Whether you’re new to the job market or looking for a new career, it’s a smart idea to look into what’s in demand. The higher the demand, the more likely it is to find training, certifications and good career opportunities. In the last several years, there has been a sharp rise in demand for trained plumbers. While you might 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 frequently 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 check out the skills plumbers need and the services they’re expected to offer alongside common salaries and benefits. With a bit more information, you may better understand why plumbing jobs are in such high demand recently.
What Services Do Plumbers Provide? What Skills Should They Have?
When most people think of plumbers, they think of residential services like removing a clog or repairing a leaky pipe. While those skills are beneficial for many kinds of plumbers, their duties can include a much broader variety of services.
Their skill set includes a diverse set of services like repair, installation and maintenance for plumbing fixtures and equipment as well as the pipes themselves. These services may be for drinking water, gas lines, wastewater and much more. Depending on the specific discipline, plumbers could also be trained to work with drainage systems, at water treatment plants and even in industrial manufacturing!
But whatever the plumber is working on, their job is about keeping things flowing steadily. Like other utilities, plumbing and piping systems are often needed to work 24 hours a day. To sustain efficient and reliable plumbing, plumbers complete training and professional certification.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Professional Plumber?
There are lots of ways to make progress on becoming a professional plumber. Community colleges, trade schools, industry organizations and even high school programs regularly offer core elements of the knowledge and training plumbers will need. Through these programs, people are given a plumber apprenticeship.
These apprenticeships are essentially a form of “plumbing school” and are structured 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 enroll in, these apprenticeships could take anywhere around 2 to 5 years to finish. This time is vital to ensure apprentice plumbers build strong competency concerning the tools, procedures and safety precautions they need to get the job done properly.
As plumbers become more experienced, they can improve their services through formal certification and accreditation programs. Through further education and testing, a plumber can become a journeyman and even a master in their field. With these higher certifications come more complex 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 often hover around more than $50,000 per year. This will differ from state to state. An important distinction to make is that since plumbing careers often offer paid on-the-job training, even apprentices are being compensated for their time. Meanwhile, applicants in a large number of other fields often have to wait until their education or training is finished 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 increases 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 those seeking reliable and consistent work.
Is Plumbing a Good Career to Try?
A plumber should be in good physical condition, as jobs can 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 affect the process. But by taking proper precautions, plumbers can reduce disruptions and ensure the benefits outweigh these concerns.
Professional plumbers are trained experts who provide an invaluable service for countless homes, businesses and other commercial properties. It could 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 grow for years to come. If you choose to pursue a career as a professional plumber, finding a permanent position might be easier than you think.
Why Are Plumbers in Such High Demand?
There are multiple reasons plumbers are currently in high demand, including:
- Plumbing systems are a vital 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.
- More construction and renovation projects: As construction winds back up, designing and installing new plumbing systems should too. Additionally, advances in water conservation and plumbing technology ensures an active retrofitting element to the industry.
- The recent infrastructure stimulus package: The U.S. government recently passed a comprehensive stimulus package designed to strengthen key infrastructure such as roads and utilities. As new piping is built or old piping is replaced, experienced plumbers will be leading the way.
As you can see, a career as a professional plumber can be a great opportunity. There is a high demand for quality plumbers in every corner of the country, with competitive compensation and easy access to professional development programs. To learn about local plumbing jobs in Omaha, why not get in touch with a local service company like The Frazier Company? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 402-628-0206 today.