Maine requires a license to work as a plumber, and there are four levels: trainee, journeyman-in-training, journeyman and master. The fastest realistic route to a journeyman license is about two years and 4,000 supervised hours. Maine has a persistent shortage of licensed plumbers, which gives qualified tradespeople unusual negotiating leverage.
Current as of September 2026.
Why Maine Needs Plumbers
Plumbing is one of the harder trades to fill in Maine, and the reasons compound. The existing workforce is aging in a state with the oldest median population in the country. Maine's housing stock is old, which means more repair and replacement work than new construction. And the state's long heating season ties plumbing closely to heating systems, so the work doesn't slow in winter the way it does in some trades.
The practical consequence for anyone entering the trade: licensed plumbers in Maine generally do not struggle to find work, and employers competing for a small pool of licensed candidates negotiate from a weaker position than employers in most other fields.
Maine's Four Plumbing License Levels
Licensing runs through the State of Maine Plumbers' Examining Board, under the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.
Trainee plumber. The entry point. You work under the supervision of a licensed master plumber. No exam required to start.
Journeyman-in-training. A transitional license for people who have completed an approved training program. It shortens the hours needed to reach journeyman.
Journeyman plumber. Can perform plumbing installations under a master plumber's direction, and repair work independently. Cannot pull permits or operate as a contractor of record.
Master plumber. Full authority. Can pull permits, supervise others, and run a plumbing business.
Hours and Timeline
To qualify for the journeyman exam, you need either two years and 4,000 hours as a licensed trainee under a master plumber, or 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman-in-training. The journeyman-in-training hours must be earned within four years of that license being issued.
To qualify for the master exam, you need either one year and 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman, or four years and 8,000 hours as a licensed trainee under a master plumber.
So the two routes look quite different in practice. Straight through as a trainee, journeyman takes about two years and master about four. Going through a community college program first gets you a journeyman-in-training license, which halves the field hours to journeyman — but you spend that time in school instead.
The Exams
Journeyman exam: 80 questions, three hours, 70% to pass.
Master exam: 100 questions, three hours, 75% to pass.
Both carry a $65 exam fee. The exams cover the Maine Plumbing Code, general trade practice, drain-waste-vent systems, fixture standards and safety requirements. The master exam weights installation more heavily.
Training Programs in Maine
Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor runs a two-year plumbing program that qualifies graduates to apply for journeyman licensing.
Central Maine Community College in Auburn offers a Plumbing and Heating Technology program, including a two-year associate degree route.
The heating component matters more in Maine than it would elsewhere. Plumbing and heating are frequently the same job here, and a plumber who can also work on boilers and heat pumps is meaningfully more employable.
There are also registered apprenticeship routes through employers, where you earn while accumulating hours rather than paying tuition. Maine's Department of Labor maintains apprenticeship program information.
What Plumbers Earn in Maine
Pay varies considerably by license level, region and whether the work is residential or commercial.
Trainees start near the bottom of the skilled trades range. Licensed journeymen earn substantially more, and master plumbers who own their own business have no fixed ceiling. Published ranges for Maine plumbers generally run from the mid-$50,000s to the mid-$80,000s annually, with master plumbers and business owners above that.
Two things push Maine pay higher than the raw numbers suggest. Shortage gives licensed plumbers leverage in negotiation. And service work — emergency calls, frozen pipes, heating failures — carries premium rates in a state with Maine's winters.
Since July 29, 2026, Maine employers with 10 or more employees must include the anticipated pay range in job advertisements, so comparing actual offers is easier than it used to be.
Where the Work Is
Greater Portland has the most volume and the most commercial work. Bangor and the Penobscot region carry a steady mix of residential and institutional. Coastal towns run seasonal — heavy summer demand from the tourism and second-home economy, with winterization and repair work through the off season. Rural Maine has fewer plumbers per capita than anywhere else in the state, which means less competition and more driving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a plumber in Maine?
Yes. Maine requires licensing through the State Plumbers' Examining Board. You can begin as a trainee working under a licensed master plumber, but performing plumbing work without supervision requires at least a journeyman license.
How long does it take to become a plumber in Maine?
About two years to reach journeyman via the trainee route — 4,000 supervised hours plus the exam. Master licensing takes roughly one additional year as a journeyman. A community college program shortens the required field hours but adds school time.
How much do plumbers make in Maine?
Published ranges generally run from the mid-$50,000s to the mid-$80,000s a year, with master plumbers and business owners earning more. Trainees start lower. Service and emergency work pays a premium.
What is the difference between a journeyman and a master plumber in Maine?
A journeyman can do installations under a master's direction and repair work independently, but cannot pull permits or act as contractor of record. A master plumber can pull permits, supervise, and run a plumbing business.
Can you become a plumber in Maine without going to school?
Yes. The trainee route requires no schooling — you work under a licensed master plumber and accumulate 4,000 hours over about two years, then sit the journeyman exam. The tradeoff is more field hours than the community college route requires.
Is there a plumber shortage in Maine?
Yes. An aging workforce, old housing stock and the state's heating demands combine to keep licensed plumbers in short supply, particularly outside the Portland area.
Plumbing Jobs in Maine
Browse current plumbing and trades jobs on JobsInMaine.com →
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