: one that installs or repairs equipment (such as steam pipes) for heating, ventilating, or refrigerating systems.

Plumbers install and repair water, gas, and other piping systems in homes, businesses, and factories. Pipefitters and steamfitters, sometimes simply called fitters, install and maintain pipes that may carry chemicals, acids, and gases. These pipes are mostly in manufacturing, commercial, and industrial settings.

Pipefitters are tradespeople who build pipe systems used for heating, hot water, cooling, steam and more. They make sure that pipes are cut, installed, and maintained according to specifications.

If you’re a pipefitter, steamfitter or plumber, the potential for physical harm is alarmingly broad. A plumber’s risks can lead to numerous physical dangers, from deep cuts to severe burns to even death.

As the industry grows and the demand for pipefitters, pipefitting is an excellent career choice for anyone who is interested in a steady career that is both personally and financially rewarding.

Plumbers are one of the least happy careers in the United States. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, plumbers rate their career happiness 2.8 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 18% of careers.

Typically, apprenticeship training lasts three to five years, with a 1500-hour minimum of on-the-job training, as well as eight weeks of technical training in the classroom. High school students can become apprentices and attend technical school in order to earn credits towards their training.

Journeyperson steamfitter-pipefitters wage rates vary but generally range from $35 to $45 an hour plus benefits (2019 estimates)….Additional Information.

Average Wage	$43.96 / hr
Average Salary	$/ yr
Hours Per Week	42.1 hrs

Entry-level Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $32100 to $40250 per year or $15 to $19 per hour. Just like any other job, the salary of a Pipe Fitter and Steamfitter will increase as they become more experienced.

Pipefitters may primarily use a few type of welding skills, but not necessarily need to know how to perform all the welds that welders do. Pipefitters also generally need to know more about structural engineering in order to make sound pipe systems as well as be able to create threads to fit pipes together.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required to become a plumber, pipefitter, or steamfitter. Trade schools offer courses on pipe system design, safety, and tool use.

Underwater welders often use shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and sometimes flux-cored and friction welding. At the highest levels in the most difficult underwater welding jobs like saturation diving, pay can be upwards of $100,000 per year. The average hourly wage for underwater welders is around $26.32.

Pipefitters usually earn an average amount on $54K per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is much higher compared to electricians and plumbers. In places such as California and New York, they earn up to $80K per year. Those who work more than eighty hours a week can earn up to $100K or $140K.

While a plumber works with basic types of pipe including copper and PVC found in residences, a pipefitter works with high pressure, specialized pipes. A pipefitter works in industrial facilities such as power plants and factories. Plumbers deal with drinking water and water waste disposal systems.

In this section, we introduce 15 of the highest-paying trade school jobs….The 15 Best Trade School Jobs.

Trade Job	Median Salary (2019)	Job Growth Rate (2019-29)
Electrician	$56,180	8%
Plumber	$55,160	4%
IT Technician	$54,760	8%
Ironworker	$53,650	5%

Here are the best states for Plumbers in 2020:

1. Montana. Total Plumber Jobs: Average Annual Salary:
2. South Dakota. Total Plumber Jobs:
3. Oregon. Total Plumber Jobs:
4. Alaska. Total Plumber Jobs:
5. North Dakota. Total Plumber Jobs:
6. Massachusetts. Total Plumber Jobs:
7. Washington. Total Plumber Jobs:
8. Vermont. Total Plumber Jobs:

The cost of a plumber ranges from $175 to $450 for a typical job with the average cost per hour ranging from $45 to $200. This can include jobs like repairing faucets, toilets, sinks or bathtubs.

The main reason why plumbers make so much, is because a lot of people do not want to do it, and it is a necessary service. This is pretty much for all the trades out there. The majority of all buildings need plumbing, and there is a shortage of plumbers, which increases how much they make.

The type of plumbing work you do and whether or not you own your own business can affect your earnings as a master plumber. According to the Department of Labor, among the highest paid in the industry are union members.

A city plumber who clears out one toilet and one drain per day for 261 days a year can earn well over $100,000 annually. With a vocational training from a local trade school, a plumbing apprentice starts getting paid while simultaneously mastering their craft..

The average income of a plumber is $53,910. There are fewer barriers to entry in the plumbing career field than getting a college degree. Many university graduates leave with student debt and aspiring plumbers can train then hop right into their careers.

So yes, as a doctor, even a primary care physician (among the lowest-paid doctors) you will eventually earn a lot more than a plumber. But it’ll be more than twenty years before a doctor reaches the same amount of assets as a plumber given similar spending and saving habits.

THEY CAN GET EXTREMELY SICK. Close encounters with human waste puts plumbers at risk for a variety of illnesses, including E. coli, stomach parasites, and hepatitis. “A lot of plumbers wind up dealing with hepatitis A at some point,” Mike says.

So, if you have been dreaming about changing your career, and becoming a plumber is appealing to you, then as long as you are in good health, no age is too old to retain! If you cannot afford to leave your job to retrain, you can still train to become a plumber outside working hours.

NO, absolutely not. Plumbers can take courses at community colleges and begin working in their trade within 12 months. To become certified may take another two years at which time they can start up their own business, but it is never too late.

25 is a good age to start. You have enough maturity to handle the responsibility of school and on the job training, yet young enough to handle the grunt work that new apprentices do. Starting at 50 is fine too. Maybe a bit less physical work, but you’ll make up for it with the wisdom you’ve picked up over the years.

The qualifications and skills you need to start a plumbing job with no experience include a high school diploma and the willingness to learn the trade. Apprenticeships are typically through trade unions or plumbing companies. Most companies and unions expect applicants to have basic mechanical skills.

However, plumbing apprenticeships can be quite competitive. With more people interested in apprenticeships than actual apprenticeship positions, you can stand out from the crowd if you have already attended some plumbing courses or have a letter of recommendation.