Plumbing Career Facts
The plumbing trade "has one of the highest numbers of workers and one of the highest incomes in the entire construction industry," according to CareerOverview.com. While a plumber can take home a plump paycheck, he can also spend nights and weekends getting his hands dirty and responding to unforeseen emergencies. If you are someone with a keen interest in pipes and how they work and do not mind undergoing a rigorous apprenticeship program, then plumbing may be the perfect career for you.
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Apprenticeships
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Most plumbers get paid on-the-job training as an apprentice. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by local unions, affiliated companies or by organizations, such as the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry. Programs last four or five years and require about 144 hours of classroom instruction to learn math, physics, chemistry, safety, reading and understanding blueprints, plumbing codes and regulations, how to identify different types and grades of pipes and how to use trade tools.
Description
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A plumber installs, repairs and maintains plumbing fixtures, such as sinks and toilets, and appliances, such as water heaters and dishwashers. Plumbers work on water, drainage, gas, septic and waste disposal systems in residential homes or commercial buildings. They can also work on construction sites where water and septic systems need to be designed, installed and repaired, as required. They use tools, read blueprints, work with builders and contractors, and use computers to design and track systems.
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Environment
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A plumber works at least 40 hours a week and is frequently on call to respond to emergencies on nights and weekends. Plumbers stand for long periods either indoors in confined spaces, or outdoors in all kinds of weather. They lift heavy pipes and equipment requiring physical strength and endurance.
Qualifications
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A person entering an apprenticeship program must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, be in good physical shape and able to pass a drug test. Those with military training may qualify for additional earned credit. Taking post-secondary classes in math, plumbing, shop, drafting, welding, blueprint reading, physics and computers helps people to ready themselves for a plumbing career.
Considerations
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), "this occupation experiences rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses that are much higher than average." Plumbers risk falls from ladders, cuts from sharp tools and burns from hot pipes. Plumbers may have to travel to and work long hours at remote construction sites. According to CareerOverview.com, "the construction industry is notoriously unstable. Employment is guaranteed only for the short duration of the project, and so workers could be between projects for periods of time."
Employment
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbers "constitute one of the largest construction occupations, holding about 555,900 jobs in 2008." As of 2008, more than half of plumbers were employed by plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contracting companies in new construction, renovation, repair and maintenance work. Plumbers also work for the government, or for residential, industrial or commercial companies. According to the BLS, "about 12 percent of plumbers . . . were self-employed," and about 31 percent of plumbers belong to a union.
Prospects and Earnings
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Apprentices earn about half the salary of professional plumbers, but begin to earn more and get full benefits after a waiting period and as they gain more experience. "Employment of plumbers . . . is expected to grow 16 percent between 2008 and 2018, faster than the average for all occupations," according to the BLS. As of 2008, the average hourly wage for a plumber was between $16.63 and $29.66, as reported by the BLS. Some professional plumbers with many years of experience can earn up to $37.93.
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References
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- Photo Credit valve and pipe image by Daria Miroshnikova from Fotolia.com
