Whether you’re new to the job market or interested in a different career, it’s a smart 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 professional plumbers. While you may not have considered plumbing jobs until now, this career path has a lot to offer.
As a skilled trade providing an essential service, it’s frequently very easy for plumbers to enjoy steady work throughout the country. But if you’re still not sure, let’s take a closer look. We’ll review the skills plumbers should have and the services they’re expected to provide alongside typical 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 Do They Need?
When most people think of plumbers, they picture residential services such as draining a clog or replacing 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 set of services like repair, installation and maintenance for plumbing fixtures and equipment as well as the pipes themselves. These services can be for potable water, gas lines, wastewater and much more. Depending on the specific discipline, plumbers can 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 steadily. Like other utilities, plumbing and piping systems are often needed to work 24 hours a day. To ensure efficient and reliable plumbing, plumbers undergo training and professional certification.
What Is the Process for 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 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 designed to prepare you for full-time employment. They’ll offer in-classroom education as well as on-the-job training supervised by experienced plumbers. Depending on the program you enroll in, these apprenticeships may take anywhere between 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 efficiently.
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 in their field. 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 frequently hover around more than $50,000 each year. This will differ from state to state. A unique distinction to make is that since plumbing careers regularly provide 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 offer 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 may involve lifting heavy objects, standing for long periods of time and navigating cramped spaces. And if a job is outdoors, poor or inclement weather can impact the process. But by taking proper precautions, plumbers can reduce 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 can be a lucrative career, particularly for specialists and master plumbers who are directly involved in the design and engineering of plumbing systems. Thanks to a number of factors, plumbing jobs are likely to grow for years to come. If you decide 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 lots of reasons plumbers are 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 need installation and servicing, trained plumbers will be there to help.
- An increase in 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 element to the industry.
- The recent infrastructure stimulus package: The U.S. government recently created a comprehensive stimulus package designed to strengthen 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 fantastic 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 Mankato area, why not get in touch with a local service company like Northern Comfort Inc? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 507-387-6596 today.