Plumbers work in homes, corporate environments, and at construction sites and enjoy a great deal of freedom in their work. By working as a plumber you'll never have to be tied to a desk. Career opportunities for plumbers, pipefitters, pipelayers, and steamfitters are excellent. In fact, the number of jobs for plumbers and other plumbing professionals is expected to increase 16% between 2008 and 2018. Few other professions can boast such job growth.

Career Path for Plumbers

Because plumbing work is a skilled profession that requires on-the-job experience, it is a profession that requires an apprenticeship after or during your plumbing technology degree studies. Once you've started your coursework in plumbing technology, you can seek out an apprenticeship with a current plumber or plumbing contractor. After an apprenticeship of two or more years, you'll be able to seek a state license to legally work as a plumber on your own. Once you are licensed, you can set up your own freelance plumbing business, go to work for a contractor as a fully licensed plumber, or get work with a construction company. The path to becoming a fully licensed plumber is not a short one, but it leads to steady work in a high-paying field. As a successful plumber, you can expect to make, on average, between $45,000 and $76,000 per year.