How to Become a Plumber

If you enjoy working with your hands and solving problems, being a plumber can be an excellent choice. This job opportunity comes with many perks, including relaxed education requirements. However, even if you don’t have to go to college, there are still a few qualifications you’ll have to meet. Check out this guide to learn all the details of how to be a plumber.

What Tasks Does a Plumber Do?

Plumbing requires a blend of knowledge, physical labor, and logical thinking. Plumbers will regularly do things like troubleshooting a broken plumbing system and making or recommending repairs. Many plumbers also help install new systems or perform maintenance on existing systems. Depending on your job, you might work with pipes, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, water heaters, and other plumbing fixtures. Most plumbers need to be comfortable performing physical labor and getting their hands dirty.

Plumbers also often have some customer service and office responsibilities. They need to be able to talk to clients, write estimates, and file paperwork. It will be their responsibility to keep up with local plumbing codes and ensure everything meets plumbing standards. Plumbers need to be able to handle blueprint reading and other basic engineering tasks, and they may need to work alongside an electrician or other skilled worker on some plumbing jobs.

What Are the Different Plumbing Specialties?

Keep in mind that there are several different types of plumbing careers, so your training might vary a little depending on what you want to focus on.

General Plumber

The most common type of plumber is a general plumber. These plumbers usually work for a business that offers repairs to residential and commercial customers. They handle things like fixing clogged toilets, installing sinks, and maintaining water heaters. General plumbers also work on the basic pipe systems used to connect appliances to water supply and waste removal lines.

Pipefitters

Pipefitters are plumbing installers who specialize in managing high-pressure systems. They work on mechanical piping systems for boilers, furnaces, and other equipment. This is typically a job for those working in the industrial sector. Steamfitters perform a very similar job, but they do more than just manage pipes that carry pressurized water. Steamfitters also handle systems of pipes that hold high-pressure gases.

Sprinkler Fitter

A sprinkler fitter is another type of plumber that focuses on a specific, challenging type of plumbing system. These plumbers are responsible for the sprinkler systems buildings use to manage fires. This job requires working in the commercial sector and having a rigorous knowledge of fire codes and blueprints. It also involves being able to handle some tricky high-pressure systems.

Pipelayers

Pipelayers are a class of plumbers that are involved in installing pipework. However, they typically don’t handle the basic piping systems inside homes. Instead, they manage the heavy-duty pipe systems that connect individual buildings to large water supply systems. They have to do everything from digging trenches to adjusting soil grading while working with very large pipes and heavy equipment.

Qualifications and Training Required to Become a Plumber

The precise qualifications you need to meet to become a plumber will depend on where you live. Different states have different rules about the training a plumber needs. Some may require you to become a fully licensed contractor, while others may just require a basic apprentice license before you start doing plumbing jobs. For example, in Colorado, plumbers need 3,400 hours of experience, whereas in Hawaii, they need 10,000 hours of experience.

Every state requires education, experience, or a combination of the two. You can get an education by attending a technical school, or you can get experience by working in an apprenticeship program. Some states have different levels of plumbing licenses depending on how much time you’ve spent working or training at a technical college. Journeyman plumbers often have to work under the supervision of a more experienced plumber. To become a master plumber who works independently, you usually need to spend a certain number of years working as a journeyman.

In addition to this basic training, you have to fulfill some other legal requirements. The majority of states will require you to have a high school diploma or GED. In some states, you will be required to pass a test before you can get your plumbing license. Some states also require plumbers to attend a short, state-sponsored training class. There can also be financial requirements. To ensure that plumbers can compensate a homeowner if their work fails, some states require plumbers to provide proof of insurance before they get their plumbing license.

How Much Do Plumbers Earn?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pay for a licensed plumber is currently $59,880 per year. There is a fairly broad range of salaries among plumbers. Some make as little as $36,700 per year, while others make as much as $99,920 per year. On average, plumbers make around $28.79 per hour.

There are many factors that impact the average plumber salary. Those who have more experience or a higher level of licensure make more. A plumbing trainee who is getting work experience before obtaining their license may make as little as minimum wage, while a master plumber with a contractor license can make up to $67 per hour. Plumbers who are willing to work nights and weekends to handle emergencies can also expect higher wages. Many plumbers are paid hourly, so those who work long hours can make more money.

Steps To Become a Plumber

Becoming a plumber isn’t very complicated as long as you’re willing to put in the effort. If you’re ready to start on this career path, you need to follow these steps to qualify for plumbing work:

1. Get your high school diploma or GED if you haven’t already. For more specialized jobs, an associate degree at a community college is helpful, but this is almost never a requirement.

2. Research your state’s license requirements before you even start your vocational training. This ensures you don’t waste your time with the wrong training.

3. Find the right combination of vocational training and work experience for your needs. If you’re unsure what path you want to take, it’s a good idea to at least talk to a counselor about plumbing training programs. They can help guide you along the right path for your career.

4. Start gathering everything you need for licensure. You may need to pass an exam on plumbing codes or pay a plumbing bond to warrant your future work. Make sure you have enough money saved up for application fees or other expenses.

5. Get your first plumbing license. In many states, you have to have your apprentice plumber license and get a few years of experience before you can become a master plumber.

6. Find a plumbing business to work with. New plumbers usually aren’t allowed to work independently at first. However, once you get enough experience and the right license, you can become self-employed if you wish.

As you can see, becoming a plumber requires dedication and hard work. Though it can take a little time to discover and fulfill your state’s plumbing requirements, it’s well worth your effort. Being a plumber can be a stable, rewarding job with plenty of exciting challenges.