| In an increasingly competitive and frustrating job | | | | away. The job placement prospects for young |
| market, it seems that many young people have | | | | plumbers are excellent. There is currently high |
| forgotten about the service and repair industries. It is | | | | demand for this trade and a relatively low supply of |
| assumed that getting a college degree is the only | | | | potential plumbers. It's important to know that the |
| alternative to waiting tables or bagging groceries. | | | | plumbing industry is about more than clogged drains |
| What many of today's youth fail to realize is that the | | | | and toilets. |
| service industry is alive and well, full of good | | | | Jobs in the plumbing industry include pipefitters, |
| opportunities to find jobs that are engaging, | | | | steamfitters, and plumbers. Industry averages round |
| challenging, and well-paid. One such job is becoming a | | | | out to $19-20 per hour, meaning that a plumber |
| plumber, which is one of the highest-paying jobs in | | | | working 40 hours a week can expect a gross salary |
| the service sector and an immensely satisfying career | | | | of around $40k per year, plus benefits. These |
| option. | | | | benefits may include health, dental, and retirement |
| Becoming a plumber requires, first of all, a high school | | | | provisions, depending on the trade union. Experienced |
| degree. The next step is either to attend a trade | | | | plumbers can earn far more, with the most |
| school or to apply for an apprenticeship with a local | | | | well-established plumbers earning $32.50 per hour on |
| plumbers' union. Be aware that only about one in | | | | average, or over $60,000 a year! |
| twenty applicants receive apprenticeships, however, | | | | Plumbers generally enjoy a high degree of job |
| while trade schools offer very helpful job placement | | | | satisfaction. Although the work can be physically |
| programs. If you do go the apprenticeship route, | | | | demanding at times, plumbing actually offers a much |
| however, you will need to complete over 2,000 | | | | higher degree of satisfaction, on average, than an |
| hours of on-the-job training and roughly 200 hours of | | | | office job. Plumbing offers the gratifying experience |
| classroom time. | | | | of being able to SEE the effects of a job well done. |
| Time in the classroom in both trade school and | | | | It is a profession of endless variety, with new |
| apprenticeship includes mathematics, sketching and | | | | challenges and problems to solve every day. |
| drawing, safety procedures, government regulations, | | | | Plumbers are not stuck in a cubicle, they're always on |
| and applied science. On-the-job training includes an | | | | the move, on to the next project or repair site. |
| array of skills, such as using a blowtorch, welding, | | | | There is always more to learn, with continuing |
| cutting, pipefitting, working with ceramics, and an | | | | education classes available constantly and online |
| endless variety of smaller skills. Apprentice plumbers | | | | resources helping plumbers to get better at what |
| earn roughly half of a full-time plumber's salary, and | | | | they do. Advancement is a real possibility, not only in |
| earn raises based on experience. Trade schools will | | | | terms of an increased hourly rate, but perhaps the |
| require approximately the same amount of work, and | | | | chance to become the lead plumber for a company. |
| while you won't get paid, you will be able to finish | | | | An exciting future might include starting or managing |
| your training more quickly in two to three years. | | | | your own business, or becoming a plumbing |
| You'll have a better chance of getting a job right | | | | consultant for construction companies. |