Plumber job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 3 of 5

medium preparation

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$63,800

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (O*NET-SOC 47-2152.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches. importance 4.2 of 5
2. Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing. importance 4.2 of 5
3. Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment. importance 4.2 of 5
4. Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels. importance 4.1 of 5
5. Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders. importance 4.1 of 5
6. Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints. importance 4.1 of 5
7. Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications. importance 4.1 of 5
8. Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures. importance 4.0 of 5
9. Select pipe sizes, types, or related materials, such as supports, hangers, or hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications. importance 4.0 of 5
10. Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks. importance 4.0 of 5
11. Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components. importance 4.0 of 5
12. Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods. importance 4.0 of 5
13. Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools. importance 4.0 of 5
14. Anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place. importance 3.9 of 5
15. Attach pipes to walls, structures, or fixtures, such as radiators or tanks, using brackets, clamps, tools, or welding equipment. importance 3.9 of 5
16. Modify, clean, or maintain pipe systems, units, fittings, or related machines or equipment, using hand or power tools. importance 3.8 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Getting Information, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials and Performing General Physical Activities.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness.
• Install pipe systems to support alternative energy-fueled systems, such as geothermal heating or cooling systems.
• Install fixtures, appliances, or equipment designed to reduce water or energy consumption.
• Repair hydraulic or air pumps.
• Weld small pipes or special piping, using specialized techniques, equipment, or materials, such as computer-assisted welding or microchip fabrication.
• Operate motorized pumps to remove water from flooded manholes, basements, or facility floors.

Knowledge areas: Building and Construction, Mechanical, Design, Mathematics and Customer and Personal Service.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Word, AEC Design Group CADPIPE. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists apprenticeship as typical once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 3 of 5 (medium preparation). Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a plumber.

The most common answer among plumbers surveyed by O*NET is a post-secondary certificate (43%).

Job title: Plumber
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Plumber to assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
- Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
- Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
- Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
- Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
- Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in critical thinking, troubleshooting and repairing
- Working knowledge of Building and Construction and Mechanical
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Intuit QuickBooks or Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $63,800 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $30.67. BLS estimates about 465,840 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters to grow 6.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full plumber salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real plumber posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only plumber work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (critical thinking and troubleshooting); plumber interview questions turns them into practice questions.