Plumber

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Work Tasks

• Install, maintain, and fix plumbing systems
• Put in plumbing fixtures like bathtubs, sinks, toilets, dishwashers, and water heaters
• Use blueprints to decide what materials are needed for new buildings and mark where pipes will be put in place
• Cut and thread the pipes and connect them; use pressure gauges to make sure the system works correctly without leaks
• Work indoors and outdoors for themselves, or for mechanical and plumbing contractors that do new construction, repair, or maintenance work
• Work with hand and power tools, pipecutters, pipethreaders, hydraulic pipebenders, welding, soldering, and brazing equipment, drawings, blueprints, computers, and fixtures such as bathtubs, sinks, toilets, and heating and refrigeration systems

Salary, Size & Growth

• $48,000 average per year ($23.00 per hour)
• A large occupation (358,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.5% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job or military training in plumbing
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma, 18 years of age or older, and an apprenticeship in plumbing
• Skills/Courses: Courses in applied math, shop, plumbing, drafting, blueprint reading, computers, and physics
• Certification/Licensing: Plumbers usually need a license. A license requires learning the plumbing codes and passing a test.