How to Research Salary Ranges and Benefits for a Plumber

Experienced plumbers are paid some of the highest salaries in construction. The weekly median range is approximately $600 to $1,100, plus benefits, depending on geographic location and whether the workers are union members.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Career Counseling
• Computers

1. Go online to do further research on the plumbing jobs that exist in your area. A major search engine like Google or Yahoo! is a good place to start.

2. Realize that apprentices are initially paid about one-half the salary of an experienced journeyman.

3. Ask local plumbing offices what their pay ranges are for apprentices and journeymen and whether they offer benefits for their full-time plumbers.

4. Accept that union salaries and benefits are usually greater than those paid to nonunion workers. But keep in mind that unions are hard to join and that members have monthly dues withdrawn from their paychecks.

5. Expect possible unpaid downtime if you are a nonunion worker doing construction-related work. Downtime can occur for a number of reasons, including bad weather, blocks of time between jobs and changes in the economic conditions in a given area.

Tips & Warnings

• You might have a steady job if you work for a busy plumbing company that provides maintenance service and repairs instead of construction-related work. Drains, furnaces and water heaters always need servicing, regardless of the economy or the weather.
• Construction-related plumbing work may not be steady.
• Be prepared to get dirty as a plumber.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

on 11/22/2005 Merit-shop contractors have training programs equal to union training. Most merit workers choose not to join a union because they want to direct their own destiny and pay. They can earn more due to incentives and performance pay.

on 11/22/2005 Open-shop plumbers can work for a merit-shop contractor and receive equal or better pay and benefits. If you are good at what you do, you will work all year long, especially in the service and repair business.