How to become a plumber in Michigan

The path in Michigan, step by step

Michigan licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes. These are the steps it lays out, in order.

1. Register as an apprentice plumber and log 6,000 hours over three years.
2. Pass the journey plumber written and practical exams.
3. Work 4,000 hours over two years as a journey plumber.
4. Apply to LARA, pay the $100 exam fee and pass the master plumber exam.
5. Apply for the plumbing contractor license, pass its exam and pay the license fee.
6. Renew every three years by April 30.

The full license guide, with every fee and form: plumbing license in Michigan.

Finding an apprenticeship in Michigan

Michigan has no recognized State Apprenticeship Agency, so the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers and oversees programs there through a state field office. Apprenticeship.gov lists the Michigan Apprenticeship Office as the contact.

Either way, a registered program means paid work with a mentor, raises as you progress, classroom instruction and a credential recognized in every state. Search open spots in the Apprenticeship Job Finder.

Across the country. Most plumbers learn the trade in a 4 or 5 year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus some classroom instruction each year.

License levels and exams in Michigan

The license to aim for: Plumbing Contractor license (with a Master Plumber license).

Trade exam. Yes. Contractor and master applicants must pass an exam. The journey exam has a written part through PSI and a hands on practical part.

Keeping it. Master and contractor licenses renew every three years by April 30, for $300. Masters must take an approved code update course within 12 months of a code change.

What the Michigan license costs

The fees the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes lists. Exam fees from a testing company, insurance and any bond come on top.

What plumbers earn in Michigan

The median plumber in Michigan earned $38.56 an hour in May 2025, 9th of 51 states, with 14,120 on payrolls. The national median was $30.67.

At the bottom of the range, a quarter of plumbers in Michigan earned under $27.93 an hour and a tenth under $22.38. At the top, a quarter earned over $45.86 and a tenth over $49.73.

Every state, the neighbors and what a business should charge: plumber salary in Michigan.

Jobs ahead in Michigan

Michigan's labor market office projects jobs for plumbers growing from 15,150 in 2022 to 15,290 in 2032, a change of 0.9%. Counting people who retire or change careers, that is about 1,310 openings a year.

Jobs are projected to grow 0.9% from 2022 to 2032, slower than the 2.3% projected nationally, ranking 49th of the 50 states in the file.

These are the state's own long-term projections, published together on Projections Central for the occupation group plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.

Starting your own plumber business in Michigan

To contract on your own in Michigan, the license is the Plumbing Contractor license (with a Master Plumber license).

Pricing comes next. Paying yourself the Michigan median of $38.56 an hour, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) come to $138.31 per billable hour. Try your own in the plumber labor rate calculator.

The full checklist is in how to start a plumbing business. The free Koira Office plan gives you a website on a Koira address, estimates customers sign with a deposit, invoices with card payments and your day's jobs in one place, with no per-person fee. See the plans.