Plumber

Spotlights

Careers included in this profile

Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter

Job Description

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters install and repair pipes that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases to and in businesses, homes, and factories.

Rewarding Aspects of Career

A sense of accomplishment when you finish a project
Autonomy: You can work as much and as little as you want.
- Typically you start at 6:30am-3:30pm: Able to do other projects in the afternoon.
Work with your hands!: “When you are mechanically inclined, the trades are excellent for you.”

Median Salary

$51,450

The Inside Scoop

Job Responsibilities

Installs pipes and fixtures.
Studies blueprints and follows state and local building codes.
Determines the amount of material and type of equipment needed.
Inspects and tests installed pipe systems and pipelines.
Troubleshoots and repairs systems that are not working.
Replaces worn parts.

Difference between plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Plumber

Installs and repairs water, drainage, and gas pipes in homes, businesses, and factories.
Installs and repairs large water lines, such as those that supply water to buildings, and smaller ones, including ones that supply water to refrigerators.
Installs plumbing fixtures—bathtubs, showers, sinks, and toilets—and appliances such as dishwashers, garbage disposals, and water heaters.

Pipefitter

Installs and maintains pipes that carry chemicals, acids, and gases. These pipes are mostly in manufacturing, commercial, and industrial settings.
Installs and repairs pipe systems in power plants, as well as heating and cooling systems in large office buildings.
Some pipefitters specialize:
- Gasfitters install pipes that provide clean oxygen to patients in hospitals.
- Sprinklerfitters install and repair fire sprinkler systems in businesses, factories, and residential buildings.
- Steamfitters install pipe systems that move steam under high pressure. Most steamfitters work at campus and natural gas power plants where heat and electricity is generated, but others work in factories that use high-temperature steam pipes.

Skills Needed on the Job

Manual dexterity: good with your hands.
Hand eye coordination
Critical thinking and problem-solving: will encounter unexpected problems and you will have to figure them out in a timely fashion.
Basic math: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus and statistics.
Computer: project planning, estimating software.
Attention to detail
Physical strength and stamina

Work Environment

Must lift heavy materials, climb ladders, and work in tight spaces.
Might travel to a variety of work sites every day.

Where do they work?

Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors: Range from mom and pop shop (4-8) to large shops (200+)
Self-employed

Expectations/Sacrifices Necessary

Dangerous: Have higher-than-average risk of injury and illness. Cuts from sharp tools, burns from hot pipes and soldering equipment, and falls from ladders are common injuries.
Irregular hours: Might have to work on nights and weekends.

Why become a union plumber?

Union negotiates competitive rates: For example) In SF Bay Area, over $35 per hour as journeyman which is the position after you are an apprentice.
Full medical benefits (medical, dental, vision)
Pension
Annuity
Access to better jobs and amazing opportunities

What kinds of things did people in this career enjoy doing when they were young...

Building and fixing things! : working with your hands
Being outside in nature
Sports
Anything mechanical like working on cars

“Some of us we have more Neanderthal DNA than others. You’ve got to be able to express that in the best way possible. We all have a sense of creativity that can be shown and it’s finding that way to show that creativity. Some people they can do that behind a computer, other people it’s great to be able to build a building. It all comes into that sense of being of whatever makes you feel alive.” Robert Williams III, Business Rep, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 16, Northern California

Title

Projected Employment

2016 Employment

480,600

2026 Projected Employment

555,800

Education and Training Needed

High school diploma or equivalent
Pre-apprenticeship training
4 or 5-year apprenticeship program
- Apprentices learn safety, local plumbing codes and regulations, and how to read blueprints. They also study mathematics, applied physics, and chemistry. They become familiar with different types of piping systems and plumbing tasks.
- United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada.

Basic requirements for apprenticeship program

Unions and contractors sponsor apprenticeship programs. The basic qualifications to enter an apprenticeship program are as follows:

Minimum age of 18
Driver’s license
High school diploma or equivalent (GED or take an aptitude test)
Physically able to do the work

How to find a local apprenticeship program

Click here for a list of programs.

Things to do in high school

Classes: English, math.
Shop class and learn about blueprint reading.

Education Stats

47.3% with HS Diploma
6% with Associate’s
3.6% with Bachelor’s
0.6% with Master’s
0.3% with Professional

Typical Roadmap

How to Land your 1st job

Finish the apprenticeship program (note: you are working with pay while you are an apprentice)
Union will give you the signatory list: local union will give you some leads, you start making calls to contractors on the list.
Contact Job Corps.
Ask the local union for help and get on “out of work” list.

Description of the different positions

Estimator: Budgets the job then bids on the job.
Project Manager: In charge of the behind the scenes and paperwork. Makes sure requests for information is filled out, money is getting paid. Works in conjunction with Superintendent.
Superintendent: Takes care of the manpower needs on a jobsite which are materials and workers.
Foreman: Runs the job.
Lead person: Right hand man of the foreman.

How to stay competitive and climb the ladder