Journeyman Plumber Job Description
Journeyman plumbers are experienced professionals who assemble and install pipe systems and plumbing fixtures such as toilets or bathtubs in homes and industrial buildings, according to StateUniversity.com. They might work on newly constructed buildings with contractors, at factories and plants or even work for a municipality, attaching pipes used for waste disposal, gas and water.
Other People Are Reading
-
Duties
-
Journeyman plumbers look at blueprints to determine the types of pipes needed for a particular project and then situate water and waste pipes before the concrete for a building foundation is poured. After carpenters erect a building frame, journeyman plumbers establish pipes for the building's bathrooms and kitchens and must work around electrical wiring or other issues. They attach pipes by gluing them if they are plastic or soldering them if they are copper, as plumbers usually also are skilled in pipefitting. Soldering involves melting an alloy used to fuse two metal surfaces, according to TheFreeDictionary.com.
Other Responsibilities
-
After installing pipes, journeyman plumbers inspect their pipes for leaks. If all the pipes work efficiently, they can finally install fixtures such as toilets, sinks, bathtubs and showers and then check their functions. They additionally can install appliances such as water heaters, waste disposers and dishwashers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Journeyman plumbers at times might have to cut holes in a home's floors, ceilings or walls, or even hang steel supports from ceiling joists to secure pipes.
-
Skills
-
Journeyman plumbers must have strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills for working with other contractors during a building project. They also should have strong finger and manual dexterity for handling pipes and plumbing fixtures. They must be detail-oriented, organized and proficient at reading blueprints as well. These professionals should have a strong knowledge of local plumbing codes and how plumbing systems operate, which also can help contractors cut costs. Journeyman plumbers must have physical stamina for working with pipes and should be willing to work in all types of weather and even be on call.
Education
-
Plumbers complete apprenticeship programs in plumbing that last four to five years. After they have completed the requirements of these training programs, they are considered journeyman plumbers--or experienced plumbers--who have mastered their craft. In these programs, students must complete 144 hours of classroom learning and hands-on job training each year. Apprentices usually start getting paid about 50 percent of the wage given to experienced workers. To get into a plumbing apprenticeship, students typically must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by organizations such as the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada. Most states also require plumbers to be licensed. Plumbers usually must have two to five years of experience and pass a test before they can practice independently.
Outlook
-
Employment of plumbers and other related professionals is projected to climb 16 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This can be attributed to the need for maintenance of current residential buildings as well as new building construction. Median hourly wages of professionals in this industry in May 2008 were $21.94, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
-
References
- Photo Credit plumbing image by Inger Anne Hulbækdal from Fotolia.com
