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Plumber
Hours
40 per week
Starting salary
£16,500 + per year
If you enjoy doing practical things and you want a skill that you can use in different ways, this could be perfect for you. As a plumber you would fit, service and repair pipes in homes and businesses.
To become a qualified plumber you will need to achieve Level 2 and 3 NVQ Diplomas from City & Guilds or EAL.
To become a plumber, you will need to follow technical drawings and plans. You will need a careful and well ordered approach to work. You will also need good customer care skills.
WorkDesc
The work
Depending on whether you work in homes, industrial or commercial locations, your job could include:
- installing and repairing water supplies, heating systems and drainage
- servicing gas and oil-fired central heating systems, boilers and radiators
- installing and fixing domestic appliances like showers and washing machines
- servicing air-conditioning and ventilation units
- fitting weather-proof materials, joints and flashings to roofs, chimneys and walls.
On all jobs you would use hand and power tools, which could include welding equipment.
As an experienced plumber, you might specialise in sheet metal work for industrial, commercial or historical buildings.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would work around 40 hours a week, with the possibility of overtime. Some employers offer a 24-hour call-out service, which would involve working unsocial hours (like evenings, weekends and public holidays). As a self-employed plumber you would set your own hours.
You could work indoors, often in small spaces, or outdoors in all weather conditions. Some work may be at heights on the outside of buildings or on rooftops.
Working in this industry usually means you’re based locally, travelling from one project to the next. But some companies work across the whole country for their customers, so if you work for one of these firms you might be asked to stay overnight for short or long periods if a project is far from home.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries for newly qualified plumbers can be between £16,500 and £21,000 a year. Experienced plumbers can earn between £21,000 and £35,000 a year.
Rates vary in different regions. The highest average salaries are in London and the South East.
Self-employed plumbers set their own rates.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To become a qualified plumber you will need to achieve Level 2 and 3 NVQ Diplomas from City & Guilds or EAL. These are:
- City & Guilds (6189) NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating, at levels 2 and 3
- EAL NVQ Diploma in Domestic Heating and Plumbing at levels 2 and 3.
If you are not working in plumbing at the moment, you would start at level 2. At this level you would first need to gain passes in a series of knowledge units. You would then move on to practical units, which you would mainly complete in the workplace.
Note: These qualifications replace the City & Guilds (6129) Technical Certificate and the NVQ levels 2 and 3 in Mechanical Engineering Services – Plumbing (City & Guilds 6089). If you are already part way through these qualifications, you will be able to finish them and they will still be valid for you to work as plumber.
Follow the links below for more information about the qualifications:
There is strong competition for places on plumbing courses, and college entry requirements will often include an aptitude test. Due to health and safety regulations, you may not be able to do a training course if you are colour blind. Check with your chosen college and ask if they can offer you a colour vision assessment test.
Industry organisations strongly recommend that you get a work placement or employment with a plumbing firm soon after starting your training. This would allow you to complete the practical units of the NVQ Diplomas. Your college may help you find a placement but you could also contact plumbing firms directly.
The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) has useful information for anyone wanting to train as a plumber. Visit the CIPHE website for more details.
See the SummitSkills website for further information on entry routes into plumbing, training providers and new qualifications.
Entry into plumbing in Northern Ireland is similar to training in England and Wales. For more details contact ConstructionSkills (NI) and SNIPEF.
Apprenticeships
You may be able to become a qualified plumber through an Apprenticeship scheme. To get on to a scheme you will normally need four GCSEs (grades A-C). You will need to check if there are schemes running in your areas. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.
Short courses
A number of organisations offer short intensive training courses, some with home study options. You should check whether the course you choose is recognised and accredited by the industry. Your regional City & Guilds office will be able to check this for you. You should also ask the course provider what would happen if you fell behind or dropped out of an intensive course.
Overseas qualifications
If you qualified outside the UK, contact the Joint Industry Board for Plumbing for information about how to register as a qualified plumber. You will need to tell them which qualifications you have from your home country.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
If you already work in plumbing but do not yet have a qualification, you may be able to have your existing knowledge and experience assessed against NVQs or the NVQ Diplomas in Plumbing and Domestic Heating. Contact colleges and training centres for advice and information.
You will be able to choose between plumbing and domestic heating, or domestic heating only. The Level 3 NVQ Diploma will also have optional pathways for gas, oil, solid fuel and environmental technologies, and will cover any extra assessments needed for the fuel you choose, such as:
- Unvented Hot Water Systems
- ACS gas safety for Gas Safe Register approval.
The ACS assessments for domestic and commercial gas plumbing are different for each area of work, so if you want to move from one area to another, you would need to take the relevant assessment. For more details about ACS and Gas Safe Register assessments, visit the Gas Safe Register website.
Please see the gas service technician job profile for more information.
If you work with oil-fired appliances and heating systems, you could register with the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) and take their training and accreditation scheme.
The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) has a range of membership options if you are training or working in the industry. These could help you with your professional development. The British Plumbing Employers' Council (BPEC) Services also offers various training packages, including ACS assessment preparation and practical business guides.
If you fit new boilers, you must also have the City & Guilds Certificate in Energy Efficiency for Domestic Heating (6084).
Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme
The aim of the Traditional Building Skills Bursary scheme is to reduce the shortage of skills in the traditional crafts and built heritage sector. It is doing this by offering bursaries (grants) and organising work-based training placements for suitable applicants. To find out more about the scheme, suitability and available placements, visit the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme website.
Environmental Technologies
The government has set targets for greater energy efficiency. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain renewable energy technologies like solar powered heating systems. Some employers may also pay half the cost of training for qualifications in environmental technologies, like fitting solar heating systems.
To find out more about this growing area of work, see the Environmental Technologies section of the SummitSkills website.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a plumber, you will need to have:
- the ability to follow technical drawings and plans
- good practical skills
- good problem-solving skills
- a careful and well ordered approach to work
- a reasonable level of fitness
- an awareness of safety issues and legal regulations
- the ability to work as part of a team and alone
- good customer care skills.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
SummitSkills 
Tel: 08000 688336
www.summitskills.org.uk
CITB ConstructionSkills (NI)
17 Dundrod Road
Nutts Corner
Crumlin
Co Antrim
BT29 4SR
Tel: 0800 587 2288
http://www.citbni.org.uk
Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF)
2 Walker Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7LB
Tel: 0131 225 2255 www.snipef.org
Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services
Tel: 01480 476925
www.jib-pmes.org.uk
British Plumbing Employers Council Services Ltd (BPEC Services Ltd)
2 Walker Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7LB
www.bpec.org.uk/services
Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE)
(including Women in Plumbing Group)
64 Station Lane
Hornchurch
Essex
RM12 6NB
Tel: 01708 472791
www.iphe.org.uk
Gas Safe Register
Tel: 0800 408 5500
www.gassaferegister.co.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
As a qualified plumber you could work in a number of different areas, including heating and ventilation, refrigeration and air-conditioning, gas servicing, and kitchen and bathroom fitting.
Your promotion options would depend on your employer, but could include moving into estimating or contract management. Self-employment is also a common option.
You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The plumbing industry is part of the building services engineering sector, represented by SummitSkills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: electrotechnical; heating and ventilating; air conditioning and refrigeration; and electrical and electronic servicing. The building services engineering sector as a whole employs over 600,000 people in over 60,000 businesses. Of these, 85% have between 1 and 5 employees, with most of the remainder employing between 6 and 250 workers. Very few have more than 250 employees. The sector has an annual turnover of around £17 billion in the UK. Building services engineering is continually adapting to meet technological challenges and plays a central role in environmental technology developments, particularly around renewable energy and micro‐generation. This industry works on domestic, commercial and industrial projects. A plumber undertakes a wide variety of jobs, including:
- Installing and maintaining central heating systems, hot and cold water systems and drainage systems
- Installing, commissioning and maintaining solar water heating, rainwater harvesters or grey water re‐cycling systems
- Installing and maintaining gas, oil and solid fuel appliances
- Installing and maintaining industrial and commercial heating, specialist appliances and fire protection systems.
The plumbing industry is at the forefront of environmentally‐friendly technologies, designing and installing low carbon systems involving solar water and rainwater harvesting.
Key facts:
- There are around 22,000 businesses in the industry employing 62,000 people, mostly white male.
- 90% of businesses employ fewer than 10 people.
- The number of people employed in the industry is forecast to fall due to the economic climate.
Jobs in the industry include domestic, industrial and commercial plumbers.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are 4,914 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 240.
East of England – There are 7,073 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 350.
London – There are 7,187 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 360.
North East – There are 3,800 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 190.
North West – There are 8,363 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 410.
South East – There are 10,195 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 510.
South West – There are 6,374 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 320.
West Midlands – There are 6,719 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 330.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 7,036 people employed in the industry. The number of new people required each year to replace those who retire or leave the industry is around 350.
Career paths
Further sources
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