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How to become a Plumber

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Plumber jobs

462

Plumber courses

Career progression and salary expectations for a Plumber

Plumber's Mate

| Up to £16,000

Plumber

| Up to £30,000

Master Plumber

| Up to £40,000

The role of a Plumber

What does a Plumber do?

Interested in becoming a Plumber? Consider if: You’re a hands-on, practical person, who enjoys working with their hands. Don’t consider if: You have a fear of confined spaces and/or water.A Plumber is tasked with assembling, installing and maintain piping for a variety of different systems. Plumbers may choose to specialise in different areas, (for example ‘wet only’ or ‘gas only’), but some skills are constant for most types of Plumbing. For example:

Cutting, bending and joining pipes and fittings
Assembling, installing and repairing pipes (either for domestic, commercial or industrial systems)
Planning and carrying out measurements for each specific job requirement
Providing time and cost estimates for each job
Meeting safety standards and performing necessary maintenance tasks

Is a career as a Plumber right for me?

Plumbing is a highly skilled profession, making the job they perform vital for both our personal and professional lives to function.As a result, you will be expected to work at a fast pace, and easily adapt to any project at hand. Confidence in your ability, and a steadiness of hands, is crucial. Also, as most Plumbers will find themselves working in stranger's houses, adopting a friendly and approachable nature will be essential.Other key skills include:

Highly developed technical and mechanical skills
Manual dexterity
Exceptional communication skills
Problem solving
Ability to work under pressure, and to strict deadlines

What's it like to be a Plumber?

"I left school at 16, looking to find an apprenticeship to start my career. I didn’t suit a typical 9-5 office job, so I started working as a Plumber’s mate, which taught me some basic plumbing knowledge. I’ve been a Plumber for five years now, and I love it. I get to meet new people, and I feel like I’ve now learnt a trade which will hopefully provide me with a career for life."

Get qualified as a Plumber

As Plumbing is a skilled trade, you will need certain relevant qualifications in order to progress including professional and domestic courses. However, it is necessary to have a good knowledge of building and water regulations first.

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