46 Plumber
What a Career as a Plumber is Really Like
Guest: Tony Bertolino is a Virginia Beach-based second-generation plumber who, along with his brother Rob, was named the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) 2023 Plumbing Contractor of the Year.
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What Does a Plumbing Career Look Like?
Plumbing is a trade that offers steady work, paid training, strong income potential, and real advancement opportunities. Many people picture plumbing as only fixing toilets or unclogging drains, but the work is far broader and more technical. Based on insights from plumbing apprenticeship instructor and operations manager Tony Bertolino, this guide walks you through what the job is actually like and how to start.
How to Become a Plumber: Understanding Training, School, and Licensure
A major advantage of plumbing is that you do not need prior experience to get started. Most people begin by applying directly to a plumbing company, which then hires them as a helper and often pays for their training. Apprenticeship programs combine classroom work with hands-on job training, allowing you to learn while earning a paycheck.
Here is what the typical path looks like:
Get hired as an entry-level helper, even with no experience.
Attend a state-approved apprenticeship program, usually in the evenings while working during the day.
Complete the required classroom hours each year. In Virginia, this is about 144 hours per year spread across four years.
Log on-the-job training hours while learning skills from licensed technicians.
Become eligible for the licensing exam, typically after four to five years if you attend school or around ten years if you skip school.
If you are in high school, this path allows you to avoid student loans while building a high-demand skill set. If you are in college and reconsidering your major, switching into a trade program is often quicker and more affordable than starting a new degree.
Daily Life in Plumbing: What Work Actually Looks Like
Plumbing work generally falls into two categories: commercial and residential service. While both involve technical skills and problem-solving, the environments feel different, and most plumbers eventually realize they prefer one side over the other.
Commercial Plumbing Work
Commercial plumbers work on construction sites like hospitals, schools, government buildings, or large renovations. The workday follows a predictable schedule, beginning early in the morning and ending around midafternoon.
Common tasks in commercial plumbing include:
Installing new piping systems and equipment
Using tools such as soldering torches, pipe cutters, and power tools
Hauling materials, climbing ladders, and working outdoors in all weather
Assisting senior technicians with heavy lifting and layout work
Learning to read plans and follow construction timelines
Commercial work is steady and structured, which many students enjoy if they prefer predictable hours.
Residential Service Plumbing Work
Residential plumbers respond to problems inside homes, which requires communication skills and the ability to diagnose issues that are not always immediately visible. Days can run longer because customer needs vary.
A typical residential day might include:
Riding to jobs with a technician and learning how to interact with homeowners
Crawling into tight areas such as attics or crawl spaces
Diagnosing leaks, drainage issues, and equipment failures
Explaining repairs to customers
Working past 5 p.m. when service calls run long
If you like variety and talking with people, the residential side can be a great fit.
Career Growth in Plumbing: How Your Responsibilities Expand
Plumbing is a field where growth is tied closely to effort and willingness to learn. Even students who start with no experience can advance into leadership or office-based roles over time.
Career Progression in Residential Plumbing
Progression typically moves from basic labor toward independent problem solving and customer service.
As you grow in this path, you may:
Start as a helper doing basic physical work
Become an apprentice who learns diagnostics and uses tools more independently
Advance into a service technician role where you run your own jobs and communicate directly with customers
Move into higher-level positions such as lead technician or supervisor, where you coach others or handle complex tasks
Career Progression in Commercial Plumbing
The commercial side often leads to project management roles, especially for people who enjoy organizing teams or reading construction plans.
In this path, responsibilities may expand to:
Running portions of a job site as you gain experience
Leading crews as a foreman,once you master installations
Coordinating major builds as a site supervisor or field supervisor
Transitioning into roles such as estimator or project manager for large projects
Both paths offer opportunities to grow into leadership. Some plumbers even move into teaching roles or eventually run their own companies.
What Plumbers Earn: A Realistic Look at Salaries
Plumbing wages vary by location, but Tony emphasizes that the trade offers strong earning potential from the start. Helpers typically begin at hourly wages and move up quickly as they build skills.
What students should know about plumbing pay:
Entry-level helpers often start around sixteen to twenty dollars per hour, depending on the region.
Pay rises quickly for workers who take initiative and attend school consistently.
Commercial plumbers on federal projects may earn significantly more because of wage requirements that set pay rates. Tony shares an example of technicians earning about forty-five dollars per hour on a major government job.
Residential service technicians often earn commission, which means there is no upper limit. Some skilled technicians earn over one hundred thousand dollars per year when they take on extra work.
If you are in high school and wondering whether a trade can support a comfortable life, these earnings show that plumbing can lead to home ownership and financial stability much sooner than many four-year degrees.
Skills That Make Someone Successful in Plumbing
Plumbing requires hands-on technical ability, problem-solving, and physical confidence. You do not need previous trade experience, but certain traits help you adapt quickly.
Helpful skills and traits include:
Comfort using tools, even if you learned from simple projects at home
Spatial awareness, meaning you know how to move in tight areas without damaging anything
Physical stamina for kneeling, lifting, or crawling
Curiosity and willingness to ask questions
Calm problem-solving when diagnosing issues in real time
Traits that make the job harder include:
Struggling to use tools safely or consistently
Strong claustrophobia, since crawl spaces are common
Poor awareness of your surroundings increases the risk of injuries or property damage
For students unsure of their fit, Tony says that people who tinker with tools or like building things often adjust fastest.
Challenges in Plumbing: What New Workers Should Be Ready For
Plumbing is meaningful work, but it can be physically demanding. Understanding the challenges helps students decide whether the environment matches their strengths.
Common challenges of the job:
Working in hot attics, cold spaces, or wet conditions
Physical strain that can affect the knees, back, or shoulders over time
Longer days for service plumbers when customers need help urgently
Pressure to finish jobs correctly and safely the first time
Learning when to speak up if you reach your physical limits
Students should also know that some people underestimate plumbing as a profession. Tony explains that plumbers sometimes face disrespect from those who assume trades require less intelligence, even though plumbers solve complex problems every day.
This mindset should never discourage you from entering the field.
Why Plumbing Is Rewarding: The Benefits Beyond Pay
Despite its challenges, plumbing offers many personal and professional rewards. Helping people is a major theme that comes up again and again.
What many plumbers enjoy most:
Solving urgent problems that truly matter
Meeting a wide range of people and hearing their stories
Seeing their skills improve each year
Progressing into leadership or management roles
Knowing that their work directly protects homes and communities
If you like seeing the immediate impact of your work, plumbing provides that sense of accomplishment every day.
Closing
If you are unsure what path to take after high school or are thinking about changing direction in college, plumbing is a career worth exploring. You can earn while you learn, avoid heavy student debt, and build a skill set that will stay in demand for decades. Every expert plumber began exactly where you are now, trying to understand whether the trade was right for them. With curiosity and effort, you can build a meaningful and stable future in this field.
Takeaways For Those Interested in a Career as a Plumber
Education in plumbing can be obtained through apprenticeships or trade schools.
Most companies pay for training while you work.
Plumbing offers lucrative career opportunities with high earning potential.
Hands-on experience is crucial in the plumbing trade.
The job can be physically demanding and requires awareness of safety.
Helping people is a rewarding aspect of being a plumber.
There is a need for skilled tradespeople in the industry.
Intelligence in plumbing is measured by problem-solving abilities.
Respect for the trade is essential, despite societal perceptions.
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