Plumber and Pipe Fitter
Plumbers and pipe fitters are essential construction professionals responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing plumbing systems and piping in various settings, including residential, commercial, and industrial environments. They ensure the safe delivery of water and fuel while preventing contamination and disease through proper sanitation practices. The job requires a blend of physical stamina, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as daily responsibilities can vary widely, from installing water heaters to overseeing large-scale projects.
Employment prospects for plumbers and pipe fitters are expected to grow at an average rate, with median yearly earnings around $61,550. To enter this profession, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by vocational training and an apprenticeship lasting at least four years. Licensing is also a common requirement. The work environment can be challenging, involving potentially hazardous settings, but safety protocols are in place to mitigate risks. Technological advancements have also enhanced their work, with tools like micro inspection cameras and leak detectors aiding in efficiency and accuracy. Overall, the career path offers a stable and rewarding opportunity for those who enjoy hands-on work and problem-solving in the construction field.
Plumber and Pipe Fitter
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Architecture & Construction, Manufacturing
Interests: Plumbing, construction work, hydraulics, piping systems, sanitation systems
Earnings (Yearly Median): $61,550 per year $29.59 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 2% (As fast as average)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent; vocational training; licensing
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Apprenticeship
Overview
Sphere of Work. Plumbers and pipe fitters are specialized construction workers. They contribute to the construction of buildings by installing plumbing fixtures and installing and maintaining pipes for water, sanitation, and fuels (plumbers); and installing and maintaining piping systems for chemicals, fuels, and high- and low-pressure liquids (pipe fitters). If not for plumbers and pipe fitters, the health of society would suffer. Well-maintained pipes keep drinking water clean and prevent disease-carrying sewage from leaking into the open.
Work Environment. Plumbers and pipe fitters work anywhere pipes exist or need to be installed: indoors, outdoors, in cramped environments, in basements, on ground floors, and on ladders or scaffolding, to name a few. The work is potentially dangerous, but rigorous safety precautions minimize injuries.
Occupation Interest. Plumbers and pipe fitters have physically demanding responsibilities, so anyone considering a career as a plumber or a pipe fitter should enjoy manual labor and be in good shape. There is an intellectual element to plumbing and pipe fitting as well, so a potential plumber or pipe fitter should find critical thinking and problem-solving appealing.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. It is not uncommon for plumbers to experience variation between daily responsibilities. They may split their time between residential and commercial projects, spending a morning installing a water heater at a house and an afternoon repairing or installing plumbing fixtures at a business. On larger projects, they may spend much more time at a single job site and may even supervise a plumbing crew.
For pipe fitters, there can be a great deal of variation between daily responsibilities, depending on where they are in a particular pipe-fitting project. At the start of a project, pipe fitters may be expected to choose the materials they need, inspect the work site, and schedule the order in which pipes must be installed. Then, they cut, assemble, and install the piping system. They may be expected to test the system at the end of a project and clean up the job site by loading materials onto trucks and transporting them back to their shop.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Both plumbers and pipe fitters work in commercial and industrial settings, but plumbers are more likely than pipe fitters to handle projects in the residential sector. They primarily work indoors. Jobs may be on structures under construction, which may be noisy and could pose dangers from other types of equipment and work taking place.
Human Environment. The type of plumbing or pipe-fitting project dictates the size of the workforce needed for it. Large-scale projects generally require crews of plumbers and pipe fitters. Small, simple projects, on the other hand, such as an appliance installation, may be handled by a single plumber. Plumbers and pipe fitters who are in apprenticeship training programs have much less autonomy than journeymen—those who have completed their apprenticeship—and master plumbers.
Technological Environment. Plumbers and pipe fitters have a number of electronic technologies at their disposal. Micro inspection cameras mounted on long, flexible cables allow plumbers to examine the insides of pipes and other tight spaces. Water leak detectors use ultrasonic sensors to detect pressure or vacuum leaks in piping systems. Touch-screen tablets and smartphones enable communication between construction-crew members in the field, and piping calculators facilitate the calculation of pipe dimensions.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. A high school diploma or general educational development (GED) certificate is necessary to be an apprentice, journeyman, or master plumber or pipe fitter. Many prospective plumbers or pipefitters attend a vocational school either during high school or following. Most plumbers and pipefitters must be licensed.
Postsecondary. The first step to becoming a licensed plumber or pipe fitter is entering one of the many accredited apprenticeship training programs offered by plumbers’ associations and union chapters. To do so, the applicant must have a high school diploma or GED, be eighteen years of age or older, and be an American citizen. Plumbing and pipe-fitting apprenticeships consist of at least four years of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom study a year. The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, for example, offers a five-year-long apprenticeship program with 216 hours of classroom training per year. Apprentice plumbers and pipe fitters study physics, hydraulics, mechanical drawing, piping systems, sanitation systems, and plumbing materials in the classroom, and they work alongside licensed plumbers and pipe fitters in the field.
Related Occupations
− General Maintenance Mechanic
− Heating & Cooling Technician
− Solar Energy System Installer
Bibliography
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 47-2152 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes472152.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
"Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.