Plumbers are responsible for installing and maintaining water systems within buildings, including drinking water, drainage, heating, sanitation, and sewage systems. Plumbers are not only involved with the installation and development of new houses and plumbing systems, but also with assessing and fixing problems in existing and older systems.

This profession requires thorough expertise in water systems, as plumbers are involved in all aspects of their upkeep and must be able to identify a wide range of problems. When installing new systems, they must read blueprints to understand and follow the exact specifications for where a building's plumbing will be installed. In doing this, they must also fully understand regulations set by state and county and the particular building's code. This also calls for knowledge of the site's water supply system.

Specifically, installing plumbing systems requires manual labor, including measuring, cutting, bending pipe material, and assembling valves, fittings, tubes, and appliances such as sinks. Plumbers work in a variety of locations, as the nature of the job requires them to visit multiple sites. The work can be both indoors and outdoors depending on the particular project and where the drainage systems are located. In some cases, they work under a manager or for a firm, and in other cases they are self-employed. When working for a company they work full-time hours and are often on-call during the day and/or night. When self-employed, they generally set their own hours. Though no formal education is necessary for plumbers, some may study at a technical school or serve apprenticeships. (Copyright 2018 PayScale.com)

Plumber Tasks

• Install and repair pipes and fixtures and open clogged drains.
• Cut openings in floors and walls to accommodate pipe and pipe fittings.
• Utilize appropriate plumbing and shop tools.
• Cut and thread pipes.
• Install vents and traps in the plumbing system, in accordance with required codes.

For Plumbers, working in the bustling city of Seattle has its advantages, including an above-average pay rate. Plumbers will also find cushy salaries in Boston (+31 percent), Chicago (+23 percent), New York (+19 percent), and Washington (+16 percent). Those in the field find the lowest salaries in Charlotte, 14 percent below the national average. Below-median salaries also turn up in Miami and Orlando (10 percent lower and 9 percent lower, respectively).