Master plumbers make an average of $50,000 per year. Master plumbers working on contract can really do well for themselves with an average salary of $90,000 per year. In the U.S., the states of Colorado, California, and New York are the states where plumbers earn the most money, with average yearly earnings in each of these states at $60,000. Most master plumbers are educated through vocational training or an apprenticeship. In plumbing, hands-on learning is where the real education is although earning licenses involves taking exams for each.
Plumbers specialize in installing and repairing pipes. These might be pipes that carry water, wastewater or sewage, but they could also be pipes that carry gas. Pipes collectively are often referred to as plumbing. In most regions, plumbers must pass licensing exams before starting their own plumbing business. Though the term "plumbing" literally refers to working with lead pipes (which are largely gone today), the name has held on, and has taken on the informal meaning of digging down deep for information, as an analogy to plumbers accessing the depths of pipes for cleaning clogs or diagnosing problems.
Whenever a new building is being built, a plumber at some point will be part of the construction crew. The plumber figures out where pipes need to be laid and does the work of installing them. A plumber also connects the pipes or internal plumbing to the fixtures or external appliances like sinks, dishwashers, and showers. The plumber may also install gas lines for gas heating or cooking. Some plumbers are certified to work on heating and cooling systems too.
In structures that are already built, plumbers repair ruptures, clean out drains and pipes, and replace old pipes with new ones. Plumbers do everything from fixing a leaky faucet to flushing out the line from the house to the city sewer hook-up. While an amateur or DIY enthusiast may be perfectly capable of installing a new faucet, there are other tasks that should really be left to the professionals. Drains and pipes can be complicated, and there are times when plumbers end up having to clean out rot or replace pipes during their work. Other professionals may be needed for other parts of the job, like cleaning up mold or repairing rotted floor joists.
Becoming a plumbing expert is a solid step toward near recession-proof employment. People are willing to do without going to the movies, but they still want their household plumbing to be clean and operating in top form. Plus, there are areas of the world that do not have plumbing but are slowly getting plumbing for health and safety. This means that demand for plumbers worldwide will almost certainly rise.
If you want to become a plumbing expert, you will need to start out as an apprentice to a master plumber. Different states have different requirements, but in every case, to take the test to earn a residential plumbing license you will have to document that you have spent a certain number of hours working as an apprentice, and what work you have done. The master plumber has to sign the documentation. Typically, you will have to have direct experience in cross-connection backflow, storm drainage, water piping, hanging pipes, venting, and waste before being allowed to take the exam for the residential plumbing license.
To obtain a Journeyman license, you will need to have a current residential license plus 8,000 hours (about four years) of experience working for a Master Plumber. After becoming a journeyman plumber, you will need at least one year of experience as a licensed journeyman plumber before applying for a Master Plumber's license. Generally, you will have also had to complete over 700 hours of classroom study as well. These guidelines do vary by state, but they do give you some idea of what will be expected of you.
Becoming a plumbing expert is hard work and takes several years of experience. Master plumbers often find themselves cleaning up after less competent plumbers' mistakes, and the work can be intense and dirty. However, plumbing is an occupation where you can start your own plumbing business (if you are a certified Master Plumber), and make an honest salary for a day's work. With the possible exception of medical services, people are more thankful to have a good plumber to fix their plumbing problems than they are for any other profession out there.
