Who is a plumber?
A plumber is someone who installs, repairs, and maintains pipes and structures that are responsible for the flow of water and gas. You can expect to enjoy career security as a plumber and can find yourself with regular work.
In order to work as a plumber, you’ll need to have your high school diploma or GED certification. Then, you’ll need to apply to a technical or vocational school. Here, you can learn about your trade and complete the required number of classroom hours to work towards your plumbing license. You’ll also need to complete an apprenticeship under a master plumber.
During your apprenticeship, you’ll be learning on the job, and you will also start earning at the same time. Apprentices earn a nominal amount, but once you gain your plumbing license, you’ll be able to charge higher rates.
In the United States, plumbers male an annual average salary of $55,160. If you are an experienced plumber and can ask for higher rates, then you can expect to earn up to $73,380 or more. If you’re starting out as a plumber, or fall on the lower end of the wage scale, then you could be earning around $41,220. Plumbers earn well, especially when compared to other tradesmen. How much you earn can also be influenced by the city, as well as the state you live in.
The salary outlook for plumbers is positive, with the amount plumbers have been earning rising over the years. If you want to be a plumber, then now is the time to enter the industry.
Cities where plumbers earn more
Plumbers earn more when they work out of certain cities in the country. However it’s important to keep in mind that the cost of living also tends to be higher in these cities. The city where plumbers earn the most, put of anywhere in the country, is Chicago in Illinois. In this city, plumbers can expect to earn an annual average salary of $89,470.
Another city where plumbers can expect to make more money is Kankakee, again in Illinois. In the city of Kankakee, plumbers make an annual average salary of $88,790. San Francisco is California, is next on the list of cities where plumbers earn well. In the city of San Francisco, plumbers earn an average annual salary of $87,230.
San Jose in California also pays plumbers well. In San Jose, plumbers can earn as much as $86,030 annually. Fairbanks in Alaska is another city you can consider when it comes to places where plumbers earn well. In Fairbanks, plumbers make around $85,710 annually.
States where plumbers earn well
Aside from the city you work in, the state you work in can also play a role in determining how much you get paid. Plumbers tend to earn more, on average, when they work out of certain states.
The state where plumbers earn the most in the country is Illinois. In the state of Illinois, plumbers make an average annual salary of $86,120. Alaska is another state where plumbers earn a lot of money. If you work as a plumber in the state of Alaska, you can expect to earn around $79,610 annually. You can also consider Minnesota and count it in the list of highest paying states for plumbers. In Minnesota, plumbers earn an annual average salary of $74,700.
New Jersey is another state where plumbers earn well. In the state of New Jersey, plumbers make around $74,360. Another state that falls on the list of highest paying states for plumbers is Massachusetts. In the state of Massachusetts, plumbers earn an average salary of around $73,970.
How much do plumbers earn when compared to other tradesmen?
Plumbers earn well when compared to other tradesmen. Aside from electricians, plumbers are some of the highest-paid tradesmen you could encounter. As a plumber, you can expect to make an average salary of around $59,800. Electricians earn slightly more than plumbers, at $60,370.
Becoming an electrician is similar to becoming a plumber. You’ll need to attend a technical college, complete an apprenticeship, and sit for a licensing exam. There are several trades, however, that pay much less than when compared to a plumber. Carpenters, for example, tend to earn less than plumbers. They make an average annual salary of $52,850. If you were an insulation contractor, then you can also expect to earn less than a plumber. Insulation contractors earn around $49,090, on average.
Construction workers also earn much less than plumbers, at around $41,730 on average per year. Plumbers are paid much better than many other tradesmen, and the opportunity to grow in your career is better as well.
Can you increase your earnings as a plumber?
There are several things you can do to increase how much you earn, as a plumber, on average. Offering specialized skills, such as knowing how to work with certain kinds of structures and pipes, can allow you to charge more for your services.
You can also complete additional certifications courses that allow you to offer more service. The amount of experience you have will also play a role in helping you to earn more. Earlier on, you’ll be charging less for your services. But as you gain experience and get more referrals, you’ll be able to charge more for your services.
If you choose to get management certifications, then you can also consider managing your own business. You don’t need a management certificate to run your own plumbing business, but getting yourself certified can better set you up for success. Many plumbers work as contractors or for plumbing businesses. A small number of plumbers are self-employed as well.
Whether you choose to work for someone else, run your own business, or are self-employed, working as a plumber can be profitable. While you’ll be earning more should you be working out of certain cities and states, it’s also important to keep in mind that it costs more to live in these places. Places where plumbers earn less, on average, also have a lower cost of living.
Conclusion
Working as a plumber can be a profitable career path. Depending on where you live, you can expect to earn a good salary as a plumber. The more skills and specializations you offer as a plumber, the more you’ll be able to charge for your services. Your exact salary will depend on a lot of factors, such as the amount of experience you have, the number of jobs you’re getting, and several other factors. As a plumber, however, you can expect to enjoy career stability.
It would be best if you also considered plumbing insurance. This is as you’re exposed to certain career risks when you work as a plumber. You can, for example, be sued by an unhappy client. This could lead to an expensive court case, where you would have to pay to defend yourself. But with the help of insurance for commercial plumbers, such as general liability insurance for plumbers, you’ll be able to protect your finances. With commercial plumbing insurance, your career, as well as your finances, are more secure. If you want to learn more about plumbing insurance, then click here.
