Plumber/Pipefitter at Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC, Dayton

Time-BasedRegistered ApprenticeshipUnionPaid Training

at Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC, Dayton in Dayton, OH

About This Program

Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC Dayton sponsors a union Plumber/Pipefitter Apprenticeship in Dayton, OH. This Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee program provides structured, paid training in the plumbing and pipefitting trades under the joint oversight of labor and management in the Dayton region. Apprentices begin earning wages from day one, enabling them to pursue a skilled trade career without taking on student loan debt.

The program spans five years and is built around 8,000 hours of on-the-job training combined with 576 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices rotate through job sites in the Dayton area, gaining hands-on experience with plumbing system installation, industrial and commercial pipefitting, equipment connections, and system diagnostics. Classroom instruction covers Ohio plumbing and mechanical codes, occupational safety, blueprint reading, pipe system design, and trade mathematics.

Graduates of the Dayton JATC program earn journeyman standing and full union membership, bringing access to collectively bargained wages, employer-funded healthcare, and pension contributions. Dayton's manufacturing presence and ongoing commercial construction activity create sustained demand for qualified journeyman plumbers and pipefitters, and graduates of this program are well prepared to meet that demand.

Wage & Training

Journeyman Wage

$30

BLS 2023

OJT Hours

8,000

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

RTI Hours

576

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

Duration

5 years

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.

How to Apply

Plumber Career Outlook

National Median

$30.46/hr

~$63,356.8/yr

Apprentice Start

$15/hr

Earn while you learn

Job Outlook

Plumber employment is projected to grow steadily, driven by new construction, building renovation, and the need to replace aging water infrastructure. Water efficiency regulations and green building standards are creating additional demand for skilled plumbers. The trade consistently ranks among the hardest positions for employers to fill, indicating strong job security.

What to Expect as a Plumber/Pipefitter Apprentice

Duration

5 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction

On-the-Job Training

~32 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (8,000 total hours)

Classroom Instruction

576 hours of related technical instruction (~115 hours/year)

Paid Training

You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress

Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.

This is a union-affiliated program. Union apprenticeships typically offer strong benefits packages, pension contributions, and structured career advancement through the local hall.

Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Plumber

Apprenticeship

Cost$0 (earn while you learn)
Duration5 years
Starting wage$15.00/hr
Journeyman wage$30.46/hr
CredentialJourneyman card

Trade School

Cost$5,000–$20,000+
Duration6–24 months
Starting wageEntry-level
ExperienceHands-on labs
CredentialCertificate / diploma

Licensing in Ohio

Plumber/Pipefitters in Ohio are required to hold a license. Licensing is issued by Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board.

View full Ohiolicensing requirements →

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