You may be shocked: apprentice plumbers make more money than college graduates do. According to Simplyhire, an apprentice plumber salary in California is $39,228 on average per year. Entirely conducted research by the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics suggests that the median annual pay for plumbers is even much higher: $56,330 (in May 2020). An itching question is inevitably about to be raised: “Should we become a plumber to get rich?”
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Should We Consider Being A Plumber?
It depends on a lot of things. If you are interested in this job and have thought about this question many times, take a peek at the following reasons. I hope they will help you make a better choice.
A Technical and Demanding Job
Actually, plumbing is not as simple as most would like to believe. There is a huge misconception that plumbers work with poo all day, and what they currently do is a literal sh*tty work involving raw sewage. In fact, they do a job that no one wants to do, and neither knows how to do it. Although some people look down on plumbers, they too need one. There is always a need for well-trained plumbers, and so are their services.
Kevin O’Leary, a rising star from ABC’s Shark Tank, said: “Everybody has to have a plumber, even in a recession. Every single building on Earth wants to have electricity and plumbing working…These are careers that actually can help you provide for your family forever.”
What would happen if we did not have plumbers? Things could be okay for a few days, but then here comes trouble. The toilet overflows, sewage backs up, and the fact that diseases go rampant will become a nightmare. If it were not for plumbers, we would have died years ago due to some kind of nasty plague. Plumbing thus provides a vital service in our life.
Plumbers Earn More Than A College Graduate
College is not a compulsory choice nowadays. You can choose to go to college or not. Many years ago, a degree was enough. A B.A or B.Sc would guarantee you a good job, higher lifetime earnings, and lower rates of unemployment. But, not now. It seems that everyone has a college degree, and competitions out there are ruthless. Thus, will you be happy with the advanced college degree you have?
Also, the cost of college has kept steadily going up over the past several decades. So is earning a degree worthy of your time and your money? Trade schools can also be an excellent alternative as their fees vary. They can also help students make a lot more money. If you find yourself not super-smart to attend college, but good at dealing with people and tickering things, being a plumber is a great option. You can totally evaluate how much you deserve to earn based on your enormous skill set.
Plumber salary in California is pretty interesting – Source: Youtube
Based on the type of plumbing job you do and where you reside, the payoff can vary accordingly. For example, if you wonder ‘how much do plumbers make in California?’, then it is about $27.08 per hour, according to the U.S Bureau Of Labor Statistics. For the question ‘how much do plumbers make in Florida’, they earn $20 per hour on average for apprentice plumbers.
Fully trained plumbers earn more than apprentices. No one starts at the top. Experience and willingness to learn do not mean simply more advanced tools, but tons of paperwork, like layout, design, and ability to work with other trades and adapt. In a word, there is a vast world out there demanding plumbers with tons of experience. Hard work pays off. So, if you learn to hone your skills, your pay will increase.
As stated earlier, the median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $56,330 in May 2020. In simple words, this number basically combines those who start at the bottom with those who invest more in their work to win the race.
Don’t forget that the average also combines places where the cost of living is different. San Francisco and Florida have an extremely high cost of living, while Jackson and Mississippi’s are pretty low. Therefore, things like plumber salary in California do not mean much. Where you choose to work combined with a successful drive do matter most.
Job Outlook
Another reason to take plumber career into consideration is job prospects. Statistically, the employment of plumbers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2020 to 2030 due to the recovery from the Covid-19 recession. About 51,000 openings for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are projected each year.
Plumbers can earn much money – Source: Reddit
Notably, two main reasons are accounting for this number of openings. One is the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire. The other is the demand of maintaining and repairing plumbing systems in existing residences and other buildings.
Plumber Job Description
When it comes to plumbers, it refers to a common misconception about this occupation. Some people look down on this job and consider it a physical and dirty work. In fact, it is one of the most technical and demanding jobs nowadays. Here are what a plumber typically do:
- Install and repair water, gas, and other piping systems in homes, businesses, and factories
- Install plumbing fixtures, such as bathtubs and toilets, and appliances like dishwashers and water heaters
- Clean drains, eliminate obstructions, repair or replace broken pipes, and fixtures
- Maintain large-capacity septic systems, underground holding tanks collecting waste that are not connected to a sewer system.
How To Become A Plumber
Plumbers do have to go through tough training to get licensed and years of experience (depending on where you live) before getting to the actual work and making money. So, to be precise, what do you need to equip yourself to get a job as a plumber? Here are some essential pieces of information you need to know.
Education
You have to earn a high school diploma or equivalent to become a plumber. You can also attend vocational-technical school to learn about pipe system design, safety, and tool use.
Training
Most plumbers learn on the job through a four or five-year apprenticeship. Besides receiving 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, apprentices can also learn about technical instruction each year, like safety, local plumbing code and regulation, and blueprint reading. What’s more, these plumbers need to learn about mathematics, applied physics, and chemistry.
Most states require licensed plumbers – Source: Printbasprix
You will become a journey-level worker when you complete an apprentice program and pass the required licensing exam. A journey-level worker is qualified to perform tasks independently. Plumbers with many years of experience can earn the master’s status if they pass another exam. As far as we are concerned, some states require plumbers to have master status to be qualified for a plumbing contractor’s license.
Qualities and Skills
Besides the two factors mentioned above, there are certain essential qualities that you should know.
First of all, you need to have good communication skills. Not only do you have to talk to customers regularly (like prepare cost estimates for them), you also must be able to manage workers, bid on jobs, and plan work schedules.
Secondly, agility is vital for a plumber to maneuver parts and tools precisely, especially in tight spaces.
Thirdly, you have to master the mechanic skills to choose from tools to assemble, maintain and repair pipe systems.
Next, a plumber with excellent physical strength is appreciated as they can lift and move heavy tools and materials.
Finally, you must be good at troubleshooting skills to find, diagnose and fix problems. These skills also help you set up and test new piping systems in residences, businesses, or buildings.
Where To Find Plumber Jobs?
Are you still in the dark about finding a plumber job with a decent plumber salary in California? No need to look further. As usual, your faithful friend Jobandedu is here to guide you through. There are three trusted sources you can refer to to consider your decisions.
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Over 800 occupations are produced on an annual basis by the OEWS program. You can refer to these estimates and wages by the whole nation, individual states, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Hard work pays off – Source: Techartservices
Projection Central
Thanks to Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices, you can look for occupation employment projections developed for all states and compare them among states or within one.
CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop provides you with a salary info tool so that you can search for wages, like plumber salary in California, by zip code. It also helps you compare occupation employment by state and wages by local area or metro area.
Bottom Line – Plumber Salary In California
Being confused about a career path is a normal thing. There is no perfect job for everyone. All humans are equally valuable and deserve a good life. If you are considering plumbers, there is nothing wrong here. Equip yourself with essential knowledge, skill set, competence, etc. Plumbers earn what they deserve. Work hard in silence and make their noise.
If you want to get more choices about your career path, like industrial machinery components, millwright, or being a radiologist, our job overview category will help.
You may also want to explore some career advice and research what corporate wants you to find the difference.
