Plumbing: Career Training through Vocational Schools and Apprenticeships

Plumbing: A Career that Includes the Kitchen Sink
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), plumbers earned between $27,500 and $78,890 in 2008, with median earnings at $45,640. Those with the highest salaries had the most advanced plumbing skills, which can be gained through education and training. While no degree program can guarantee any income, vocational-technical schools and community colleges can help you gain the skills you need for an advanced career in plumbing.

Plumbing Career Training and Careers
Plumbing courses include drafting, blueprint reading, and plumbing codes and regulations, and are available through college and online degrees. In addition to coursework, you may need to complete a formal apprenticeship program with an affiliated organization.

Apprenticeships usually last four to five years, during which you typically earn approximately half the pay of experienced plumbers. Once you are trained, plumbing jobs can be found with individual contractors, governmental agencies, and education institutions. According to the BLS, about twelve percent of professionals in the field are self-employed, making it a job with potentially solid pay and flexibility.