Plumber
Fit and repair water and heating systems and appliances in homes and businesses.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£404
Entry level
£769
Experienced
Monthly
£1,750
Entry level
£3,333
Experienced
Yearly
£21,000
Entry level
£40,000
Experienced
13,400
people are currently employed
High growth
700 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
A day in the life — plumber
What it's like
You would fit and repair water and heating systems and appliances in homes and businesses. People who were having problems with their water supply or heating would rely on you to get these systems up and running again as soon as possible.
You would:
Set up and service water supplies, heating systems and drainage
Find faults in equipment and repair them
Install and fix home appliances like showers, cookers, gas fires and washing machines
Service air-conditioning and ventilation units
Attend emergency call-outs to fix leaks, for example during cold weather
Fit weather-proof materials to roofs, chimneys and walls.
Use hand and power tools, including welding equipment
Replace gas boilers and gas heating with renewable energy systems such as heat pumps
You would need to be good at following technical plans. You’d also need to have a good understanding of safety rules.
As an experienced plumber, you might specialise in sheet metal work for industrial, commercial or historical buildings.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- time management
- taking initiative
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- problem solving
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Design and Manufacture
Engineering Science
Practical Craft Skills
Practical Metalwork
Skills for Work: Construction Craft
Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering
You would do a Modern Apprenticeship through the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF).
Entry requirements for a Plumbing Modern Apprenticeship are a minimum of four subjects at National 4 (SCQF level 4) or National 5 (SCQF level 5).
Qualifications and experience that show practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF level 4/5).
A driving licence.
You usually have to pass an aptitude test before you can start training.
You must have a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on site and will need to pass a health and safety test.
You must hold a gas ID card before you can start work.
You will need a driving licence for some jobs.
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