Whether you’re new to the job market or interested in a different career, it’s a good idea to research what’s in demand. The higher the demand, the easier it is to find training, certifications and strong career opportunities. In the last several 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 providing an essential service, it’s often very easy for plumbers to find steady work across the country. But if you’re still not sure, let’s take a closer look. We’ll review the skills plumbers need and the services they’re expected to provide alongside average salaries and benefits. With a little more information, you may better understand why plumbing jobs are in such high demand right now.

What Services Do Plumbers Provide? What Experience Should They Have?

When most people think of plumbers, they imagine residential services such as resolving a clog or replacing a leaky pipe. While those skills are vital for many kinds of plumbers, their duties can include a much wider variety of services.

Their skill set includes a diverse range of services like repair, installation and maintenance for plumbing fixtures and equipment as well as the pipes themselves. These services may 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 Are the Steps to Becoming a Professional Plumber?

There are different ways to become a professional plumber. Community colleges, trade schools, industry organizations and even high school programs often 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 supervised by experienced plumbers. Depending on the program you participate in, these apprenticeships could take anywhere close to 2 to 5 years to finish. This time is necessary to ensure apprentice plumbers build strong competency concerning the tools, procedures and safety precautions they use to get the job done properly.

As plumbers become more experienced, they can advance 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 greater responsibilities, but an increase in available salaries and benefits as well.

Do Plumbers Make Good Salaries?

While the salary of plumbing jobs mostly 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 a large number of other fields often have to wait until their education or training is over before they start receiving a salary and benefits.

What’s more, many plumbers provide emergency support for nights and weekends or take on extra projects for overtime pay. This bolsters compensation, particularly for specialized skills and certifications. And because plumbing is such an essential service, struggling to find steady work is rare. These things make a career as a professional plumber an excellent option for people seeking reliable and consistent work.

Is Plumbing the Right Choice for Me?

A plumber should be in good physical condition, as jobs may 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 impact the process. But by taking proper precautions, plumbers can minimize 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 may be a lucrative career, especially for specialists and master plumbers who are more and more involved in the design and engineering of plumbing systems. Thanks to a number of factors, plumbing jobs are likely to be on the rise for years to come. If you elect to pursue a career as a professional plumber, finding a permanent position might be simpler than you think.

Why Did Plumbing Become So Popular?

There are lots of reasons plumbers are in high demand, such as:

  • Plumbing systems are a needed 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.
  • 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 created a comprehensive stimulus package designed to improve key infrastructure like 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 good 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 Marshalltown, why not get in touch with a local service company like B & G HVAC? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 641-316-3360 today.