Whether you’re starting out in the job market or interested in a new career, it’s a great idea to find out what’s in demand. The higher the demand, the easier it is to find training, certifications and strong career opportunities. In the last few years, there has been a sharp rise in demand for trained plumbers. While you may not have considered plumbing jobs until now, this career path has a lot to offer.
As a skilled trade offering an essential service, it’s often very easy for plumbers to find steady work throughout the country. But if you’re still uncertain, let’s take a closer look. We’ll learn more about the skills plumbers need and the services they’re expected to provide alongside average salaries and benefits. With a little more information, you may better understand why plumbing jobs are in such high demand these days.
What Services Do Plumbers Provide? What Skills Do They Need?
When lots of people think of plumbers, they picture residential services such as resolving a clog or fixing a leaky pipe. While those skills are beneficial for many kinds of plumbers, their duties can encompass a much wider variety of services.
Their skill set includes a diverse range of services like repair, installation and maintenance for plumbing fixtures and equipment as well as the pipes themselves. These services could be for potable water, gas lines, wastewater and much more. Depending on the specific discipline, plumbers may also be trained to work with drainage systems, at water treatment plants and even in industrial manufacturing!
But whatever the plumber is trained for, their job focuses on keeping things flowing smoothly. Like other utilities, plumbing and piping systems are often required to function 24 hours a day. To maintain efficient and reliable plumbing, plumbers complete training and professional certification.
What Is the Process for Becoming a Professional Plumber?
There are several ways to make progress on becoming a professional plumber. Community colleges, trade schools, industry organizations and even high school programs routinely offer core elements of the knowledge and training plumbers will need. Through these programs, people are granted a plumber apprenticeship.
These apprenticeships are essentially a form of “plumbing school” and are set up to prepare you for full-time employment. They’ll offer in-classroom education as well as on-the-job training monitored by experienced plumbers. Depending on the program you participate in, these apprenticeships may take anywhere between 2 to 5 years to complete. This time is necessary to ensure apprentice plumbers have strong competency concerning the tools, procedures and safety precautions they use to get the job done right.
As plumbers become more experienced, they can improve their services through formal certification and accreditation programs. Through advanced education and testing, a plumber can become a journeyman and even a master at their trade. With these higher certifications come greater responsibilities, but an increase in available salaries and benefits as well.
What Is the Average Salary for Plumbers?
While the salary of plumbing jobs mostly depends on location and experience, averages typically hover around more than $50,000 each year. This will differ from state to state. An important distinction to make is that since plumbing careers often provide paid on-the-job training, even apprentices are being compensated for their time. Meanwhile, applicants in many other fields often have to wait until their education or training is over before they start receiving a salary and benefits.
What’s more, lots of plumbers provide emergency support for nights and weekends or take on extra projects for overtime pay. This bolsters compensation, particularly for advanced skills and certifications. And because plumbing is such an essential service, struggling to find steady work is fairly uncommon. These things make a career as a professional plumber an excellent option for people seeking reliable and consistent work.
Is Plumbing a Good Career to Try?
A plumber should be in good physical condition, as jobs often involve lifting heavy objects, standing for long periods of time and working in cramped spaces. And if a job is outdoors, poor or inclement weather can impact the process. But by taking proper precautions, plumbers can avoid disruptions and ensure the benefits outweigh these concerns.
Professional plumbers are trained experts who offer an invaluable service for countless homes, businesses and other commercial properties. It may be a lucrative career, especially for specialists and master plumbers who are directly involved in the design and engineering of plumbing systems. Thanks to a variety of factors, plumbing jobs are likely to increase for years to come. If you elect to start a career as a professional plumber, getting a permanent position might be easier than you think.
Why Are Plumbers in Such High Demand?
There are multiple reasons plumbers are experiencing high demand, such as:
- Plumbing systems are a needed utility: Plumbing has existed for hundreds if not thousands of years, and that’s not going to change. As long as pipes, fixtures and plumbing systems require installation and servicing, trained plumbers will be there to help.
- A larger number of construction and renovation projects: As construction starts back up, designing and installing new plumbing systems should too. Additionally, advances in water conservation and plumbing technology ensures an active retrofitting aspect of the industry.
- The recent infrastructure stimulus package: The U.S. government recently passed a comprehensive stimulus package designed to bolster key infrastructure such as roads and utilities. As new piping is built or old piping is replaced, expert plumbers will be leading the way.
As you can see, a career as a professional plumber can be a good opportunity. There is a high demand for quality plumbers in every part of the country, with competitive compensation and easy access to professional development programs. To learn about local plumbing jobs in Beckley and Mount Hope, why not get in touch with a local service company like Appalachian Heating? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 304-707-0600 today.