Plumber in Hawaii

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for HI. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$78,540

trending_up +24.7% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Hawaii.

engineering

2,640

Jobs (HI)

monitoring Strong

+4.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$200

Est. total cost

schedule

5 years (apprenticeship) + application and exam processing time

Time to complete

route How to become a plumber in Hawaii

To become a licensed Journeyman Plumber in Hawaii, individuals must complete a five-year registered apprenticeship program, which includes at least 10,000 hours of work experience and 144 hours of related education per year. After completing the apprenticeship and gaining board approval, applicants must pass the Hawaii Journeyman Plumber Examination. Hawaii does not offer reciprocity with other states, but out-of-state experience can be used to meet the experience requirements. Licenses must be renewed every three years and require a 4-hour continuing competency course.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $46,900

25th percentile $62,390

50th (median) $78,540

75th percentile $97,820

90th (experienced) $115,160

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Hawaii. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Hawaii requirements

Licensing body	Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Board of Electricians and Plumbers
State license	Required
Education	High school diploma or GED and completion of an approved apprenticeship program including 144 hours of related education per year for five years.
Experience	10,000.0 hours
Exam	Hawaii Journeyman Plumber Examination ($90)
Application fee	$40
Renewal	Every 3.0 years
Continuing education	4.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age for apprenticeship is 17 years old. Master Plumber requires 2 years of experience as a licensed Journeyman Plumber. All licensed plumbers must complete a 4-hour continuing competency course on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) for renewal. Hawaii does not have reciprocity agreements with other states, but out-of-state experience may be used to meet requirements.

Source: Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Board of Electricians and Plumbers

workspace_premium Hawaii license tiers

Hawaii offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Journeyman	10,000
Master	14,000

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+4.5%

Faster than average

Annual openings

44,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

504,500

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -1.12/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

Rough payback period

0 months

~$200 investment ÷ $78,540 median salary

check_circleHawaii license required — clearer credential signal to employers
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a plumber career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

What's required to work as a plumber in Hawaii? expand_more

To become a plumber in Hawaii, you need to complete the required education (High school diploma or GED and completion of an approved apprenticeship program including 144 hours of related education per year for five years.), gain 10,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Hawaii Journeyman Plumber Examination, and submit your application ($40 fee).

Do I need a license to work as a plumber in Hawaii? expand_more

A state license is required in Hawaii. Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Board of Electricians and Plumbers handles plumber licensing — the Hawaii Journeyman Plumber Examination is part of the process.

How much does a plumber make in Hawaii? expand_more

Hawaii plumbers bring home a median salary of $78,540. — 25% higher than the $62,970 national figure. Wages range from $46,900 (10th percentile) up to $115,160 (90th percentile).

What's the total cost to get plumber certified in Hawaii? expand_more

Between exam fee ($90) and application fee ($40), expect to invest around $200 in total to get started.

How many months or years does plumber certification take in Hawaii? expand_more

Expect to spend 5 years (apprenticeship) + application and exam processing time from start to finish in Hawaii — covering coursework, supervised experience, and examination.

How many CE hours do plumbers need in Hawaii? expand_more

To keep your license active, Hawaii mandates 4.0 CE hours every 3.0 years.