In the year 2004, a study was conducted, and it was found out that on an average, the hourly pay for the guys who were involved in laying pipes was 13.68. Since that time, the rate has only shot up. In fact, 9.19 per hour was earned by the ones who were new to it; who had just started their plumbing training. The top 10% earned more than 25.07 per hour for this job.

It is interesting to note that these figures given above relate to those plumbers who are working with plumbing or such related companies, either as trainees or as full-time workers. Those plumbers who are self employed and they work for themselves, can earn a huge hourly income of nearly 130. Yes, these people need to manage costs, since they have to bear the overhead expenses and also have to pay the workers who work under them, but even after the deduction of all those expenses, the amount in hand would actually be substantial enough!

Based on which industry they are into, the wages earned by plumbers vary after they have successfully completed their training. For instance, if they get employment is a natural gas distribution company, they would get a handsome hourly wage rate of 23.86. The ones who are involved in the construction of office premises can earn an hourly wage rate of 21.55. The plumbers who work for contractors of building can easily fetch an hourly wage rate of 19.85, and those who are involved in the utility system construction can make around 18.29 in an hour. The lowest hourly wage rate goes to the workers of the local government, which is 16.30.

Those apprentices, who have still not fully completed their training, and are working just to learn the process of it, can earn about half of what the experienced plumbers earn. Their wages improve as they learn new skills while on the job. After they have attained enough knowledge of the work, their pay is equated with the pay of the experienced plumbers in that area of specialization.

The top ten schools in the U.S. and Canada where plumbing training can be attained are mentioned below:
-Everest Institute (Houston, Texas)
-Wyotech (Fremont, Calif.)
-National Institute of technology (Long Beach Texas)
-Pennco Tech (Bristol Pa)
-Vatterott College (It has 2 campuses in Missouri)
-Vancouver Career College (It has campuses at 7 places in British Columbia, Canada)
-Eastwick College (Patterson, New Jersey)
-Professional Career Development Institute (this is an online mode of learning)
-Penn Foster Career School (Even this offer a distant, web-based learning facility)

A plumbing training at New England Institute of technology can offer a Bachelor and an Associates degree in the technology of plumbing. Various works related to plumbing like pipe fitting, drafting, draining, etc. are taught to them. Upon completion of the course, the person gets a certified degree to work as a plumber.