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Plumber apprenticeships in Texas

A plumber apprenticeship is a paid job with training, and you don't need experience to start one. Texas has 83 registered plumber apprenticeship programs, with 6,896 apprentices in training at the latest federal count.

Looking for electrical work? See the 197 electrician programs

Median pay when you start

$19.42 an hour

About $780 a week at 40 hours. The middle half of starting wages is $15.60 to $22.15 an hour.

Median pay at the end

$29.24 an hour

About $1,170 a week at 40 hours.

From 2,655 recent starting wages in 34 programs, and 1,068 people who finished recently in 30 programs. The 2 figures come from different groups of apprentices, not the same people followed from start to finish.

How to get in

  1. Get your plumber's apprentice registration

    The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) registers plumber's apprentices, and you can register from age 16. Register before you start work, because hours you work before you register don't count toward the experience you need for the licensing exams.

    Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, apprentice registration

  2. Pick 2 or 3 programs near you

    Use the list below. Search each program's name with its city to find it.

    See the programs

  3. Ask each one how to apply

    Each program takes applications in its own way. Ask each program how and when it takes applications.

    The next application round at the Houston Area Plumbing JAC runs from October 15 to December 31, 2026, on the program's online portal. This round is for Houston classes that start in spring 2027, and the Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley and Beaumont classes start later in 2027. Check the portal for the current status before you plan around these dates.

    Houston Area Plumbing JAC application portal

Find a program near you

All 83 registered programs, grouped by who runs them, with the most apprentices first. The 7 programs inside prisons are at the end.

76 programs

Sort by

Union programs (JAC and JATC)

7 programs · 2,403 apprentices

A Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC or JATC) is the union and participating contractors working together.

Contractor associations

3 programs · 345 apprentices

Each of these programs carries the name of a contractor association: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

Companies, schools and other programs

66 programs · 2,564 apprentices

Many smaller programs are companies that train their own employees.

Companies, schools and other programs
ProgramCityApprentices
United Assoc. Dallas #100 Plumbers & Pipefitters (search the web)Also trains other tradesMesquiteDallas-Fort Worth498 apprentices
Interplay Learning - Texas (search the web)Also trains other tradesAustinAustin area336 apprentices
Mccorvey Sheetmetal (search the web)HoustonHouston area298 apprentices
El Paso Association of Contractors Apprenticeship Program (search the web)Also trains other tradesEl PasoEverywhere else174 apprentices
International Code Council - Texas (search the web)Also trains other tradesForneyDallas-Fort Worth168 apprentices
MRSW Management,LLC (search the web)Also trains other tradesPort ArthurEverywhere else101 apprentices
Construction Training Solutions (search the web)Also trains other tradesMidlandEverywhere else96 apprentices
CEC Facilities LLC (search the web)Also trains other tradesIrvingDallas-Fort Worth89 apprentices
The Rural Workforce Academy, Prairie View A&M University (search the web)Also trains other tradesPrairie ViewHouston area82 apprentices
Kilgore Industries (search the web)HoustonHouston area74 apprentices
Construction Education Foundation, Inc. (search the web)Also trains other tradesCoppellDallas-Fort Worth70 apprentices
South Texas AGC Corpus Christi (search the web)Also trains other tradesCorpus ChristiEverywhere else60 apprentices
Texas Southmost College District (search the web)BrownsvilleEverywhere else55 apprentices
Northside Independent School District Construction Careers Academy (search the web)Also trains other tradesSan AntonioSan Antonio area49 apprentices
Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors of SA (search the web)San AntonioSan Antonio area44 apprentices
Associated Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractors (search the web)BudaAustin area40 apprentices
SSC Services For Education (search the web)Also trains other tradesCollege StationEverywhere else36 apprentices
Raven Mechanical (search the web)HoustonHouston area33 apprentices
Cosmos Sub Contractors (search the web)HoustonHouston area28 apprentices
Buxie Group (search the web)Also trains other tradesHoustonHouston area27 apprentices
Coppera Commercial Plumbing (search the web)TaylorAustin area27 apprentices
Association of Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors of El Paso (search the web)El PasoEverywhere else25 apprentices
Precision Commercial Plumbing Co (search the web)PflugervilleAustin area22 apprentices
T D Industries (search the web)HoustonHouston area22 apprentices
Mid Coast Construction Academy Trust Apprenticeship Program (search the web)Also trains other tradesVictoriaEverywhere else18 apprentices
Plumbing Schools Of Texas (search the web)HoustonHouston area14 apprentices
Comfort Systems USA SC (search the web)HoustonHouston area10 apprentices
Goodwille Pierre LLC (search the web)Also trains other tradesHoustonHouston area9 apprentices
Passport 2 Apprenticeship (search the web)Also trains other tradesHoustonHouston area8 apprentices
DS Companies LLC (search the web)Also trains other tradesEl PasoEverywhere else6 apprentices
EDH Plumbing Contractors, LLC (search the web)HoustonHouston area6 apprentices
Work Texas Training Center (search the web)Also trains other tradesHouston TexasHouston area6 apprentices
Houston Plumbing and Gas, LLC (search the web)HoustonHouston area4 apprentices
iBuild PWA LLC (search the web)Also trains other tradesSpringHouston area4 apprentices
S&D Residential Plumbing (search the web)TaylorAustin area4 apprentices
South Texas Initiatives LLC (search the web)Also trains other tradesHildagoEverywhere else4 apprentices
Block Companies (search the web)Also trains other tradesHoustonHouston area3 apprentices
CGC Group, Incorporated (search the web)SocorroEverywhere else3 apprentices
KCG Construction (search the web)Also trains other tradesAustinAustin area3 apprentices
EP Mechianical Technologies (search the web)Also trains other tradesEl PasoEverywhere else2 apprentices
Mesa Mechanical Incorporated (search the web)HoustonHouston area2 apprentices
Storer Services, Ltd (search the web)KilgoreEverywhere else2 apprentices
Texas Tech University Physical Plant (search the web)Also trains other tradesLubbockEverywhere else2 apprentices
A&A Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling (search the web)SchertzEverywhere else0 apprentices
Build Masters Construction, LLC (search the web)El PasoEverywhere else0 apprentices
Christine Giese (search the web)BrenhamEverywhere else0 apprentices
Concept Facility Services, LLC. (search the web)DuncanvilleEverywhere else0 apprentices
Cross Accounting Solutions, LLC (search the web)Also trains other tradesSpringHouston area0 apprentices
EDS Tech Training Sites LLC (search the web)HoustonHouston area0 apprentices
Federal Prison Camp - Beaumont (search the web)Also trains other tradesBeaumontEverywhere else0 apprentices
FMC Carswell Hospital (search the web)Also trains other tradesFort WorthDallas-Fort Worth0 apprentices
FMC Fort Worth (search the web)Also trains other tradesFort WorthDallas-Fort Worth0 apprentices
Fox Commercial Services (search the web)AustinAustin area0 apprentices
Hillday Industries Inc. (search the web)HoustonHouston area0 apprentices
Integrity Plumbing (search the web)RichmondEverywhere else0 apprentices
J.R.'s Plumbing (search the web)San AntonioSan Antonio area0 apprentices
Jarrar & Company, Inc. (search the web)HoustonHouston area0 apprentices
Key HTX Development and Holdings, Inc. (search the web)HoustonHouston area0 apprentices
Koogle Construction Of Texas (search the web)HoustonHouston area0 apprentices
Lamar Institute of Technology (search the web)Also trains other tradesBeaumontEverywhere else0 apprentices
MSC Earthwork (search the web)SimontonEverywhere else0 apprentices
Northeast ISD & Business Partners (search the web)Also trains other tradesSan AntonioSan Antonio area0 apprentices
Polk Mechanical Company (search the web)HoustonHouston area0 apprentices
QFCS (search the web)Also trains other tradesFriscoEverywhere else0 apprentices
SER Jobs (search the web)Also trains other tradesHoustonHouston area0 apprentices
Southeastern University (search the web)Also trains other tradesAustinAustin area0 apprentices

Also trains other trades: these 43 sponsors train more than one trade, so their count includes apprentices in their other trades. A count of 0 means the federal data recorded no apprentices in training, and it doesn't always mean the program has closed.

Programs inside prisons

The federal data marks 7 programs as training people who are incarcerated. They are Windham School District (the school system inside Texas state prisons) and 6 federal prisons. You can't apply to these programs from outside, and the wage figures don't include them.

  • Windham School DistrictHuntsville1,584 apprentices
  • FCI LowBeaumont0 apprentices
  • Federal Correctional InstituteThree Rivers0 apprentices
  • Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) - SeagovilleSeagoville0 apprentices
  • FMC Carswell CampFort Worth0 apprentices
  • U.S. D O J FCC, Beaumont (MED)Beaumont0 apprentices
  • U.S.P. BeaumontBeaumont0 apprentices

How one program works: Houston Area Plumbing JAC

Each program runs in its own way. This is how one of them takes apprentices and trains them, as its own pages describe it.

Houston Area Plumbing JAC

Houston · Houston area · 827 apprentices

  1. 1

    Apply online

    Request an account on the program's online portal, and start early because you wait for approval. Apply on the portal during an application round.

  2. 2

    Interview with the committee

    The committee interviews everyone who meets the requirements, oldest complete application first. The committee scores each interview out of 20 points and selects by score. If you qualify but aren't selected, you stay in the applicant pool for 2 years.

  3. 3

    Complete the screening

    If the committee selects you, you may need to complete a physical-fitness test and a drug screening before you start work.

  4. 4

    Register as an apprentice

    The committee registers you as its apprentice, and you register with TSBPE. Your TSBPE registration makes your work hours count toward a license.

Houston Area Plumbing JAC application portal Plumbers Local 68 apprentice handbook, 2025 revision

More from the programs

Cost of training at the Houston Area Plumbing JAC

$12,000

The Houston Area Plumbing JAC is the largest program open to outside applicants, and it says its 5-year apprenticeship costs about $12,000. Contractor training funds cover this cost, so you don't pay tuition. Your pay is a percentage of the journeyworker rate, and it rises as you progress.

To apply to the Houston Area Plumbing JAC, you must be at least 17 years old. You must be 18 years old by the time you're registered as an apprentice. You upload these documents with your application.

  • an ID
  • your signed Social Security card
  • your birth certificate
  • your high school diploma or GED
  • your official transcript

The Houston Area Plumbing JAC program takes 5 years. You complete 8,500 to 10,000 hours on the job and scheduled classroom training. You pay for your books, and the committee sets its registration and administrative fees in its letters to you.

Instead of tuition, you sign a scholarship loan agreement. If you complete the apprenticeship and work another 4 years for participating union contractors, the loan is forgiven. If you leave early, the remaining balance is due with interest.

Note: If you miss 24 hours of in-person class, the Houston Area Plumbing JAC cancels your apprenticeship agreement.

Your license in Texas

To work as a plumber in Texas, you need your own license from TSBPE, whoever you work for. You start with the $15 plumber's apprentice registration, and you can get the tradesman plumber-limited license and the journeyman plumber license later with hours on the job and exams.

See how plumber licensing works in Texas

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Labor national apprenticeship data, extract of August 17, 2026: the programs, the apprentice counts, the 2 median wages and the range of starting wages
  2. Houston Area Plumbing JAC application portal and Plumbers Local 68 apprentice handbook, 2025 revision: the application round, the requirements, the scholarship loan terms and the cost of training
  3. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, apprentice registration: the $15 registration and the hours rule
  4. Windham School District 2025 to 2029 strategic plan: windham School District schools serve people who are incarcerated in Texas prisons

The U.S. Department of Labor data has 35 Texas filings whose registration numbers name a different state. No figure counts those filings. Every bar uses the same scale.

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