Apprentice Plumber Hourly Rate

Becoming an Apprentice Plumber is the first step into a lucrative plumbing career. Prior to becoming an Apprentice Plumber, a GED or high school diploma must have been acquired. Typically, someone will be an apprentice for four or five years before becoming a certified plumber.

The majority of time during apprenticeship will be spent in the classroom learning the specifics of the job, including learning about pipes, chemistry, some math, and how to read blueprints. The rest of the time will be spent out in the field, getting hands-on experience from master-level plumbers or
journeymen plumbers. To advance to the intermediate position of journeyman, an Apprentice Plumber must have approximately 300 classroom hours and must have worked in the field for about 100 hours.

To advance from a journeymen to a master plumber, an additional 100 hours of advanced plumbing technique are required. Apprentice Plumbers work both inside and outside, depending on what each particular job requires. They can do anything from fixing leaking pipes to unclogging toilets, to setting up back-yard pools or industrial bathrooms. Typically, they are employed by a store that is owned by a local master plumber. This way they can learn about local regulations and other tips and techniques that might be more difficult to learn in a classroom setting. They will work with other apprentices, as well as journeymen.

Apprentice Plumbers carry a toolkit that is refined throughout their years of training. Adjustable wrenches and pipe wrenches are a must-have for fixing the sheer number of pipes an Apprentice Plumber can come in contact with. Pliers, screwdrivers, measuring tape, and pipe-cutters are also needed for on-the-job fixes and repairs. Good people skills are also an important tool for this job, for most Apprentice Plumbers make house calls and must deal directly with customers