Plumbers install and repair water, drainage, waste-disposal and other systems using hand tools or power tools.
The majority of them working as tradespeople, employed by a company in the plumbing industry that specialises in plumbing services, or they work as independent contractors. We also have a number of people who work for building product suppliers and manufacturers. Some are self-employed. A small number of Australians are employed as plumbers in factories or retail outlets. There are also some school leavers who start out working as apprentices before getting their qualifications and becoming fully-fledged tradespeople.
Most jobs in the plumbing industry are full-time with some requiring nights or weekend hours. These often include retail positions or factory work. For the most part though, people who work in the industry put in regular hours like any other job.
A plumber works both inside and outside buildings and in tight spaces when repairing household plumbing. They work in a range of weather conditions and may have to spend significant time on ladders or rooftops. This is a physical job that can demand a lot from a plumber - it can be dirty, involving a lot of crawling around in confined spaces and working with heavy equipment, often while wearing safety gear. A plumber needs good coordination as well as strength and stamina.
The work can demand a lot physically because they often have to crawl into confined spaces in old houses with low ceilings or climb into the roof. They may spend a lot of time working in dirty or wet conditions because they have to crawl around in dark space.
To become a qualified plumber you'll need to complete an apprenticeship, which usually takes four years. The National Skills Commission and the government also requires you to be registered with your state's plumbing board so that you can legally call yourself a plumber and work in Australia. In some states, this means sitting a government exam while in others it means completing training courses. In all cases, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements before you can start an apprenticeship or join the local plumbing association for your state.
To join the industry as a plumber you must undertake formal training at TAFE or another recognised training provider which will give you the necessary skills to do the job. Once you have these skills, you can then seek employment with one of the many reputable plumbing companies in the plumbing industry in Australia. Of course, there is an alternative path which is apprenticing under someone who already has their plumbing license. Although this may take longer, it is well worth it as you will learn faster and gain experience at the same time.
According to Joboutlook.gov.au other common jobs include:
Drainers.
Home appliance repairers/installers.
Hot water system installers.
Solar hot water installers.
Solar panel installers.
Water treatment plant operators.
Pipe-layers.
Roof plumbers.
The higher you go up the ladder and the more responsibility you take on, the higher your salary will be. You could start out at $30 per hour or as low as $20 per hour depending on where in Australia you choose to work. In metropolitan areas like Sydney however, this rate is usually much higher, especially if you're working for one of Australia's larger plumbing suppliers. The average plumber's salary ranges from about $50,000 to over $80,000 a year.
Other services that most workers in the plumbing industry will not offer include:
Repair pipes that are not related to your water supply and plumbing systems.
Home-building construction projects.
General handyman tasks around plumbing works or pipes.
It's important to find a plumber that has experience in the job you need doing. Ask them questions about what previous clients thought of their services, as well as how long they've been working as a tradesperson, where they've worked before, and what they specialise in. For example, if you're looking for someone who can assist you with residential plumbing issues, you should hire someone who has experience working in a residential property, rather than on construction projects or with commercial industries. If you're hiring someone for a bigger job such as unblocking the drainage or laying new pipework, check on their credentials first.
There are many factors that go into the pricing for plumbing services - everything from location to how much it will cost you to purchase materials or acquire permits from a licensing authority if necessary. You will usually be charged per hour or by the job. You should expect to pay about $50 per hour for smaller projects like unblocking drains and repairing sinks while toilets tend to run anywhere between $150-300. Installing new fittings costs about $20-$30 each completed, while larger projects like pipe laying will cost more depending on the complexity of the job. While customers may think that the price to be paid is high, the fact is, working in the trades is skilled work and requires a lot of experience. This is why many people see the trades (for example, working as a plumber, or in construction) as a great career and employment opportunity, especially young people who want to own their own business in the future and be able to work for themselves, rather than for other businesses. Working for a larger business in the industry may also afford plumbers the opportunity to lead project management teams, especially once they gain a good amount of experience and skills by working on their own. The biggest benefit for workers in this industry is that tradespeople are usually always in high demand.