Plumber in Arizona
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for AZ. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Arizona.
Jobs (AZ)
10-yr job growth
Est. total cost
Time to complete
route How to become a plumber in Arizona
To become a licensed plumber in Arizona, individuals must obtain a contractor's license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC), as the state does not license journeyman plumbers directly. Applicants need to be at least 18 years old and demonstrate four years (8000 hours) of documented experience at the journeyman level or equivalent, with technical training potentially counting for up to two years of this experience. Key steps include passing the AZ Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam (SRE) and a trade-specific exam, submitting to a criminal background check, and securing a surety bond. Arizona offers reciprocity with California, Nevada, and Utah, waiving the trade exam for eligible applicants, though the SRE is still required. Military spouses with valid out-of-state licenses may also qualify for a license transfer.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Arizona. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Arizona requirements
| Licensing body | Arizona Registrar of Contractors |
| State license | Required |
| Education | None |
| Experience | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | AZ Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam (SRE) & Trade-Specific Exam (e.g., R-37 Plumbing) ($127) |
| Application fee | $720 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Notes | Minimum age is 18. Applicants must provide documentation of citizenship or legal resident status, complete a criminal background check, and obtain a surety bond. Technical training can account for up to two years of the required experience. Arizona licenses contractors, not journeyman plumbers. The 8000 hours (4 years) of experience must be at the journeyman level or equivalent. |
Source: Arizona Registrar of Contractors
workspace_premium Arizona license tiers
Arizona offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:
| Tier | Hours required |
|---|---|
| R-37 Residential Plumbing Contractor | 8,000 |
| C-37 Commercial Plumbing Contractor | 8,000 |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleArizona license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk