Becoming a plumber may seem unpromising for some people, but still, for all these years this industry has been quite profitable and successful.
We have collected all the facts about the job of plumbers, their duties, the required skills to achieve some significant goals, and salary levels worldwide. In this article, you will find an ultimate answer to the question “What do plumbers do” and “What are the current perspectives for this job in 2023?”
A plumber is one of those jobs where you cannot just have theoretical knowledge without any practice. The work of plumbers is full of installing and repairing, which is not possible to do perfectly without practical skills. Moreover, plumbers often face urgent cases, where they need to make an important decision in a matter of minutes. In other words, a perfect plumber must have not only knowledge of the water and piping systems but also be decisive and analytical.
It’s worth mentioning that the job of a plumber can be quite diverse including working with the designers to provide the proper water setup considering the visual preferences of the clients. But still, here are some of the most frequent requests for plumbers these days.
Of course, one of the most common cases when people need a plumber is a leak. At this point, plumbers have simple tasks like locating and repairing the leaks. However, even such a simple task includes multi-tasking work. To provide qualified service, plumbers need to consider the size of the building, its plumbing system, and possible problems that might show up.
The process of the leak location may also be a multiple-step work including the special scanning of the blueprints and tracing of the location.
For such type of work, plumbers of all levels use plumber tape. What does plumber tape do? This is probably one of the most essential and necessary tools used to seal on pipe joints, which don't include a rubber seal.
Any water system requires regular check-ups and repairs to prevent leaking or any other kind of problem. Even the tiny-tiny component can cause a huge plumbing issue that would overcomplicate the use of basic water equipment.
So here is what plumbers do with this kind of order – they may replace the faulty taps, cover the holes that prevent the proper work of the plumber mechanism, and remove the blockages.
The plumbing job is unbelievably diverse, which allows specialists of different levels to work. But of course, the higher level – the higher income. Here are the top 3 levels of the plumbing job in the modern market.
1. Apprentice plumber
The first level is basically the beginner level for the specialists who just started their careers. Most of the time, apprentice plumbers work by following more advanced plumbers and improving their basic skills through consultation.
Talking more specifically about the work tasks, the first-level plumbers clean and organize the tools and practice the basic work only with the help of the higher-level specialists. To become an apprentice plumber, you need to pass the course and internship in the plumbing company. Answering the question “What education do plumbers have?” the high school diploma or GED is the basic license that is required to start a career in this business.
2. Journeyman plumber
The next level of plumbing specialization doesn’t obligate the plumber to work under supervision. It means that as soon as the plumber gets to this level, the solo career begins. Therefore, the harder tasks come to the table – installing the plumbing and water systems, repairing, fixing, and changing the components to eliminate the problem.
The plumbers can get the journeyman level required for a valid apprentice license and at least 4 years of working experience.
3. Master plumber
The next level on the list is the highest professional level implying the most difficult cases with multi-tasking projects. Most of the time, plumbers of the masters level already run their own companies and agencies.
Among the main requirement to get this level of plumbing job is two years of experience and passing the exam.
As already mentioned, a job of a plumber may be much more diversified than expected. During the shift, a plumber can face many unsimilar tasks that require different skills from a specialist. So what skills do plumbers need to build a successful career with a stable income?
Perfect motor abilities and good vision are basic skills that make plumbing work possible. A person with some kind of disability can face much more barriers and challenges during work.
Any plumbing system is a complex setup requiring an individual approach. Therefore, plumbers should think they put each step of the work before even starting. Analytical skills help specialists to avoid problems caused by the un-informed decision.
Even if a plumber has over five years of experience in the market, it’s still possible to surprise the specialist. With the constant improvement and upgrading of the plumbing systems, the problems that require the intervention of a plumber may be different.
It’s also important to mention that plumbers always communicate with clients. Without proper communication, the plumber won’t be able to understand the cause of the problem and, therefore, provide a solution.
Do plumbers charge per hour? Sometimes – yes, plumbers are paid depending on the time spent on the work. Talking more specifically about the average salary in the plumbing labor market, here’s a brief guide to the annual income based on the specialist’s experience:
Plumbing is a crucial job that plays an essential role in our daily lives. From installing new plumbing systems to repairing and maintaining existing ones, plumbers ensure that we have access to clean water, functioning drainage, and efficient heating and cooling systems. With the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the plumbing industry, it is clear that this job will continue to be in high demand. As time flies, this industry keeps developing and adopting even more innovative technologies, which means constant growth of the plumbing labor market and stable income for specialists.
