As long as people rely on indoor plumbing, we will need experienced, skilled plumbers to install, repair, and maintain the systems we use every day. Being a plumber is not only an in-demand job but one that generally pays well. A plumber’s average annual salary in the U.S. is $74,253, according to ZipRecruiter.
A plumber’s expertise spans from diagnosing and repairing leaks in people’s homes to planning commercial piping and municipal sewer systems.
If you enjoy working with both your hands and machinery, have strong attention to detail, and are a good problem-solver, being a plumber might be the right job for you. Read on to learn more about how much plumbers make per hour, how salaries vary by region, and other factors to consider before you decide to pursue a career in plumbing.
What Are Plumbers?
Plumbers are skilled professionals who install, maintain, and repair plumbing systems that supply residential and commercial properties with water and gas and carry away waste. Plumbers play a crucial role in ensuring these systems function properly and efficiently. Their expertise applies both to municipal sewers and single-home septic systems.
Plumbers diagnose and fix various issues related to plumbing systems, such as leaks, clogs, and malfunctions in pipes or fixtures. They also perform routine maintenance to prevent problems and keep plumbing systems in good working order.
In some cases, plumbers are involved in the initial design and planning stages of construction or renovation projects, ensuring that plumbing systems are installed efficiently and meet local building codes and regulations. Some plumbers may specialize in specific areas, such as commercial plumbing, industrial plumbing, or specific types of systems like hydronic heating.
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How Much Does a Plumber Make Per Year Starting Out?
A plumber can make a good entry-level salary that continues to increase over time. For example, plumbers with less than one year of experience earn, on average, $50,129, while the average salary for a plumber with more than 10 years of experience is $72,740 per year.
What Is the Average Salary for a Plumber?
Plumbers can earn either an hourly rate or an annual salary, depending on the type of work they do. How much a plumber makes per hour can range anywhere from around $18 to $53. The average hourly pay for a licensed plumber in the U. S. as of January 2024 is $35.70 an hour, per ZipRecruiter. The current national average for how much a plumber makes a year is $74,253.
How much money a plumber makes can vary by location. What follows is a breakdown of how much plumbers make a year (on average) by state.
Plumber Job Considerations for Pay & Benefits
Plumbing has become a popular trade because of the various perks and financial advantages that come along with the job. First, the average starting salary of $50,129 is higher than in many industries. Plus, some plumbers are union members, which means that their salaries are protected by a contract and they may receive attractive health insurance and retirement packages.
Learning to be a plumber is also less demanding than obtaining a four-year bachelor’s degree. You can study to be a plumber by attending trade school or technical college. Usually, it takes anywhere between four and 24 months to complete your schooling.
Furthermore, plumbers-in-training typically can become apprentices while they’re completing their education. Apprenticeships let you work and learn simultaneously, meaning you’ll earn competitive pay while you work toward certification. For these reasons, plumbers can often finish their education with little to no student loans.
Plumbing is also a steady profession that will likely always be in demand. Even during economic downturns, residential and commercial buildings won’t stop needing running water and working toilets.
Lastly, plumbers can advance through the ranks to increase their pay and move into new roles. For example, attaining journeyman status often leads to a significant bump in salary. On average, journeyman plumbers earn $64,520, a $14,391 increase over the average starting salary.
Likewise, you could become a plumbing engineer or a superintendent to manage municipal jobs. Many plumbers also start their own businesses, which could lead to a job that pays $100,000 or more.
Pros and Cons of a Plumber Salary
As with any profession, there are both advantages and disadvantages to being a plumber. Carefully considering each can assist you in determining if this is the right career for you.
Pros of Being a Plumber
Becoming a plumber can offer several attractive advantages:
- Job security Plumbing is an essential service that is always in demand. Even during an economic recession, people will always need plumbing services.
- Good pay Plumbers are well-compensated for their expertise from the get-go. With experience and expertise, plumbers can earn a substantial income. Plus, less need for student loans means debt likely won’t erode your earnings.
- Daily exercise Plumbing work often involves physical tasks such as lifting, bending, and carrying equipment. This aspect of the job provides plumbers with regular physical activity, contributing to a healthier lifestyle.
- Promotion and business ownership opportunities As a plumber gains experience and expertise, they can ascend the ranks (such as moving from journeyman to master plumber) to increase their pay and access new projects. Additionally, some plumbers choose to start their own businesses, which can be highly profitable and offer independence.
- Variety during work Plumbers typically encounter a wide range of challenges and tasks on the job. For example, you might replace piping one day and fix a host of leaky faucets the next. This variety can keep the work exciting and engaging.
Cons of Being a Plumber
However, plumbers also face the following challenges:
- Physically taxing Plumbing work often requires physical strength and endurance. Plumbers may need to lift heavy equipment, crawl into tight spaces, and crouch for hours on end. These repeated tasks can lead to strain or fatigue.
- Lack of routine Plumbing work can be less predictable than some office jobs that follow a set schedule. The unpredictability can be stressful for those who want the same pattern in their work every day or week.
- Working at all hours Plumbing issues can arise at any time, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Plumbers may need to be on-call or work during off-hours to address urgent situations. These situations impact work-life balance and require a degree of flexibility in one’s schedule.
- Risk of injury Working with plumbing systems and tools can pose certain risks. Plumbers may be exposed to sharp objects, hot surfaces, chemicals, and falling pipes. Additionally, working in confined spaces or at heights can increase the risk of accidents or injuries.
- High pressure environment Addressing leaking sewage and malfunctioning water systems can be stressful and clients may be stressed and difficult to work with. Furthermore, plumbers must navigate unpredictable environments and situations, necessitating the ability to remain composed even in hazardous conditions.
The Takeaway
Plumbers make a desirable starting salary with plenty of room to advance their careers. They can enjoy the satisfaction of helping others with an essential aspect of life and rest in the fact that the profession isn’t going anywhere.
However, plumbing can impose physical wear and tear, cause injuries, and require work in extreme conditions. The tradeoff for low or no student debt and consistent, lucrative work is the tough physical labor and the possibility of working late hours.
This article originally appeared on SoFi.comand was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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Inflation calculator: Find out just how much inflation is affecting your salary
A salary inflation calculator can be used to illustrate the effect inflation has on your hard-earned money. It shows you how much buying power your salary (if unchanged) gained or lost from one year to the next. Or you can use it to gauge how well your salary has held up over a period of several years.
For example, you can enter how much you made in December 2021, and calculate how much more that salary would have to be in December 2022 to maintain the same purchasing power. (Although you might not want to know.) Or you can spread the dates out further, from 2012 to 2022.
There are several different versions of salary inflation calculators online. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides one that’s both reliable and easy to use at BLS.
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To make its inflation calculations, the BLS uses the Consumer Price Index, which measures the overall change in consumer prices based on a representative basket of goods and services over time. The BLS began collecting spending data in 1917, and with a few tweaks over the years to update its process, continues to do so today.
The table below shows the annual rate of inflation from 1920 to present. The first column notes the year the data was collected; the second column represents the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for that year; and the third column shows the annual percent change/annual rate of inflation.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1920-1929.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1930-1939.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1940-1949.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1950-1959.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1960-1969.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1970-1979.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1980-1989.
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Here are the inflation rates for 1990-1999.
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Here are the inflation rates for 2000-2009.
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Here are the inflation rates for 2010-2022.
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Probably the easiest way to calculate your income’s buying power adjusted for inflation is to use an online inflation calculator. Simply enter the starting year of your choice, your salary in that year (before or after taxes), and the current year. Then the calculator will do the math for you.
For example, if you made $60,000 in December 2018 and you want to see the inflation-adjusted equivalent for December 2022, just plug in those numbers. The calculator will tell you the inflation-adjusted amount is $70,881.69.
What does that mean for you? In a perfect world, companies help valued employees combat inflation with appropriate annual pay increases. If you haven’t had a pay bump since 2018 and you’re ready to talk to your employer about a raise, you might mention that $70,881.69 is the minimum it would take to keep up with the increased cost of living. And if you’re in a field where employers are offering competitive pay and benefits to attract good candidates, you might be able to negotiate for even more.
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Inflation occurs when the cost of goods and services increases — not in just one or two categories, but across the economy — and consumers’ buying power decreases. As a result, it becomes necessary to earn more just to maintain the same standard of living.
A mild to moderate inflation rate is considered healthy for the economy. It can encourage consumers to buy now rather than later if they expect prices could go higher. Factories may produce more to meet demand from stores that are selling more. Hiring and wages tend to go up. And more people may be motivated to invest their money to grow it for the future.
The Federal Reserve’s target inflation rate is 2% over the long term, and the U.S. hadn’t strayed far from that so-called “sweet spot” for decades — until recently. A number of factors can cause inflation to increase to an uncomfortable level, and thanks to a pandemic-related perfect storm (supply chain issues, stimulus payments, soaring gas prices, and an employment rollercoaster), that’s where we are now.
Still, the U.S. economy isn’t anywhere close to hyperinflation, when prices rise uncontrollably, typically at rates of more than 50% per month.
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The BLS and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) both track inflation, and use similar methods and formulas. But because the data they use comes from different sources, their results aren’t the same.
- The BLS calculates Consumer Price Index (CPI)inflation by tracking what Americans are actually buying. The government uses the CPI to make inflation-related adjustments to certain federal benefits, such as Social Security.
- The BEA calculates Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) inflation using information reported by the companies that sell goods and services instead of the consumers who purchase them. The Federal Reserve focuses more on PCE inflation, but also considers other economic data when setting monetary policy.
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High inflation can have an immediate impact on your budgeting and spending, and no one likes that much. But your feelings about whether inflation is good or bad may depend on where you are in life and how your overall finances are affected.
- If you’re a first-time homebuyer, for example, higher prices and rising mortgage rates could be pushing your dream out of reach.
- People with high credit card debt can be negatively affected by inflation. As the Federal Reserve continues to raise the federal funds rate in an effort to cool the economy, borrowers can expect the annual percentage rate (APR) on their revolving credit to increase.
- Savers, on the other hand, may benefit as financial institutions slowly begin offering a higher annual percentage yield (APY) on savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit.
- That may sound like especially good news to risk-averse retirees looking for a safe investment. But retirees on a fixed income are typically among the first to feel the painful squeeze of inflation.
- So are small business owners, who often have to deal with higher costs for goods and services, employees who want cost-of-living increases, and customers who aren’t happy when their prices go up to cover those expenses.
- Homeowners may not like the high prices they encounter when shopping for goods and services. But on the plus side, inflation may be pushing up the value of their home and their home equity. And if they have a fixed-rate mortgage, they may find some comfort in knowing they’re paying less for that loan than they did when they took it out.
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Using a salary inflation calculator can help consumers understand how the rising cost of living might affect their finances. If paychecks can’t keep up with the cost of living, they might have to downsize, adjust their plans, or practice financial minimalism for a while.
Inflation can be calculated in different ways, depending on the organization and its purpose. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) measures inflation by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks household purchases. The information is used to make adjustments to federal benefits such as Social Security.
This article originally appeared on SoFi.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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