Plumber in Iowa

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

Median annual salary

$61,230

trending_down -2.8% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Iowa.

engineering

6,350

Jobs (IA)

monitoring Strong

+4.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$400

Est. total cost

schedule

4 years apprenticeship, plus 2 years as a journeyman for Master Plumber.

Time to complete

route How to become a plumber in Iowa

To become a licensed Journeyman Plumber in Iowa, individuals must complete a four-year apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, or hold a master-level license from another jurisdiction. After meeting the education/experience requirements, applicants must pass the Iowa Journeyman Plumber Examination. The licensing body is the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board, which also handles renewals every three years with a requirement of 8 continuing education hours per cycle. Iowa has a reciprocity agreement with South Dakota for plumbing licenses.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $41,840

25th percentile $48,510

50th (median) $61,230

75th percentile $80,450

90th (experienced) $92,690

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

checklist Iowa requirements

Licensing body	Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board
State license	Required
Education	Completion of a US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship registered program, or a master-level license from another jurisdiction.
Experience	8,000.0 hours
Exam	Iowa Journeyman Plumber Examination ($119)
Application fee	$180
Renewal	Every 3.0 years
Continuing education	8.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age of 18. Master Plumber requires 2 years of experience as a licensed Journeyman. Applicants with felony convictions are subject to review by the board.

Source: Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board

workspace_premium Iowa license tiers

Iowa offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Apprentice	N/A
Journeyman	8,000
Master	12,000

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

~$400 investment ÷ $61,230 median salary

check_circleIowa 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

How do I become a plumber in Iowa? expand_more

Iowa requires plumbers to complete the required education (Completion of a US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship registered program, or a master-level license from another jurisdiction.), gain 8,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Iowa Journeyman Plumber Examination, and submit your application ($180 fee).

Is a plumber license required in Iowa? expand_more

You cannot practice as a plumber in Iowa without a state license from Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board. The required exam is the Iowa Journeyman Plumber Examination.

How much do plumbers make in Iowa? expand_more

In Iowa, the median pay for plumbers comes to $61,230/year. This is close to the national median of $62,970. Wages range from $41,840 (10th percentile) up to $92,690 (90th percentile).

What are the fees to become a plumber in Iowa? expand_more

Plan on spending $400 total — that covers exam fee ($119) and application fee ($180) plus your education and training.

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

Most candidates in Iowa complete the process in 4 years apprenticeship, plus 2 years as a journeyman for Master Plumber., from enrollment in a training program through licensure.

How many CE hours do plumbers need in Iowa? expand_more

To keep your license active, Iowa mandates 8.0 CE hours every 3.0 years.