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Plumber · Illinois

Plumber programs in Illinois

In Illinois, a first-year plumber is either paid — or paying.

Tuition on the school path is real money. First-year pay on the apprenticeship path is a paycheck. Seats are not guaranteed on either side.

Plumber in the United States

Updated Apr 2026

Chicago plumber JATC · UA Local 130 — $20–$26/hr

First-year share of Chicago plumber scale · Apr 2026

Year one in Illinois

One paid path and one school path. The full list is below.

Paid training · listed first

PHCC Illinois plumber apprenticeship

PHCC Illinois chapters · Multiple Illinois markets

Tuition: $0–$3,000
First-year wage: $16–$21/hr

You pay · no paycheck in class

Illinois community college plumbing / pipefitting

ICCB colleges with active programs · Statewide

Tuition: $5,000–$14,000
First-year wage: $0 during school

All programs on this page

PHCC Illinois plumber apprenticeship

ApprenticeshipSeats: Open

Tuition / net cost

$0–$3,000

Employer-sponsored. Some classroom fees.

First-year wage

$16–$21/hr

Paid helper / first-year scale.

Term

4 years

Steps to local journeyman plumber rates

PHCC Illinois chapters·Multiple Illinois markets

Source: PHCC Illinois chapter pages (2026-03)

Chicago plumber JATC (UA 130)

ApprenticeshipSeats: Waitlist

Tuition / net cost

Paid OJT. Related instruction included.

First-year wage

$20–$26/hr

Among the highest first-year plumber scales in the Midwest.

Term

5 years

Chicago plumber packages well above the U.S. median

UA Local 130·Chicago

Source: UA 130 public apprenticeship materials (2026-04)

Illinois community college plumbing / pipefitting

Trade schoolSeats: Open

Tuition / net cost

$5,000–$14,000

In-district certificate / AAS range.

First-year wage

$0 during school

Unpaid classroom.

Term

1–2 years

Illinois plumber wages well above the U.S. median in the Chicago market

ICCB colleges with active programs·Statewide

Source: College Scorecard / ICCB catalogs (2026-02)

Other plumber states

Get plumber numbers for another state

We only write when new year-one numbers go up.