How to Become a Plumber in Michigan

Plumbing is one of the best-paying construction trades in Michigan. The state median is about $16,400 higher than the national median, and you earn while you learn as an apprentice. The catch is that Michigan takes licensing seriously. You need to register, log your hours the right way and pass two exams before you can work as a journey plumber. This guide walks you through each step.

What a plumber does

Plumbers install and repair the pipes that bring clean water into buildings and carry waste out. On a typical day you might read a blueprint, cut and join pipe, set fixtures and water heaters, or track down a leak or a clog. Some plumbers work on new homes, others on hospitals, schools and factories, and many run service calls.

The work is physical. You will crawl, lift and work in tight spaces. It also takes math, problem solving and good customer skills. The federal government groups plumbers with pipefitters and steamfitters, so you will see those trades in the same pay and job data.

Michigan plumbing license requirements

Plumbing licenses in Michigan come from the state, not your city. The Bureau of Construction Codes inside the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) handles them under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. There are four steps on the ladder.

1. Plumbing apprentice registration

• Register with LARA within 30 days of starting work as an apprentice.
• You must work for a licensed plumbing contractor, under the direct, on-site supervision of a journey or master plumber.
• The fee is $15 a year, and the registration must be renewed every year. Hours you work while your registration has lapsed do not count toward your license.
• One journey or master plumber can supervise no more than two apprentices on site.
• The fee can be waived for active-duty service members, honorably discharged veterans and their dependents.

2. Journey plumber

• Be at least 18 and have at least 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as an actively registered apprentice. A military route is also available for military plumbers with 6,000 hours.
• Pass two exams on the same application: a written exam given by PSI and a hands-on practical exam given by the state. Applications are good for one year, and passing scores do not carry over to a new application.
• The written exam has 125 questions, takes up to 3 hours and is open book (bound references only, with no highlighting). You need 75% to pass.
• Practical exams are held in Mason, Cadillac and St. Ignace. LARA lists no practical exams in December 2026 or January 2027. The next date is February 2, 2027.
• Fees: $100 for the exam (paid to PSI) and $40 a year for the license.
• When the state plumbing code changes, journey plumbers must finish an approved code-change course within 12 months to renew.

3. Master plumber

After 4,000 hours over at least 2 years as a licensed journey plumber, right before you apply, you can take the master exam. A lapse in your journey license during that time breaks the clock. The exam has 130 questions, is open book and can be taken at a PSI center or online. The license costs $300 for a term of up to 3 years, plus a $100 exam fee. Add it up and the fastest path from first registration to master plumber is about 5 years.

4. Plumbing contractor

To run your own plumbing business, you need a plumbing contractor license. It must be backed by a master plumber, either you or a master you employ, and one master can back only one contractor license at a time. The contractor exam is 50 questions, and the license costs $300 for a 3-year term plus a $100 exam fee.

How much plumbers make in Michigan

Michigan plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earned a median of $80,190 a year in May 2025. That is about 26% more than the national median. Detroit pays the most of any metro area in the state.

Area	Median annual pay	Median hourly pay
United States	$63,800	$30.67
Michigan	$80,190	$38.56
Detroit–Warren–Dearborn	$86,370	$41.53
Grand Rapids–Wyoming–Kentwood	$80,440	$38.67
Lansing–East Lansing	$78,190	$37.59
Ann Arbor	$78,210	$37.60

Source: O*NET OnLine, BLS OEWS May 2025

Apprentices start at a lower rate and get raises as they gain hours and pass classes. In Michigan, the top 10% of plumbers earn more than $103,000 a year.

Job outlook for plumbers in Michigan

Michigan expects plumbing jobs to grow slowly, about 2% from 2024 to 2034, from 13,670 to 13,960 jobs. Even so, the state projects about 1,150 openings a year, mostly because experienced plumbers retire or leave the trade. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7% growth from 2025 to 2035, which it calls much faster than average.

Training paths in Michigan

Every licensed plumber in Michigan goes through the same gate: 6,000 hours as a registered apprentice. School can help you learn and get hired, but in Michigan classroom hours do not replace those apprentice hours. There are two main ways to get them.

Union apprenticeships (United Association)

The UA plumbers and pipefitters locals run 5-year, paid apprenticeships with classroom training built in. You apply to the local that covers the county where you live. Construction Careers Michigan lists the locals and their territories.

• Plumbers Local 98 (Troy): Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Huron and Sanilac counties. As of October 2026, applications are open until December 18, 2026, or until 200 people apply. You need to be 18, have a diploma or GED and a driver’s license, and pass WorkKeys and a mechanical aptitude test. Apply at Local 98.
• UA Local 174 (Coopersville): Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and much of West Michigan. Plumber/pipefitter apprenticeship. Program listing.
• UA Local 190 (Ann Arbor): Washtenaw and parts of Livingston and Lenawee. The last window was January 2–31, 2026, and the next window has not been announced. The program carries 45 credits toward a Washtenaw Community College degree. Program listing.
• UA Local 333 (Lansing and Jackson): Lansing, Jackson and Battle Creek area. Online application, no deadline listed. Application.
• UA Local 357 (Schoolcraft): Kalamazoo, Van Buren, St. Joseph, Allegan, Berrien and Barry counties. Call 269-679-2570.
• UA Local 370 (Fenton): Genesee, Shiawassee and Lapeer counties. Apprentices can branch into plumbing, pipefitting, sprinkler fitting or HVACR. Program listing.
• UA Local 671 (Monroe): Monroe County. Call 734-242-5711.
• UA Local 85 (Saginaw): Saginaw, Bay, Midland and nearby counties. Call 989-799-5261.
• UA Local 111 (Escanaba): the Upper Peninsula. It opened a new training center in May 2026. News story.

See which Michigan apprenticeships are accepting applications right now: Michigan Apprenticeship Tracker

Union programs open on their own schedules, and some fill fast. Call the local or check its site before you plan around a date.

Non-union (open shop) apprenticeships

You can also get hired as an apprentice by any licensed plumbing contractor, register with LARA within 30 days and log your 6,000 hours on the job.

One option is the PHCC Academy online plumbing apprenticeship curriculum, a 4-year, self-paced program. Your employer has to register you as an apprentice, and PHCC notes that not every course is approved in every state, so check with your employer before you enroll.

Community college programs

These schools offer plumbing or pipefitting coursework in Michigan (listed alphabetically):

• Kellogg Community College (Regional Manufacturing Technology Center, Battle Creek): Industrial Pipefitting certificate or associate degree, with plumber listed as a career outcome.
• Macomb Community College: Plumbing and Pipefitting Certificate (37 credits), with an associate degree path for apprentices.
• Washtenaw Community College: degrees built for UA apprentices, including a Journeyman Industrial associate degree.

Step-by-step: how to become a plumber in Michigan

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become a licensed plumber in Michigan?

At least 3 years and 6,000 hours as a registered apprentice before the journey exam. Master plumber takes at least 2 more years and 4,000 hours as a journey plumber.

How much does a Michigan plumbing license cost?

Apprentice registration is $15 a year. The journey license is $40 a year plus a $100 exam. The master license is $300 for up to 3 years plus a $100 exam.

Is the Michigan journey plumber exam hard?

It has two parts: a 125-question open-book written exam (75% to pass, 3 hours) and a hands-on practical in Mason, Cadillac or St. Ignace. You must pass both within one year on the same application.

Can I count trade school hours toward my license?

No. School can help you get hired, but Michigan requires 6,000 hours as a registered apprentice for the journey license.

How many apprentices can one plumber supervise?

Up to two apprentices per journey or master plumber, supervised on site.

How much do plumbers make in Michigan?

The state median was $80,190 a year ($38.56 an hour) in May 2025. Detroit was highest at $86,370.

When can I apply to Plumbers Local 98?

As of October 2026, applications are open until December 18, 2026, or until 200 people apply.

Sources

• Michigan LARA: Plumbing examination, licensing and registration
• Michigan LARA: Plumbing apprentice registration form (BCC-3328)
• Michigan LARA: Apprentice supervision ratio FAQ (MCL 339.6117a)
• Michigan Legislature: MCL 339.6121 (plumbing fees)
• Michigan Legislature: MCL 339.6115 (journey plumber code-change course)
• PSI: Michigan plumbing exam bulletin
• O*NET OnLine: Plumber wages in Michigan (BLS OEWS May 2025)
• O*NET OnLine: Plumber employment trends in Michigan
• BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
• Construction Careers Michigan: Plumbers and pipefitters
• Plumbers Local 98 Training Center: Apprenticeship
• PHCC Academy: Plumbing apprenticeship