Whether you’re new to the job market or interested in a different career, it’s a good idea to look into what’s in demand. The higher the demand, the easier it is to find training, certifications and good career opportunities. In the last couple of years, there has been a sharp 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 enjoy steady work throughout the country. But if you’re still on the fence, let’s take a closer look. We’ll learn more about the skills plumbers need and the services they’re expected to offer alongside common salaries and benefits. With a little more information, you may better understand why plumbing jobs are in such high demand recently.

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

When most people think of plumbers, they picture residential services such as resolving a clog or fixing a leaky pipe. While those skills are important for many kinds of plumbers, their skills can encompass a much broader variety of services.

Their skill set includes a diverse set 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 focuses on keeping things flowing steadily. Like other utilities, plumbing and piping systems are often required to function 24 hours a day. To ensure efficient and reliable plumbing, plumbers complete training and professional certification.

What Are the Steps to 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 given 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 supervised by experienced plumbers. Depending on the program you participate in, these apprenticeships might take anywhere around 2 to 5 years to finish. This time is vital to ensure apprentice plumbers have strong competency concerning the tools, procedures and safety precautions they need to get the job done effectively.

As plumbers become more experienced, they can advance 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 advanced certifications come greater responsibilities, but an increase in available salaries and benefits as well.

Is Plumbing a High-Salary Career?

While the salary of plumbing jobs largely depends on location and experience, averages typically hover around more than $50,000 each year. This will differ from state to state. A unique distinction to make is that since plumbing careers often provide 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 steady 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 Your Next Career?

A plumber should be in good physical condition, as jobs can involve lifting heavy objects, standing for long periods of time and working in cramped spaces. And if a job is outdoors, poor or inclement weather can impact the process. But by taking proper precautions, plumbers can avoid disruptions and ensure the benefits outweigh these concerns.

Professional plumbers are trained experts who offer an invaluable service for countless homes, businesses and other commercial properties. It may be a lucrative career, particularly 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 decide to pursue a career as a professional plumber, finding a permanent position might be easier than you think.

Why Is the Demand for Plumbers So High?

There are multiple reasons plumbers are currently in high demand, such as:

  • 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 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 created a comprehensive stimulus package designed to repair key infrastructure like roads and utilities. As new piping is built or old piping is replaced, experienced plumbers will be leading the way.

As you can see, a career as a professional plumber can be a good 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 Columbus, why not get in touch with a local service company like Classic Air? You can find out the details about available positions by giving us a call at 614-210-3041 today.