Pros and Cons of Being a Plumber: What Every Plumbing Business Owner Should Know

Meta description: Discover the real pros and cons of being a plumber: from pay and job security to training and physical demands.

Thinking about scaling your plumbing team or training new hires? Understanding the pros and cons of being a plumber can help you recruit better, train smarter and build a stronger business.

The plumbing trade offers some incredible advantages, like job security, strong pay and hands-on work that’s always in demand. But it also comes with challenges like long hours, tough physical labor, and messy jobs.

When you understand both sides, you can help your team thrive and keep your business running smoothly.

The Biggest Pros of Being a Plumber

Strong Pay Without Student Debt

One of the biggest advantages of being a plumber is the earning potential. Plumbers earned a median annual wage of $62,970 in 2024—with top earners making nearly $100,000+.

And unlike many careers that require college degrees, plumbers can earn while they learn through paid apprenticeships. That means no massive student loans or years of unpaid training.

Fun Fact: The highest-paying states for plumbers include Alaska, New Jersey and Massachusetts, where experienced plumbers can earn over $90,000 per year!

Pro Tip! Highlight “earn while you learn” in your recruiting. It’s a huge draw for young candidates looking to avoid debt.

Excellent Job Security

Plumbing isn’t going anywhere. The BLS projects 4% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which means roughly 44,000 openings every year.

Why it matters for your business:

• Emergency calls happen every single day (no slow seasons)
• Services can’t be outsourced or automated
• Retiring plumbers are opening doors for new apprentices.

In short: plumbing is recession-proof—a major advantage when scaling your business.

Clear Path to Ownership

Many plumbers start as apprentices, become licensed and eventually run their own companies. When you understand the pros and cons of being a plumber, you realize this entrepreneurial path keeps the trade attractive and helps you recruit motivated talent.

Show your team members how mastering their trade can lead to leadership roles (or even business ownership). Ambition fuels retention.

Every Day Is Different

From diagnosing leaks to installing new water heaters, plumbing work offers variety. No two days are the same—and that’s what keeps the job interesting.

Bored workers quit. Engaged workers stay.

When your techs get a mix of tasks and challenges, they build skills and stay loyal to your company.

Pro Tip! Use job tracking and route optimization to balance workloads so every tech gets a variety of calls; keeping morale and productivity high.

The Cons of Being a Plumber (and How to Solve Them)

Physical Demands and Safety Risks

Let’s be honest about the pros and cons of being a plumber. This job is physically hard. According to industry reports, plumbers face injury risks including cuts from sharp tools, burns from hot pipes and soldering equipment and falls from ladders.

The risks include:

• Cuts and burns
• Falls from ladders
• Long hours in cramped or wet spaces

As a business owner, you need to invest in proper training, safety equipment and workers’ compensation insurance. Keeping your team safe protects them AND your bottom line.

Unpredictable Hours and On-Call Demands

Burst pipes and sewer backups don’t respect business hours. Night and weekend calls are part of the job, and that can lead to burnout. This means:

• Weekend work is common
• Emergency calls interrupt family time
• Work-life balance can be challenging
• On-call rotations are necessary

Pro Tip! Rotate on-call duties fairly and compensate accordingly. FieldEdge makes scheduling, dispatch, and time tracking simple—so you can balance workloads and reward your team for tough shifts.

Dirty and Unpleasant Conditions

Nobody talks about this enough when listing the pros and cons of being a plumber, but let’s be real: plumbing can be gross. Flooded basements, sewage backups, rodent encounters—plumbing isn’t glamorous. It takes grit and a strong stomach.

Your team might deal with:

• Sewage and waste water
• Flooded basements with mysterious smells
• Rodents and insects in crawl spaces
• Mold and mildew
• Tight, dirty spaces under houses

Pro Tip! Be transparent during interviews. Honesty builds trust and helps you find people who can handle the realities of the job.

Long Training Periods

While you don’t need a four-year degree, becoming a licensed plumber isn’t instant. Most states require:

• 4-5 years of apprenticeship
• About 2,000 hours of classroom instruction
• Passing multiple licensing exams
• Continuing education to stay current

For your business, this means patience and investment. You’re paying to train people for years before they can work independently. But that investment pays off when you have skilled, loyal plumbers.

The Money Talk: What Plumbers Really Earn

Let’s look at the numbers because money is a huge factor when weighing the pros and cons of being a plumber.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for plumbers was $62,970 in 2024. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,700 and the highest 10% earned more than $99,920.

Here’s a simple breakdown by experience:

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Location makes a big difference too. Metropolitan areas and states with higher costs of living typically pay more. If you’re running a plumbing company in an expensive area, you need to pay competitive wages or risk losing good people.

Fun Fact: Some commercial and industrial plumbers who specialize in areas like medical gas systems or fire suppression can earn well over $100,000 per year!

Making the Trade Work: The Business Owner Playbook

You can’t eliminate every challenge—but you can make the trade more rewarding.

Here’s how to make the pros of being a plumber outweigh the cons.

For Plumbing Business Owners

1. Invest in Safety: Proper training and equipment reduce injuries and insurance costs
2. Pay Competitively: Good wages attract and keep quality people
3. Create Fair Schedules: Rotate difficult shifts and respect personal time
4. Offer Growth Paths: Show team members how they can advance
5. Use Modern Tools: Plumbing software like FieldEdge makes jobs easier and more efficient
6. Recognize Good Work: A little appreciation goes a long way
7. Provide Good Benefits: Health insurance and retirement plans matter

For Individual Plumbers

1. Take Care of Your Body: Stretch, lift properly, use knee pads
2. Keep Learning: New skills mean more money
3. Build Your Reputation: Word-of-mouth is powerful
4. Save Your Money: Start a retirement fund early
5. Know Your Worth: Don’t be afraid to ask for fair pay

FieldEdge can help your business with staffing and pricing – saving you hours each week!  Book a FREE personalized demo today!

Is Plumbing Still a Smart Career Choice?

Absolutely—if you know what to expect.

Pros of being a plumber:

• High earning potential
• No student debt
• Job security and growth
• Variety and independence
• Potential for business ownership

Cons of being a plumber:

• Physical demands
• Long training period
• Unpredictable hours
• Tough working condition

For business owners, understanding these pros and cons of being a plumber helps you recruit, train and retain the right people—building a team that thrives for years to come.

Turn Plumbing’s Challenges Into Opportunities with FieldEdge

Plumbing will always have its ups and downs—but the right systems make it easier to manage.

FieldEdge helps you:

• Automate dispatch and scheduling
• Track technician performance and hours
• Streamline invoicing and payments
• Boost team communication and accountability

With less time spent on admin, you can focus on what matters most—scaling your business and keeping your plumbers happy. Book a Free Demo of FieldEdge and see how top plumbing companies turn every job into profit.

Related: Essential Plumbing Safety Topics