Careers in Plumbing
Careers in plumbing can be challenging to obtain, depending on the sector, state of employment, experience level of the plumber and needs of the industry. If you are looking to start a career in plumbing, there are several facts and considerations you need to know and examine before deciding if a career in plumbing is right for you.
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Types
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The duties required of plumbers vary by job and sector. Commercial plumbers largely work in large scale buildings and commercial properties or government facilities that repair and manage water and waste systems for large communities and expansive areas of land. Plumbers employed in the private sector are required to perform maintenance in homes and apartment buildings as well as make determinations about where washing machines will be placed and how pipes will be constructed in the walls of the building or housing structure. Both commercial and private sector plumbers service pipes and water systems as well as waste disposal systems.
Function
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Plumbers primarily lay bathroom and kitchen fixtures, such as toilets, bathroom sinks and complex water heating units. Unlike a commercial plumber who works primarily in a factory and lays expansive pipe systems to transport water and sewage across large distances within a town or city, a household plumber installs water and sewer systems to residential houses.
Plumbers install fixtures and handle pipes, as well as join damaged pipes for repair. The process requires an understanding of the water and sewage lines of the property as well as the tools and fixtures required to service the repair. Plumbers also need to cut and shape pipes for proper fitting. Because each system must be evaluated before and after all repair work is completed, plumbers have to endure long hours of standing and maneuvering, as well as the handling of large and hazardous equipment. -
Considerations
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Plumbers either contract work through a large factory or commercial builder, are self-employed, work in a government agency and, in all or some of those cases, are members of a union. Regardless of the type of employee, plumbers lack job security. Because plumbers work on a project by project or contract by contract basis, continuous work is not guaranteed for most plumbers. Those hired in a government agency or are contracted for a specified period of time to perform maintenance for a commercial structure or apartment building must find and quality for work once that contract expires. Plumbers are not subject to a national certification program, but some states do require certification or proven knowledge of machinery and materials, safety guidelines and plumbing regulations.
Finding Employment
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Online job boards like Get Plumbing Jobs, Grus Personnel, Jobster and Career Builder are all available to plumbers in search of in-house, contract, seasonal, and full- and part-time plumbing work. Those plumbers skilled in other areas may consider a management job overseeing a manufacturing plants, power plant, treatment facility or large building. Plumbers can also cross train as pipe fitters, pipe layers and steamfitters.
Wages
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The average rate of pay for a plumber ranges between $14 (hourly) and $30 (hourly). (Experience level, state of employment and areas of specialization all contribute to salary.) According to the Careers Overview website, the general average salary for plumbers was $19, regardless of sector, union affiliation or state of employment.
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