Plumber in Nevada

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

Median annual salary

$60,120

trending_down -4.5% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Nevada.

engineering

5,330

Jobs (NV)

monitoring Strong

+4.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$1,000

Est. total cost

schedule

4 years (Journeyman), 5 years (Master), 4 years (Contractor)

Time to complete

route How to become a plumber in Nevada

To become a licensed plumber in Nevada, individuals can pursue either a Journeyman/Master Plumber license through the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) or a Plumbing Contractor (C-1) license through the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB). Journeyman plumbers need 8,000 hours of experience, pass an exam, and pay a $300 application fee. Plumbing contractors must have four years of experience, pass the C-1 Plumbing and Heating Contractor Exam and a Business and Law Exam, and secure a bond. Reciprocity for the trade exam may be available for contractors from Arizona, California, and Utah, and for journeyman plumbers from a wide range of states.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $40,870

25th percentile $47,380

50th (median) $60,120

75th percentile $82,370

90th (experienced) $108,690

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

checklist Nevada requirements

Licensing body	Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (for Journeyman and Master Plumbers) and Nevada State Contractors Board (for Plumbing Contractors)
State license	Required
Education	None for contractor license, but training programs may involve tuition costs. For Journeyman, 4 years in a state-registered apprenticeship or 8,000 hours of experience. For Master, 1 year (2,000 hours) as a Journeyman.
Experience	8,000.0 hours
Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam (Prometric or NITC) or Master Plumber Exam (Prometric or NITC); C-1 Plumbing and Heating Contractor Exam & Business and Law Exam (PSI) ($125)
Application fee	$300
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	8.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age 18. Nevada issues Journeyman and Master Plumber licenses through the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE). The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) licenses Plumbing Contractors (C-1). A bond is required for contractors, ranging from $1,000 to $500,000. Journeyman and Master Plumber licenses are renewed every two years, with 8 hours of continuing education or a 40-question open-book test required. Contractor licenses are renewed annually.

Source: Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (for Journeyman and Master Plumbers) and Nevada State Contractors Board (for Plumbing Contractors)

workspace_premium Nevada license tiers

Nevada offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:

Tier	Hours required
C-1 Plumbing and Heating Contractor	8,000

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

~$1,000 investment ÷ $60,120 median salary

check_circleNevada 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 are the steps to becoming a plumber in Nevada? expand_more

To become a plumber in Nevada, you need to complete the required education (None for contractor license, but training programs may involve tuition costs. For Journeyman, 4 years in a state-registered apprenticeship or 8,000 hours of experience. For Master, 1 year (2,000 hours) as a Journeyman.), gain 8,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Journeyman Plumber Exam (Prometric or NITC) or Master Plumber Exam (Prometric or NITC); C-1 Plumbing and Heating Contractor Exam & Business and Law Exam (PSI), and submit your application ($300 fee).

Does Nevada require plumber licensure? expand_more

Yes, Nevada requires a state license to practice as a plumber. The licensing body is Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (for Journeyman and Master Plumbers) and Nevada State Contractors Board (for Plumbing Contractors). You must pass the Journeyman Plumber Exam (Prometric or NITC) or Master Plumber Exam (Prometric or NITC); C-1 Plumbing and Heating Contractor Exam & Business and Law Exam (PSI).

How much do plumbers make in Nevada? expand_more

The median plumber salary in Nevada is $60,120 per year. That's roughly in line with the $62,970 national median. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $40,870, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $108,690.

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

The full cost to enter the field runs about $1,000, factoring in exam fee ($125) and application fee ($300) and required training.

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

The typical timeline in Nevada is 4 years (Journeyman), 5 years (Master), 4 years (Contractor). This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

What are the continuing education requirements for plumbers in Nevada? expand_more

To keep your license active, Nevada mandates 8.0 CE hours every 2.0 years.