office sets the experience you need and the exam you must pass.

    Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration

    New York City

    The New York City Department of Buildings issues the Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration.

    The Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration costs $50.

    You don't need to renew the Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration.

    The $50 is the cost of this registration.

    The official wording of the requirement
    Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration (New York City)“Have at least Five (5) years of full-time experience performing plumbing or fire suppression piping under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed Master Plumber or a licensed Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor or equivalent, where at least one (1) year of experience was in New York City.”

    Journeyman Plumber License

    City of Buffalo

    The City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Plumbing Division (examining board of plumbers) issues the Journeyman Plumber License.

    You must pass the City of Buffalo Journeyman Plumber exam.

    Ask the City of Buffalo what the Journeyman Plumber License costs.

  3. Step 3,

    Apply to that office

    Apply to the office that issues the license, and pay its fees when you apply.

To run a plumbing business

These are the licenses for running a plumbing business.

Master Plumber (New York City)

The New York City Department of Buildings issues the Master Plumber license.

You need at least 7 years of experience in the 10 years before you apply. The experience must be installing plumbing systems and planning or designing plumbing systems under the direct and continuing supervision of a Licensed Master Plumber in the United States. At least 2 of the 7 years must be as a registered journeyman plumber.

The Master Plumber license costs $200.

You must pass the Master Plumber written examination and practical examination. The exam costs $1,115.

You renew the Master Plumber license every 3 years. The renewal costs $150.

The $1,115 covers 2 exams: $585 for the written exam and $530 for the practical exam. You must take both. An older fee chart from the New York City Department of Buildings lists lower fees, and the fees on its license page are the current ones.

Master Plumber License (City of Buffalo)

The City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Plumbing Division (examining board of plumbers) issues the Master Plumber License. The Master Plumber License requires 6,000 hours on the job.

You must pass the City of Buffalo Master Plumber exam.

Ask the City of Buffalo what the Master Plumber License costs.

The official wording of the requirement
Master Plumber License (City of Buffalo)“Minimum Qualifications: 6,000 Hours worked as a Journeyman Plumber as an employee of a licensed Master Plumber, not working for yourself”

Take the exam

LicenseExam
Master Plumber (New York City)Master Plumber written examination and practical examination
Master Plumber License (City of Buffalo)City of Buffalo Master Plumber examThe City of Buffalo examining board of plumbers gives the exam.
Journeyman Plumber License (City of Buffalo)City of Buffalo Journeyman Plumber examThe City of Buffalo examining board of plumbers gives the exam.

You take the exam for the license you apply for.

What plumbers earn in New York

$37.26an hour

$77,490 a year, full time

Half of the plumbers on a payroll in New York earn more than $37.26 an hour, and half earn less. The federal wage survey puts the yearly figure at $77,490.

These figures cover everyone on a payroll as a plumber in New York, from apprentices to people with decades in the trade, so they aren't a starting wage. The survey counts 23,210 jobs. The figures don't include self-employed plumbers.

The yearly figure is for full-time work all year, which is 2,080 hours.

Use a license from another state

If you hold a license from another state, ask the office that issues the license where you will work whether it recognizes your license.

Questions

Can you become a plumber with no experience?

Yes. You can start as an apprentice and learn the trade on the job.

How much do most plumbers earn in New York?

Half of the plumbers on a payroll in New York earn between $28.83 and $48.67 an hour. These figures don't include overtime pay.

Can a plumber earn $100,000 a year in New York?

Yes. The highest-paid 10% of plumbers on a payroll in New York earn more than $130,420 a year before overtime.

Contact the licensing office

City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Plumbing Division (examining board of plumbers)buffalony.gov/530/Plumbing

Words to know

Apprentice
Someone who learns the trade on the job, working under a licensed worker.
Journeyman
The license level after apprentice. Some states write journeyperson, journeyworker or journey level.
Master
A higher license level, for a worker with more years in the trade. It often lets you supervise others.
Median
The middle figure. Half of the workers earn more, and half earn less.

Sources

8
  1. New York Business Express, plumber licensing, who needs a license and the licensing office
  2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
  3. New York City Department of Buildings, Master Plumber, fees and renewal
  4. New York City Department of Buildings, Master Plumber, experience, exam and fees
  5. New York City Department of Buildings, Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration, experience
  6. New York City Department of Buildings, Journeyman Plumber/Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration, fees
  7. City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Plumbing Division (examining board of plumbers), Master Plumber License, experience
  8. City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Plumbing Division (examining board of plumbers), plumber licenses, exam

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