In the United States the median hourly pay for pipe layers was 13.68 and that was for the last year the wages were studied 2004. The wages have gone up some since that time. The lowest ten percent, those just starting out their on-the-job plumbing training, made only 9.19 per hour on average, while the highest 10 percent earned over 25.07.

Whats important to keep in mind about these figures, too, is that these are for all plumbers who, either in the midst of training, or having completed it, work for other plumbing or related companies. Plumbers who work for themselves may earn as much as 130 per hour. Of course, these are generally folks who are paying the overhead costs of the business, and perhaps people who work under them so its not all gravy.

Plumbing employees, once training has been completed, start out with some variation in wages depending on which industry they work in. If they are employed in natural gas distribution, for example, they make the highest hourly wage 23.86. Those employed in the area of construction of non-residential buildings earn a median U.S. wage of 21.55 per hour. Plumbers working for contractors in the building equipment industry make approximately 19.85 per hour, while those in construction of utility systems earn about 18.29 per hour.

Local government pays the lowest of these categories - 16.30 per hour.

Apprentices, those still taking part in on-the-job plumbing training earn approximately half of the going media wage for experienced plumbers, pipe layers, steam fitters or pipe fitters. As their skills improve their wages increase. After a predetermined waiting period, these plumbing training apprentices receive benefits equal to their experienced co-workers.

The ten best known schools in the United States and Canada that offer plumbing training are Everest Institute in Houston Texas, National Institute of Technology in Long Beach Texas, Wyotech in Fremont, Calif., New England Institute of Technology in Warwick Rhode Island, Pennco Tech in Bristol Pa., Vatterott Colleges with two campuses in Missouri, Vancouver Career College with seven different locations in Canadas British Columbia, Eastwick Colleges in Patterson New Jersey, the online Professional Career Development Institute PCDI and Penn Foster Career School which is also entirely distance learning and Web-based.

At New England Institute of Technology, for example, the plumbing training can lead to either an Associates or Bachelors degree in plumbing technology. Students learn the latest technology in heating and plumbing, pipe fitting, drafting, blueprint reading, draining, vent, waste management, and troubleshooting. Completion of the plumbing training program at NEIT qualified the plumber to work as a pipe fitter, a plumbing contractor, or a water supply technician.

At PCDI you can learn at your own pace online or in print, and its monthly payment tuition program helps make your plumbing training affordable.