Helpful Resources Staring a career in Plumbing
What makes a good plumber? You like to figure out how things work. You've probably got a flair for math and science. The computer is fun, but working on your car out in the garage is more fun. You like precision. You like to fix things.
Most plumbers are the type of people who just like to get it done.
Reading and sitting in class is maybe not your favorite thing. Your grades in school may show that, and you may be tired of it.
So why are you looking at colleges? Learn a construction trade instead. The entire field needs more craftsman. With apprentice programs, you get paid while your learn.
In four years you can be earning a journey level salary, which is pretty much what four-year college graduates are earning.
(Except you won't be saddled with the average of $10,000 in student loan debts.)
2005 Average Starting Salaries
What about 5 or 10 years down the road? Don't college graduates earn way more than high school graduates? In general yes, but "high school graduates" is a really broad category.
"A journey level plumber with five years of experience can easily make $60,000 to $100,000," according to Gerry Kennedy, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer of PHCC's Educational Foundation.
The sky is virtually the limit if you go on to learn business management skills and open your own contracting firm.
Name:
Jim Steinle
Job:
Owner, Atomic Plumbing
Virginia Beach, VA
Apprenticeship:
1978, Atomic Plumbing
Became owner of Atomic:
1986
Giving back:
2005 National Chairman of the PHCC Plumbing Apprentice and Journeyman Training Committee
Most of my employees came from the same apprentice program I did. My trained workforce is so good, I can afford to compensate my team well, so I do. It just makes sense."
- Jim Steinle, President/Owner
Atomic Plumbing
You may even choose to go to college later on, to pursue engineering or business management. when you can pay cash and go at your own pace. With financial independence, it's your decision, no one else's.
A Cool Career in Construction from the Associated Builders and Contractors includes virtual job site tours and how to get started in a union apprentice training program.
Cool Careers-Hot Jobs explains careers in heating, air-conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing to students, parents, educators and individuals looking for re-training. Schools are searchable by state.
CareerVoyages.gov from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education provides information on high growth, high demand occupations along with the skills and education needed to attain those jobs.
Career videos on plumbing and related careers in construction and architecture on available free online from the U.S. Department of Labor. They are also available in Spanish versions.
For more information on union apprenticeship programs, contact the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) of the United States and Canada or Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
Other training programs are administered by local chapters of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC), the American Fire Sprinkler Association, or The Home Builders Institute (HBI) of the National Association of Home Builders.
"Helmets to Hardhats" is a UA program specially designed for military veterans.
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