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What You Need to Know About Plumber

Job Description & Duties Assemble, install, or repair pipes, fittings, or fixtures of heating, water, or drainage systems, according to specifications or plumbing codes.

List of Plumber Job Duties

  • Keep records of work assignments.
  • Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
  • Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
  • Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.
  • Calculate costs or savings for water- or energy-efficient appliances or systems.
  • Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components.

Plumber Required Skills

Plumbers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • Plumber Gasfitter
  • Service Technician
  • Maintenance Plumber
  • Residential Plumber
  • Service Plumber

Job Outlook for Plumbers

In the United States, there were 480,600 jobs for Plumber in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 15.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 75,200 new jobs for Plumber by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 61,000 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Plumber are Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Plumbers Make A Lot Of Money?

The salary for Plumbers ranges between about $32,100 and $93,700 a year.

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Plumbers who work in Illinois, Alaska, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.

How much do Plumbers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $45,260
Alaska $75,520
Arizona $48,950
Arkansas $43,540
California $61,410
Colorado $53,350
Connecticut $63,780
Delaware $61,640
District of Columbia $69,800
Florida $44,200
Georgia $48,680
Hawaii $73,810
Idaho $47,320
Illinois $79,400
Indiana $60,030
Iowa $52,060
Kansas $55,140
Kentucky $55,890
Louisiana $54,940
Maine $50,830
Maryland $60,610
Massachusetts $70,320
Michigan $61,620
Minnesota $74,220
Mississippi $45,280
Missouri $63,550
Montana $60,940
Nebraska $55,110
Nevada $55,600
New Hampshire $55,180
New Jersey $71,370
New Mexico $45,420
New York $73,820
North Carolina $43,750
North Dakota $53,800
Ohio $55,640
Oklahoma $50,710
Oregon $73,810
Pennsylvania $60,380
South Carolina $44,970
South Dakota $43,600
Tennessee $48,850
Texas $49,180
Utah $51,970
Vermont $51,210
Virginia $50,330
Washington $67,090
West Virginia $60,000
Wisconsin $68,510
Wyoming $53,550

What Tools do Plumbers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Plumbers may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Database software
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Bookkeeping software
  • Intuit Quicken
  • Maintenance management software
  • Estimating software
  • Insight Direct ServiceCEO
  • Job costing software
  • Drawing and drafting software
  • Wilhelm Publishing Threshold
  • Atlas Construction Business Forms
  • Wintac Pro
  • Contractor City Contractor Forms Pack

Becoming a Plumber

What kind of Plumber requirements are there?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where Plumbers Are Employed

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Plumbers work in the following industries:

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References:

Image Credit: Tomwsulcer via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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