Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Plumbers
Plumbers assemble, install, or repair pipes, fittings, or fixtures of heating, water, or drainage systems, according to specifications or plumbing codes.
Table of contents
What they do
Plumbers assemble, install, or repair pipes, fittings, or fixtures of heating, water, or drainage systems, according to specifications or plumbing codes.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
- Keep records of work assignments.
- Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Plumbers keep records of work assignments. They direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components.
A typical day for a Plumber will also include:
- Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
- Maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains.
- Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.
- Estimate time, material, or labor costs for use in project plans.
- Weld small pipes or special piping, using specialized techniques, equipment, or materials, such as computer-assisted welding or microchip fabrication.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Plumbers also cut openings in structures to accommodate pipes or pipe fittings, using hand or power tools. They may also install green plumbing equipment, such as faucet flow restrictors, dual-flush or pressure-assisted flush toilets, or tankless hot water heaters.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Plumbers compile information on governmental incentive programs related to the installation of energy or water-saving plumbing systems or devices. They might also assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
In addition, they anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks.
To some Plumbers, it is also their responsibility to maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains.
Featured Schools
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
62% said they were satisfied with their job and 63% said they found their job meaningful.
My Typical Day No two days are the same in the plumbing industry. The plumbing profession is very personal and hands-on, and in addition to offering quality plumbing services, a lot of the job is educating home and business owners on how to properly maintain their plumbing systems. Whether the job is for an emergency … Read More
My Typical Day My typical day starts with me waking at 5:30 and spending time with my daughter. I get ready for work, including my uniform, and head from home in my company service vehicle to the office. When I arrive I greet other technicians and my service manager for training. Each day, our manager … Read More
My name is Gerald Carpenter, I’m a professional plumber in the 3rd generation. My Typical Day A typical day at work for a self-employed plumber usually starts from going to the first client on the list. When you already have a trusting user base after a couple of years of good work, you start receiving … Read More
My name is Jake and I’m a manager at a service plumbing company called John The Plumber. We do service plumbing, not new builds. I’m not sure if this fits your requirements, but I’ll answer nonetheless. My typical day I’ll describe what it’s like for residential service plumbers. The work day begins at 8AM. But … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Plumbers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $33,460 to $42,330 per year or $16 to $20 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $98,990 | $48 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $75,370 | $36 |
| Median | $56,330 | $27 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $42,330 | $20 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $33,460 | $16 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Plumbers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Rail Transportation | $83480 | $40.14 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $81290 | $39.08 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $76970 | $37.00 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $75470 | $36.28 |
| Educational Support Services | $73800 | $35.48 |
| Spectator Sports | $73270 | $35.23 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $73070 | $35.13 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $72780 | $34.99 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $72670 | $34.94 |
| Offices of Physicians | $72350 | $34.79 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Plumbers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Plumbers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | 302880 | $61210 | $29.43 |
| Utility System Construction | 16720 | $59720 | $28.71 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 13600 | $65640 | $31.56 |
| Local Government | 9900 | $61320 | $29.48 |
| Employment Services | 7090 | $53630 | $25.78 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 5670 | $54310 | $26.11 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 4530 | $71050 | $34.16 |
| Residential Building Construction | 4250 | $53210 | $25.58 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 4140 | $66460 | $31.95 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 4050 | $60680 | $29.17 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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