Skip to content
Back to Career Guides

How to become a Plumber

Plumber

Career progression and salary expectations for a Plumber

1

Plumber's Mate

| Up to £16,000
2

Plumber

| Up to £30,000
3

Master Plumber

| Up to £40,000

The role of a Plumber

Interested in becoming a Plumber? Consider if: You’re a hands-on, practical person, who enjoys working with their hands. Don’t consider if: You have a fear of confined spaces and/or water.A Plumber is tasked with assembling, installing and maintain piping for a variety of different systems. Plumbers may choose to specialise in different areas, (for example ‘wet only’ or ‘gas only’), but some skills are constant for most types of Plumbing. For example:
  • Cutting, bending and joining pipes and fittings
  • Assembling, installing and repairing pipes (either for domestic, commercial or industrial systems)
  • Planning and carrying out measurements for each specific job requirement
  • Providing time and cost estimates for each job
  • Meeting safety standards and performing necessary maintenance tasks
Plumbing is a highly skilled profession, making the job they perform vital for both our personal and professional lives to function.As a result, you will be expected to work at a fast pace, and easily adapt to any project at hand. Confidence in your ability, and a steadiness of hands, is crucial. Also, as most Plumbers will find themselves working in stranger's houses, adopting a friendly and approachable nature will be essential.Other key skills include:
  • Highly developed technical and mechanical skills
  • Manual dexterity
  • Exceptional communication skills
  • Problem solving
  • Ability to work under pressure, and to strict deadlines
"I left school at 16, looking to find an apprenticeship to start my career. I didn’t suit a typical 9-5 office job, so I started working as a Plumber’s mate, which taught me some basic plumbing knowledge. I’ve been a Plumber for five years now, and I love it. I get to meet new people, and I feel like I’ve now learnt a trade which will hopefully provide me with a career for life."

Get qualified as a Plumber

As Plumbing is a skilled trade, you will need certain relevant qualifications in order to progress including professional and domestic courses. However, it is necessary to have a good knowledge of building and water regulations first.

Recommended Plumbing courses

  • Diploma in Plumbing Level 5 - QLS Endorsed

    Thames College
    Level 5 QLS Endorsed Course | 1 Additional Course as Gift | Instant Access
    • 29 students
    • Online
    • 384 hours · Self-paced
    • 150 CPD points
    • Tutor support
    Great service
    ►►► The Must-Have Plumbing Course is Live Now! Hurry Up before the time runs out ◄◄◄ With every drop of water that flows from our taps to the intricate labyrinth of pipes that quietly work behind the scenes of every building, the significance of plumbing systems is often overlook …
    £12.99

  • HVAC, Plumbing, Domestic Heating & Gas Engineer MasterClass

    Janets
    15 Courses Bundle | CPD Certified | 150 CPD Points | Free PDF & Hardcopy Certificate | Tutor Support | Lifetime Access
    • Online
    • 62 hours · Self-paced
    • Certificate(s) included
    • 150 CPD points
    • Tutor support
    Great service
    Popular
    Trending
    In the heart of modern living, there exists a tale of daily frustration and perpetual discomfort that haunts many. It's the story of a broken heater on a freezing winter morning, a blocked drain that floods your home, or an air conditioning system that chooses the hottest day of …
    Save 33%
    £100 £150
Want to see more?
View all Plumbing courses

Plumber jobs

All Plumber jobs

Similar Career Guides

View all Career Guides