Whether you’re new to the job market or looking for a new career, it’s a good 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 enjoy steady work throughout the country. But if you’re still on the fence, let’s take a closer look. We’ll learn more about the skills plumbers should have and the services they’re expected to offer alongside common 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 Should They Have?

When most people think of plumbers, they imagine residential services such as removing a clog or replacing a leaky pipe. While those skills are beneficial for many kinds of plumbers, their skills can encompass 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 might be for potable 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 trained for, their job focuses on keeping things flowing smoothly. Like other utilities, plumbing and piping systems are often needed to function 24 hours a day. To ensure efficient and reliable plumbing, plumbers complete training and professional certification.

What Is the Process for Starting a Plumbing Career?

There are several 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 designed 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 important to ensure apprentice plumbers build strong competency concerning the tools, procedures and safety precautions they use to get the job done effectively.

As plumbers become more experienced, they can improve their services through formal certification and accreditation programs. Through additional education and testing, a plumber can become a journeyman and even a master in their field. With these advanced certifications come more complex responsibilities, but an increase in available salaries and benefits as well.

Do Plumbers Make Good Salaries?

While the salary of plumbing jobs ultimately depends on location and experience, averages typically 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 frequently include 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 complete before they start receiving a salary and benefits.

What’s more, many plumbers provide emergency support for nights and weekends or complete extra projects for overtime pay. This bolsters compensation, especially for specialized 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 often involve lifting heavy objects, standing for long periods of time and working in cramped spaces. And if a job takes place 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 may be a lucrative career, particularly for specialists and master plumbers who are increasingly involved in the design and engineering of plumbing systems. Thanks to multiple factors, plumbing jobs are likely to be on the rise for years to come. If you choose to pursue a career as a professional plumber, getting a permanent position might be easier than you think.

Why Did Plumbing Become So Popular?

There are multiple reasons plumbers are in high demand, such as:

  • 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 need installation and servicing, trained plumbers will be there to help.
  • A larger number of 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 aspect of the industry.
  • The recent infrastructure stimulus package: The U.S. government recently passed a large stimulus package designed to improve 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 Reinholds, why not get in touch with a local service company like County Line Mechanical LLC? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 717-216-0846 today.