Plumber
Plumbers install and repair water and heating systems in residential households and commercial properties.
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£46,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 45 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As a plumber, you'll:
- install and repair water, heating and drainage systems
- cut, shape and join pipes and fittings
- service gas and oil-fired central heating systems and radiators
- respond to emergency call-outs, like broken boilers or blocked drains
- fit weather-proof materials and flashings to roofs, chimneys and walls
Working environment
You could work at a client's home, at a client's business or on a construction site.
Your working environment may be cramped, at height and outdoors some of the time.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of maths
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to work well with your hands
- customer service skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a plumber
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
You could complete a college course which may help you to find a trainee position with a plumbing company.
Courses include:
- plumbing studies
- plumbing and domestic heating
- T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship to learn the skills needed to become a plumber. Apprenticeships include:
- Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician
- Building Services Engineering Craftsperson
- Gas Engineering Operative
You could also do a Low Carbon Heating Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, if you want to become a heat pump engineer .
Work
You may be able to start as a plumber's assistant or 'mate' and train on the job to qualify.
You'll usually need some GCSEs, including English and maths, along with good practical skills.
Direct application
You could apply directly for jobs if you've got qualifications and several years' experience from related industries, like building services or heating and ventilation engineering.
Foundation apprenticeship
You may be able to start in an assistant role by doing a Building Services Engineering Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship.
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- are in care or have been in care
- are in prison or have been in prison
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- be on the Gas Safe Register to work with domestic gas heating systems
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- do further training to become a heat pump engineer
- work with ventilation and air-conditioning systems, or renewable energy technologies like solar powered heating
- get certified with the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC)
- become a master plumber or move into building services engineering
- train apprentice plumbers in a further education (FE) college or training centre
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering for professional development training and industry news.
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleHeating and ventilation engineer
- Job roleGas service technician
- Job roleKitchen and bathroom fitter
- Job roleRefrigeration and air-conditioning installer
- Job roleHeat pump engineer
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