Skip navigation

Plumbers

Also called: Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Drain Technician, Plumber Gasfitter

Where in the Marine Corps? In the Marine Corps: Water Support Technician

What they do:
Assemble, install, or repair pipes, fittings, or fixtures of heating, water, or drainage systems, according to specifications or plumbing codes.
On the job, you would:
  • Measure, cut, thread, or bend pipe to required angle, using hand or power tools or machines such as pipe cutters, pipe-threading machines, or pipe-bending machines.
  • Study building plans and inspect structures to assess material and equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, and to plan installation around obstructions such as electrical wiring.
  • Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • building and construction
  • mechanical
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • physics
Business
  • customer service
  • management
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use
  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers
Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems
Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Leadership

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • Elite Software DPIPE
  • Elite Software FIRE
Accounting software
  • Intuit QuickBooks software
  • Intuit Quicken software
Word processing software
  • Atlas Construction Business Forms
  • Contractor City Contractor Forms Pack

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
high school diploma or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship Eligible for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$47,750
per year, on average
Check out my state Find Jobs
Green
This work is part of the green economy.

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about plumbers.