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Becoming a plumber can be an exciting opportunity to create your own career doing something that interests you. You’ll spend a lot of your time troubleshooting and problem-solving. You can count on spending plenty of your time helping other people, too. Plumbers have a tough job, there is no doubt about that, but it also comes with a number of benefits that are hard to overlook.
#1: The Pay Is Good in Plumbing Service
Though there is a lot of variables when it comes to pay for plumbers, most do fairly well and make above-average wages. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for plumbers in 2018 was nearly $54,000 per year. However, many also own their own companies, allowing them to increase what they charge.
#2: There’s Significant Demand in Plumbing Service
The same statistics indicate that there is a growing need for plumbers providing quality plumbing service in the U.S. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a need for 68,200 additional plumbers between 2018 and 2028. That is a job growth rate of 14 percent – much faster than other careers. This may also help to drive up the amount that plumbers are paid for their work. It makes you and your skills in demand, too. Even more importantly, you may find that it is easy to find consistent work in this field.
Another way to look at this is that plumbers are needed by everyone. Whether it is a doctor’s office, a home, or a school, every building that operates along with commercial, industrial, and government spaces, needs to have access to licensed plumbers to help them do the work. That creates a lot of job stability and security in an era where finding a career path can seem challenging.
#3: You Have Independence
Another key advantage to becoming a plumber is that it creates a job that gives you the independence you desire. For example, you can work as a plumber on your own time, setting your schedule. Many plumbers own their own business, which makes it possible for them to actually work with the types of clients they like. It also allows them to do what they want to do. That means you can pick and choose the jobs that you want to do. This type of flexibility is not always present for those just starting out in plumbing service. As you build your career, though, you’ll find more opportunities to create the workday you desire. That type of independence is valuable.
#4: There’s Less Student Loan Debt
There are several avenues for becoming a plumber. Each one offers unique opportunities to learn both in a formal setting and in the job environment. Most plumbers will get some education, often at trade schools or specialized schools. They will then work as an apprentice under other plumbers, learning on the job. The benefit here is that it is a fraction of the cost associated with a traditional college education.
If you do not want to go back to school and spend thousands of dollars getting an education, becoming a plumber is a solid alternative. It can provide you with more ways to build the profitable career you desire without all of the student loan repayment that most college students have years after graduating. Working in plumbing service requires fewer long-term educational requirements, too.
#5: It Offers Advancement Opportunities
Whether you work within a company or set out on your own, there are plenty of opportunities for you to grow your skills and advance your career. For example, some may work in large corporations where there are numerous plumbers or sanitary professionals. You can move up into management positions in these areas.
The most common path for many in plumbing service, though, is striking out on their own to create their own business model. This creates new opportunities for you. Some businesses focus on just residential services. Others partner with home builders to install just new lines and systems. Still, others work within government industries helping with public sanitation. There are many routes you can take and change your career as you desire. The key is to see it as an opportunity to use your skills in a way that’s important to you.
#6: You’re Helping People
Being a plumber means you are working to solve the problems of other people. You are also working one-on-one with people throughout the plumbing service call. This creates a significant amount of social interaction. It feels good to talk to people who need your help and count on you to help in a really big way. You can give them reassurance, solve their problems, and create opportunities for them to avoid future problems.
The key here is that you are out in the world on a day to day basis. You are not sitting behind a desk working from a computer. You get to meet new people, interact with them, offer insight, and even build some solid relationships within the community. If you provide good customer service, happy clients will rely on you for future needs and will refer you to others, ensuring more work. Plumbing service plays an important role in the community.
#7: Job Satisfaction
It may not seem like being a plumber is all that satisfying, but plumbing service itself can be. First, you’re creating your own path and building a successful business. If you are a dedicated professional who provides good customer service, you are also helping people who often need it the most. You may also be helping to protect people from illness and disease. This is a career that plays a very important role in the health and wellbeing of the public as a whole.
When you work as a plumber, you’re doing hard work that’s not meant for everyone. Plumbing service is hands-on, often labor-intense work that can be challenging at times. For many, that challenge and the constant change in the work that is done from day to day makes being a plumber a very rewarding job. And providing an extremely valuable service comes with its benefits as well. People count on you. It could be just what you are hoping for in a career.
Finding the Right Path for You Starts with the Best Company in Plumbing
When you want to become a plumber, working with the best company in the region makes a big difference. Learn more about what we offer by calling bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. Our plumbing service is always looking for talented professionals.
