Future Outlook of Plumbing? (licenses, interviews, owner, degree)

[TheAmbassador]

I mean, with all the kids going to college & plumbers retiring- how would that affect the future of the plumbing trade?

[mdovell]

Depends also on the laws. In my state (Mass) you cannot do plumbing work in walls, ceilings and floors. Plumbers hate home depot and lowes just like people running numbers games oppose state lotteries and casinos.

I'd imagine it depends on how much they might cling to code and grant licenses. Licensing is on the state level but if they remove that then we'd see a ton of plumbers from the south enter the north looking for higher wages.

In some ways the licensing for each state can hurt them significantly. What plumber technically wants to be a plumber in Wyoming or Montana? Probably not many unless they already live there. But if you live in a metro area and some of these states sign an agreement to recognize each others licenses then it might be more powerful.

[nicet4]

Originally Posted by TheAmbassador

I mean, with all the kids going to college & plumbers retiring- how would that affect the future of the plumbing trade?

I think it looks good as long as you aren't afraid of working.

The good money in plumbing isn't connected with new construction it's all in the maintenance much like for HVAC contractors when it gets hot and a homeowners air conditioning goes out on a 105 degree evening. When a homeowner can't flush the poo away they'll panic and pay anything to take the poo away!

But is is hard work, and sometimes dirty work, so if that scares you maybe you should look into work at a call center for $10. Being an independent plumber maybe you won't get rich but you will always be able to earn $1,000 a week or better. I have a plumber friend who is not afraid of work, he;ll go out on a call on Saturday, Sunday or any night of the week even if it means getting up at 3:00 AM and I know he makes a constant $2,000 weekly if not more.

Problem is getting the training and you better steel yourself for three to five years of pure drudgery and somewhat low wages as you learn. You are going to start out between $9:00 and $12:00 hourly, depending on where you are located. but if you work and study hard in five years you can start up your own business and be your own boss. Lots to learn as well, not just poo but you have to learn to work with waterlines, hot water heaters, boilers and gas lines as well.

Unions? Dream on, they'll talk to anyone but before they hire an apprentice they have to have all the journeymen off the bench and right now that isn't happening.

[eureka1]

Don't know where you are but you should go down and talk with your local plumber's union. Around here they have interviews in the Fall but I think you have to go to Santa Rosa. I cannot imagine that plumbers/pipefitters are going away. Good for you for considering a blue-collar trade!

[mdovell]

Sort of reminds me I have a old friend who is a elevator repairman. Doesn't sound that special until you realize that unless you have a handful of floors it is impossible to take stairs in a major skyscraper. How many skyscrapers are there in the USA? ADA also keeps that in demand as well. Like what was mentioned it can mean getting up at 3AM or working on weekends etc.

[mrskay662000]

Originally Posted by TheAmbassador

I mean, with all the kids going to college & plumbers retiring- how would that affect the future of the plumbing trade?

I don't think it will.

Aside from Rotor Rooter, I can think of no other company that is not a family owned and operated.

Granted, I haven't heard any kid say he wanted to be a plumber when he grew up. But I did go to school with kids who's family owned plumbing companies and various other blue collar/labor intensive companies. And the majority of them went into the family trade after college.

And they see pretty happy, I might add.

I guess you could think of Duck Dynasty. I mean, who would have thought that they would grow from a red-neck garage operation into what it has? And I'm sure that at least two of those boys went to college thinking that they'd never live in the boonies and do what their Dad did. Yet there they are. And call me crazy, but they seem happy. Not only because they're rich, but also because they get to work with people they love. I don't think none of them would be nearly as satisfied if it weren't so entwined with their loved ones.

You could plop them all in some glass building and double their income but they wouldn't be nearly as happy.

[eureka1]

In our small area (100,000 pop.) the phone book has four pages of listings for plumbing contractors. You CAN get a job with a rooter outfit but you want a plumbers' apprenticeship program to really qualify. You know, the citties, counties, State and Federal governments hire plumbers. Navy pipefitters make GOOD money. Check it out.

[fishbrains]

New construction always needs plumbers. Any institution of sufficient size, such as a hospital, college, prison, or office building will have a FT plumber. Renovations need plumbers, restaurants need plumbers, and people with blocked toilets need plumbers.

The trade cannot be outsourced to Asia, and you can start your own company with a relatively modest investment.

[StuffedCabbage]

[quote=TheAmbassador;33486404]I mean, with all the kids going to college & plumbers retiring- how would that affect the future of the plumbing trade?[/quot

Plumbers and electricians are and will continue to be good earners for relatively little training and money output. Building trades (those in particular) are predicted to be a hot area in the next 10 yrs at least. If I was 18 today? That's where I'd go. Lowe's schmoes. Many people haven't a clue.

[pvande55]

When the economy is recovered there will be openings. Most young people go to college and want nothing to do with getting their hands dirty. And it is a skilled profession.