Hey there, looking to dive into the world of plumbing? Well, have no fear because our comprehensive guide on how to become a plumber in the good ol’ US of A is here! Whether you’ve just finished up high school or completed your GED, we’ve got all the deets you need to kickstart your journey towards becoming a top-notch plumber.
Guide to Become a Professional Plumber in USA [2023]
Plumbing is one of the most rewarding careers, as recession has no impact on this sector and the pay scale is nice with an average earning of 54,400 USD per year. But the students should only consider plumbing as a career option if they are interested in fixing things and working with their hands, as it requires a lot of physical work.
Basic Eligibility Requirements for Becoming A Plumber:
- For entering into plumbing field you should be atleast 18 years old
- USA Citizenship proof
- Passport Size Photographs
- High School Passing Certificate or GED passout
The points listed above are just the minimum requirements to join as an apprentice in open shops or trade unions. The process of starting a career as a plumber is simple, as no graduate certificate is required. There are many ways to make a career in the plumbing sector, but it depends on how you want to enter. You can just contact any local open shop or trade union to start your career as a plumber. Becoming a plumber is not a single-step process; you have to go through many steps if you want to become a master in this sector.
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If you have completed your High School or GED course from any city in the United States, first you have to join as an apprentice in any reputable plumbing company or trade union in your locality or join some plumbing school to learn the concepts of plumbing.
You can join the plumbing schools part time as few hours of classes are there in a week, and you can learn while working as their time schedule is flexible. During the apprenticeship in a plumbing company, you get a chance to learn the things practically, as from day 1 you have to go with your senior plumber on live sites.
This is the best opportunity to learn the concepts of plumbing while earning, as you work on real sites and can see how things are exactly done on the field. During this apprenticeship, you have to help your senior plumber fix things and try to learn the plumbing concepts. The plumbing companies during the apprenticeship usually pay 17 to 20 dollars per hour, but you must be a quick learner as, in the future, you will have to work on these things alone.
After completing the apprenticeship at any reputable plumbing company for a few years, you can opt for a journeyman plumber licence. To become a journeyman plumber, you have to pass the examination, and there are specific hours required as an apprentice to qualify for this exam. After getting the journeyman plumber licence from your city authority, you can join any residential plumbing company or commercial project-based company. This totally depends on your nature; if you are comfortable fixing things, you must work as a residential plumber, and if you are into making things, go into commercial plumbing.
Residential Plumbing vs Commercial Plumbing:
In residential plumbing, you have to work in local apartments or stores to fix things, and you can be moving from one house to another after the job is completed. But in the case of commercial plumbing, the construction work can go on for 6 months to 2 years, so you have to work on a single site for that time duration. So choose the kind of plumbing work that you prefer working on according to yourself.
Master Plumber License:
You can work as a journeyman plumber for many years, but if you want to boost your plumbing career or if, in the future, you have plans to open your own plumbing company, you must go and get the master plumber licence. This master plumber licence is the key to becoming a more reputable plumber in your location, as this plumbing certification gives you extra credibility in the plumbing sector.
Job Responsibilities of a Plumber:
| Blueprint Creation | Fixing Pipe Leakage |
| Cutting Pipes | Measuring and Fixing Pipes |
| Cleaning Drains | Estimating Costs |
| Installing Pipes | Troubleshooting |
| Welding Tubes | Diagnosis of Plumbing Issues |
| Detecting Faults | Fixing Things According to Safety Standards |
| Calculating Plumbing Measurements | Toilet Repairs |
| Installation of Garbage Disposal System | Trenchless Pipe Repairs |
| Installation of Gas Line | Water Jetting |
| Sump Pump Installation | Installation of Water Heater |
| Cleaning of Septic Tank | Faucet Replacement |
Skill Set Required to Become A Plumber:
- Plumbing job requires a lot of hard work, so you should be hard working if you are choosing this career path.
- In plumbing field your quick learning abilities define your success. If you are a quick learner and have creative mind in finding solutions plumbing is a best career option for you.
- A plumber should be good in mathematics as calculations are required during plumbing works like measuring pipes, cutting etc.
- If you want to earn more in plumbing sector you must study books related to it on regular basis as they improve your abilities and you can also get tips to quick fix some things.
Know More About Salary of a Plumber in US:
Plumbers in the United States earn more than $50,000 per year, and the salary package totally depends on the experience of the plumber. During the 1st year of their apprenticeship, plumbers usually get 17–18 dollars per hour, and in the 2nd year, there is an approximate raise of 4-5 percent, which translates to 20–23 dollars per hour.
When an apprentice plumber gets a journeyman plumbing licence, he gets paid 35 to 40 dollars per hour. Some reputed plumbing companies and trade unions also provide insurance and pension plans to their plumbers.
There is no limit to how much you can earn as a plumber because you can also open your own plumbing company or become a manager at top plumbing companies after getting your master plumbing licence.
Why To Choose Plumbing As Career:
- No college degree is required to become a plumber so you can save a lot of money which you are going to spend on your college education.
- In plumbing field you always learn new things and concepts to fix things as you get a chance to work with different kinds of people during your career journey.
- There is good money and no limitations to earn in the plumbing field.
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FAQ:
Plumbing is not an easy gig as a lot of physical work is required, like crawling under houses or tunnels, lifting objects, etc. So if you are not comfortable with it, avoid choosing plumbing as your career option.
Yes, sometimes you have to deal with dirt, as during a plumbing job your clothes will get dirty as you have to fix pipes at various locations like kitchens, bathrooms, and garages.
During plumbing work, you may get hurt as you have to work under cabinets or in small areas, but you can take caution and use knee pads or hand gloves to avoid this. Most of the plumbing shops don’t provide any retirement pension plans, so you must be prepared for that.