Whether you’re starting out in the job market or considering a new career, it’s a great 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 providing an essential service, it’s frequently 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 check out the skills plumbers need and the services they’re expected to offer alongside common 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 Experience Should They Have?

When lots of people think of plumbers, they imagine residential services such as draining a clog or fixing a leaky pipe. While those skills are vital for many kinds of plumbers, their skills can encompass a much broader 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 could be for drinking 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 working on, their job prioritizes keeping things flowing smoothly. Like other utilities, plumbing and piping systems are often expected to function 24 hours a day. To maintain efficient and reliable plumbing, plumbers complete training and professional certification.

What Is the Process for Becoming a Certified Plumbing Technician?

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 granted a plumber apprenticeship.

These apprenticeships are basically 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 enroll in, these apprenticeships could take anywhere between 2 to 5 years to finish. This time is important to ensure apprentice plumbers possess strong competency concerning the tools, procedures and safety precautions they need to get the job done properly.

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 higher certifications come greater responsibilities, but an increase in available salaries and benefits as well.

What Salary Do Plumbers Get?

While the salary of plumbing jobs largely depends on location and experience, averages usually hover around more than $50,000 per year. This will vary from state to state. A key distinction to make is that since plumbing careers regularly 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 stable 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 often involve lifting heavy objects, standing for extended periods of time and navigating cramped spaces. And if a job is outdoors, poor or inclement weather can complicate 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 can 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 increase for years to come. If you elect to pursue a career as a professional plumber, getting a permanent position might be simpler than you think.

Why Did Plumbing Become So Popular?

There are multiple reasons plumbers are in high demand, including:

  • 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 require installation and servicing, trained plumbers will be there to help.
  • A larger number of 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 passed a large stimulus package designed to repair key infrastructure like 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 an excellent 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 Omaha, why not get in touch with a local service company like The Frazier Company? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 402-628-0206 today.