Plumber

Few skilled labor jobs provide as many different opportunities or are in as consistently high demand as plumbers. Whether working in new construction, industrial settings or running their own business, plumbers have the potential to earn very good wages over a long, successful career.

WHAT DO PLUMBERS DO?

Plumbers build and maintain piping systems that are responsible for moving liquid, steam, natural gas, liquid fuel or waste from one place to another. Day-to-day work activities include: • Install and connect piping and fixtures, including welding metal components. • Develop blueprints to plan pipes and fixtures within a structure. • Make connections between the city’s water supply and homes and businesses. • Install bathtubs, showers, sinks, toilets, dishwashers and water heaters. • They may help design where the plumbing fixtures should go within the building. • In industrial settings, they perform inspections, maintenance and new installation, handling fuel, wastewater and water used as a coolant, such as in nuclear power plants. • Perform minor carpentry to repair or reconfigure systems, such as cutting holes in walls to access pipes or hanging supports to hold pipes in place • Install and service septic systems. • Perform functions related to gas lines, including installation, maintenance and replacement and proper installation of gas appliances.

Related jobs that utilize the same basic plumbing skill set while performing additional specialized work include: Pipelayers • Provide the major framework for outside plumbing systems by installing the pipe to build these systems. • Construct oil and gas lines by soldering, welding or cementing them in place. Pipefitters and steamfitters • The primary difference between pipefitters and steamfitters is pipefitters specialize in pipe systems that move liquids, while steamfitters specialize in pipe systems that move high-pressure liquids or gases. • Pipefitters and steamfitters work with both high-pressure and low-pressure systems and install automated controls to regulate industrial systems. Sprinklerfitters • A highly specialized plumber who installs and maintains automatic fire sprinkler systems in office buildings, manufacturing and industrial plants and multiunit residential properties. • They may also work for landscape companies installing in-ground sprinkler systems.

WHAT’S NEW? “Brain Pipes” • Smart home automation plumbing systems that allow the homeowner to conserve natural resources and reduce their water footprint.

• Smart pipes can monitor an entire home or building, sending the property owner an alert to any breaks or leaks. Green Plumbing • High-efficiency components designed to reduce water usage. • Includes faucets, shower heads and toilets with low-flow flush capacity. Smart Appliances • Self-monitoring dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters and toilets. • Computer chips control everything from wash settings and water temperature to water conservation modes and automated cycles. • Appliances sync with smart devices to be controlled remotely. Greywater Recycling • Systems capture water from bathroom sinks, showers and washing machines that may contain traces of dirt, food or cleaning products. • Systems redirect this water for use in watering residential yards and gardens or landscaping and flower beds outside corporations and office buildings.

WHERE DO PLUMBERS WORK?

With so many applications for a plumber’s skills, they can work in a wide range of environments:

If you work for a plumbing business that serves residential clients, or if you work for a manufacturing firm, you may work primarily daytime hours.

If you work for a company that does work in new construction, you could work outdoors in remote locations or put in overtime to keep up with production schedules.

Plumbers who are self-employed have some flexibility to determine their own schedules, but it takes a lot of work and “extra mile” service to get a business off the ground.

Nearly all plumbers work “on call” at some point in their career, providing late-night and weekend emergency service.

There’s no denying that some of the material plumbers work with is unpleasant, particularly in the case of wastewater, backed-up toilets or malfunctioning septic systems. But that’s only one part of the plumbing industry. Plumbers who work for manufacturers and power plants often work in climate-controlled conditions. Building new piping systems is no more or less uncomfortable than any other craft at a job site. WHAT’S THE JOB OUTLOOK?

There were more than 3,500 plumber jobs in Arkansas in 2018 and the future for this skilled job is very bright. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, demand for these jobs is expected to grow 16% in the state by 2028. That’s more than three times the national average.

HOW MUCH CAN I MAKE? • Lower range wages (bottom 10 percent) — $27,710 annually/$13.32 per hour • Middle range wages (median) — $41,940 annually/$20.16 per hour • Higher range wages (top 10 percent) — $61,940 annually/$29.78 per hour

Some things that impact your earning potential include your license level (apprentice, journeyman, master) and any additional training or certifications you earn.

For master plumbers who choose to start their own business versus working for an established firm, potential earnings are limited only by your skill, customer service and work ethic.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL? • Mechanical ability • Building and construction expertise • Design skills

HOW DO I LEARN THE CRAFT?

Plumbers begin their journey in an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship training schools are specialized education centers sponsored by trade associations, unions, as stand-alone institutions and some two-year Arkansas colleges.

Apprenticeships range from 4- to 5-year programs and, typically, you are sent to apprentice school by your employer after hiring on with a company. What this means is, you work during the day, learning your craft under an experienced plumber, and attend class one or two nights per week for classroom instruction. It also means that your education is paid for by your employer.

After you complete your apprenticeship, you test for your journeyman’s license. A journeyman level plumber can work unassisted on most projects and can generally handle more advanced projects than an apprentice. Some people choose to test for their master’s license. Master plumbers represent the highest level of plumbers and therefore command the highest pay.