What is a plumber assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a plumber assistant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.27 an hour? That's $54,639 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 2% and produce 9,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScorePlumber AssistantUS Average
Salary
4.3

Avg. Salary $54,639

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.8

Growth Rate 2%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.03%

Asian 1.85%

Black or African American 8.84%

Hispanic or Latino 20.69%

Unknown 4.20%

White 63.40%

Gender

female 5.28%

male 94.72%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress Level
7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Plumber Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a plumber assistant

  1. Explore plumber assistant education requirements

    Most common plumber assistant degrees

    High School Diploma

    46.5 %

    Bachelor's

    21.1 %

    Associate

    18.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific plumber assistant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Plumbing19.04%
    Hot Water Heaters10.40%
    Sewer Lines10.17%
    PVC8.15%
    Caulking3.58%
  3. Complete relevant plumber assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New plumber assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a plumber assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real plumber assistant resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed plumber assistant usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed plumber assistant in most of states. 33 states require plumber assistants to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    State
    ascdesc
    Education
    ascdesc
    Exam
    ascdesc
    License Url
    ascdesc
    Alabama--Certified Master Plumber
    MarylandSpecific course requiredState exam requiredPLUMBER
    Arkansas-State exam requiredJourneyman Plumber
    Colorado-State exam requiredJourneyman Plumber
    Connecticut-State exam requiredPlumbing & Piping Unlimited Journeyperson
  5. Research plumber assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage troubleshooting, pump repair, converters, brazing, and soldering.
    • Check pipes and plumbing fixtures using pressure gauges for leaks utilize plastic solvents caulk solder brazing and welding
    • Repair and install plumbing fixtures like hot water tanks, water heaters, dishwashers, garbage disposals, sinks etc.
    • Assist with various plumbing issues which include slab leaks, replacing water heaters, dishwashers, stoppages, and many more.
  6. Prepare your plumber assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your plumber assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a plumber assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Plumber Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Plumber Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Plumber Assistant resume.
    Plumber Assistant Resume
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    Plumber Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for plumber assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a plumber assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Plumber Assistant Job

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Average plumber assistant salary

The average Plumber Assistant salary in the United States is $54,639 per year or $26 per hour. Plumber assistant salaries range between $36,000 and $82,000 per year.

Average Plumber Assistant Salary
$54,639 Yearly
$26.27 hourly

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How do plumber assistants rate their job?

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Plumber Assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022
Pros

The work and the money. Big jobs. Guys that know their trade and pride themselves with great work.

Cons

Drain cleaning, jetting. Wanna be's and people that are late and unreliable.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Plumbing and fittings

Cons

Laziness in the jod I do not like that, effort towards endurance


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Cons

Not being told what to do. Taking the initiative .


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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