Thinking of working as a plumber? With the skilled trades in high demand across the country, a career in plumbing offers good job security, potential for higher pay, and opportunities to become your own boss.
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Plumbers provide an essential service to keep clean water flowing in homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, and other public places. Demand for plumbers is high and work is steady, but the growing gap between the number of plumbers reaching retirement age and the number of new recruits entering the field needs to be filled, and soon.
Bridging the decades-long workforce gap is reaching a critical stage, as plumbing companies need to hire more plumbers to repair or replace aging infrastructure or install more complex water systems as part of a lucrative building boom. From residential service for home sewer systems to designing plumbing and HVAC systems for new construction, plumbers are clearly in demand.
In addition to experienced plumbers retiring at a rate far greater than new recruits entering the field, a number of other factors contributed to the current plumber shortage:
The housing crisis and recession drove plumbers from the industry because of work stoppages, and they didn't return.
The COVID-19 global pandemic caused high demand for plumbers, who were deemed essential workers, but many struggled to keep up.
More focus on green, sustainable, and smart-home plumbing systems require the expertise of skilled plumbers.
Schools quit offering shop classes to focus on academics, cutting off a steady stream of trained workers in traditional trades such as carpenters, electricians, HVAC technicians, and plumbers.
A societal shift placed more emphasis on attending college versus learning the skilled trades.
The plumbing industry is expected to grow by 4 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and add 20,900 plumbing jobs over the next eight years.
In comparison, roughly 44 million Americans today owe $1.6 trillion in student loans for college, while those in plumber-training programs get paid on the job and don’t rack up college debt.
“In a hundred different ways, we have slowly marginalized an entire category of critical professions, reshaping our expectations of a good job into something that no longer looks like work,” Mike Rowe, host of The Discovery Channel's “Dirty Jobs,” and a champion of the skilled trades, told the U.S. Senate in 2011.
“A few years from now, an hour with a good plumber--if you can find one--is going to cost more than an hour with a good psychiatrist. At which point, we’ll all be in need of both, ” he adds.
Analysts predict more than 3 million openings in the skilled trades by 2028, spurring more plumbing leaders to create training programs and promote the benefits of working as a service technician to a new, savvy generation, says HVAC recruiter Mark Oertel.
“You’re getting a head start on a career that you can move right into without the college debt,” Oertel says.
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What types of plumber jobs are available?
Job seekers who simply disregard plumbing work as a dirty job flush away the opportunity to work in a fast-growing industry with unlimited potential for advancement and growth. Plumber work offers competitive pay, job security, and the opportunity to write your own job description and strike a work-life balance of your choosing.
Many plumbers value their jobs because:
Apprentice plumbers get paid to learn on the job.
In 2020, the median pay for all plumbers nationwide was $56,330.
Plumber job openings and job security rank high.
Diverse work environments give plumbers options.
They enjoy troubleshooting and solving problems independently.
Employers value plumbers and incentivize their jobs.
Simply put, plumbing technicians install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems, a series of pipes that carry water, sewage, gas and other liquids in homes, businesses, hospitals, and more. They are specialists who work on fixtures and appliances connected to a structure's water system.
But variety in work environments and specialized niches appeal to a wide range of personality types and work styles. Most plumbers work full-time, although some part-time opportunities are available.
Online job descriptions provide a wealth of information about duties and environments for those pursuing plumbing jobs. Essentially, plumbing technicians work in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
Installers put in new equipment, while service plumbers repair and maintain anything from faucets and water heaters to large boilers and industrial wastewater systems. Some licensed plumbers deal more with equipment, while others specialize in customer relations and sales.
Job postings flood the internet for any level of plumber—from apprentices to master plumbers—and for employers, from handyman firms to top companies hiring plumbers. Most websites offer job alerts to notify you when the job title or employer posting you want becomes available.
If you’re searching for the best plumbing companies hiring, from the smallest “Joe-the-plumber” shop to nationally recognized Roto-Rooter, just look for local listings in your area. Every plumbing shop needs help.
High demand supercharges plumber pay
The median salary is $46,400 for an entry-level plumber with up to two years of experience, nationwide. Those with intermediate experience, two to four years, can expect a median income of $57,700, and senior plumbers with four to six years of experience can expect a median pay of $60,700.
Pay varies from state to state, with an Arkansas entry-level plumber earning an average $39,600, while the same level of expertise earns an average $50,400 in Alaska.
Note: The cost of living varies widely by region. With plumbers in high demand, they gain the flexibility to earn a good living in all 50 states.
HVAC companies also prize plumbers
Some plumbers also train as an HVAC technician, because mastering the two specialties makes them more valuable to heating & air conditioning companies, which value and reward them with higher pay.
The challenge for HVAC companies is to recruit the right person when hiring licensed master plumbers, says Chris Hunter, ServiceTitan’s Director of Customer Relations.
An experienced master plumber may bring a robust list of new clients and quickly grow the company, but they can also "hold you hostage" by threatening to leave unless you pay them more money, Hunter says.
Hunter recommends a number of strategies, including personality tests, non-solicitation agreements, a rewards program for growing the business, and providing a positive work environment.
How to become a plumber
A majority of states and some local governments require plumbers to be licensed, but licensing procedures vary from state to state. Typically, you’ll need two to five years of experience and must pass a test on plumbing knowledge and local building codes to become licensed. Some states and localities offer additional certification opportunities for those who want to boost their skills and value. For more information on licensing requirements, check out ServiceTitan’s state-by-state plumbing licensing guide.
Multiple channels lead to a job as a plumber. The first step involves becoming an apprentice plumber. Many employers train their plumbing apprentices on the job, while some prospective apprentice plumbers prefer to gain experience at many technical and trade schools across the nation.
After gaining necessary experience, in about four years, apprentice plumbers may apply for a journeyman plumber license. After about five more years of experience, journeymen plumbers may apply to become master plumbers and run their own shops.
Many scholarships are available for plumber apprenticeships and schools, mostly through union plumbing jobs, and employers now partner with schools to train a new, skilled workforce. Employers also partner with top field management software providers, like ServiceTitan, to stay on top of industry news and explore top plumber interview questions designed to highlight qualified candidates.
Plumbing jobs rank high for security
If you’re looking for a secure career, consider plumbing work. Plumbing jobs are expected to grow by a healthy 4 percent in the next few years. Nearly 21,000 apprentice plumbers are expected to be needed, from filling new jobs added in the industry to replacing experienced plumbers ready to retire.
A national building boom and trade worker shortage make it difficult to find qualified candidates to train as apprentice plumbers. This confluence of events motivated the plumbing industry to offer higher wages, better benefits, and on-the-job training for those willing to work and study.
Sure, you may start out with drain cleaning on your to-do list, but in a few years you could end up planning and supervising large projects, or even running your own shop.
Plus, today’s new construction demands much more green and smart water systems than ever before. That means more opportunity for plumbing companies positioned with the right plumbers.
The best plumbing companies retool to win top plumbers
A societal misconception that skilled trades deliver lower pay and fewer prospects than a college degree leaves plumbing service contractors across North America short-staffed, unable to bid high-dollar jobs, and competing with other local businesses.
Simultaneously, unsuspecting students fall deeper into college debt instead of pursuing lucrative plumbing career opportunities—that pay while you learn on the job!
Tired of missing out on profitable jobs due to the labor shortage, the construction industry and plumbing companies hiring new plumbers now strive to:
Educate the public about the benefits of working in the trades.
Offer key benefits, including company stock, to attract top talent and new recruits.
Partner with unions and trade schools for training and development.
Devote more time than ever on staffing and recruitment.
How to hire plumbers
Hiring plumbers can feel exhausting and expensive, especially when competing with other top plumbing companies for top talent. ServiceTitan field management software makes hiring easier and helps small plumbing companies compete with established businesses.
Tommy Mello, owner of A1 Garage Doors in Phoenix and host of a weekly podcast, “The Home Service Expert,” invests heavily in his employees through extensive training and by offering performance pay as an incentive to help employees grow. He also gives a $1,500 bonus to employees for referring a new hire.
“Some people say ‘always be closing,’” Mello says. “I say, ‘always be recruiting.'
ServiceTitan’s payroll software automates the process and takes the surprise out of complicated incentive pay structures, satisfying highly productive employees who may consider a job with a competitor for better pay and more timely bonuses. Just enter your bonus structure into ServiceTitan's payroll software, and the software automatically does the rest come payday.
Finally, there's one bonus you can't put a price on: Feeling like your boss cares.
Employers who keep their word about pay and who cultivate a safe shop environment reap rewards in the form of fewer injuries, greater employee satisfaction, and less employee turnover.
ServiceTitan Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and substantially elevate the trajectory of their business. Our comprehensive, cloud-based platform is used by thousands of electrical, HVAC, plumbing, garage door, and chimney sweep shops across the country—and has increased their revenue by an average of 25% in just their first year with us.
