Whether you’re starting out in the job market or interested in a different career, it’s a smart idea to look into what’s in demand. The higher the demand, the easier it is to find training, certifications and strong career opportunities. In the last couple of years, there has been a steady rise in demand for professional 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 often very easy for plumbers to find steady work across the country. But if you’re still uncertain, 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 might better understand why plumbing jobs are in such high demand recently.

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

When lots of people think of plumbers, they imagine residential services like draining a clog or replacing a leaky pipe. While those skills are beneficial for many kinds of plumbers, their skills 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 can be for potable water, gas lines, wastewater and much more. Depending on the specific discipline, plumbers may 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 prioritizes keeping things flowing smoothly. Like other utilities, plumbing and piping systems are often required to work 24 hours a day. To maintain efficient and reliable plumbing, plumbers complete training and professional certification.

What Are the Steps to Starting a Plumbing Career?

There are several 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 monitored by experienced plumbers. Depending on the program you participate in, these apprenticeships may 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 effectively.

As plumbers become more experienced, they can advance through formal certification and accreditation programs. Through advanced education and testing, a plumber can become a journeyman and even a master at their trade. With these higher 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 largely depends on location and experience, averages frequently hover around more than $50,000 each year. This will vary from state to state. An important distinction to make is that since plumbing careers frequently 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 complete 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, especially for advanced skills and certifications. And because plumbing is such an essential service, struggling to find stable 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 complicate the process. But by taking proper precautions, plumbers can avoid 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 increasingly 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 choose to start 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, including:

  • Plumbing systems are a necessary 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 bolster 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 great 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 Sacramento, why not get in touch with a local service company like Bishop’s HVAC? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 916-591-6889 today.