Master Plumber: Career Overview and Education Requirements

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Master Plumber: Career Overview and Education Requirements

A master plumber is someone who has several years of plumbing experience and is allowed to own a plumbing business and coordinate advanced plumbing projects.

Education and experience requirements for achieving this designation vary by state, but you usually need a few years of plumbing experience at the journeyman level and a passing score at a certification exam.

Master plumbers need a good knowledge of building codes and regulations.

In this article, you will find out more about the journey a prospective plumber must take and what it means exactly to be a master plumber.

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Master Plumber Career Path

Master plumbers are journeyman plumbers who have several years of plumbing experience and have passed the master plumber certification exam.

This means that they first have completed a basic plumber training program, usually through an apprenticeship, and have obtained a passing score at the licensing exam.

Plumber training includes classes in blueprint reading, building codes, safety, basic math, and physics but also extensive on-the-job practice.

After completing training and meeting the experience requirements, graduates are ready to take the state licensing exam to become journeyman plumbers.

Afterward, some choose to practice plumbing at the journeyman level for the entirety of their careers, while others become master plumbers.

Some states also require master plumbers to complete continuing education classes to keep their license.

In this way, they keep up with new codes and regulations and learn new ways of using energy more efficiently.

faucet repair

Master Plumber Job Description

A master plumber’s job description typically includes installing, maintaining, and repairing residential and commercial water and waste systems.

To do this, they must follow blueprints and, in some situations, they are the ones who sketch blueprints for bathroom fixtures and appliances.

Master plumbers may be self-employed or work as contractors for government entities.

They usually are part of a union.

Because master plumbers work on a project basis, their earnings and job prospects fluctuate depending on the time of the year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this profession is expected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029- which translates into 20,900 additional jobs.

Job opportunities are projected to be better for those who have experience in using Building Information Modeling software.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $55,160 as of May 2019.

Wages, however, vary widely based on experience, education, and area of expertise, among other factors.

While your entry-level salary will most likely be in the $30,000 range, experience and additional certifications can help you earn up to $90,000 per year and even more.

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