Plumber
Install and repair water, gas, and drainage systems — essential infrastructure work that will always be needed.
Salary Range
The highest-paid specialization or seniority level for plumbers.
About 1 in 33 reaches this level
About 505K plumbers (BLS SOC 47-2152, May 2024); many go into business but only ~3% (~15,100) clear $250K+ net profit, which requires multiple crews and strong pricing discipline.
Salary data based on 2025 BLS, Glassdoor, and industry reports. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
How to Become One
Complete a 4–5 year plumbing apprenticeship, then pass your state’s journeyman plumber licensing exam.
For more information: United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters↗
AI Risk Assessment
Plumbing involves navigating unique interiors, diagnosing problems by feel and sound, and working in cramped spaces no robot can handle. BLS data shows steady demand and a persistent labor shortage as older plumbers retire faster than new ones enter. Entry-level apprenticeships are readily available.
Ratings reflect a 10-year outlook based on 2025-2026 research, weighted toward entry-level impact. Individual outcomes will vary.
Related Careers
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