Plumbing Industry: Skills, Pay, and Career Paths in 2025

When you think of the plumbing industry, a hands-on trade that installs and repairs water systems in homes and buildings. Also known as pipefitting, it’s one of the most reliable careers in skilled trades—no degree needed, just skill and grit. It’s not glamorous, but it’s always in demand. Whether it’s a leaky tap in Toronto or a broken water heater in Tennessee, someone has to fix it. And that someone? A plumber.

The plumbing industry, a trade focused on installing, maintaining, and repairing water, drainage, and gas systems doesn’t just need people who can twist pipes. It needs problem-solvers who can read blueprints, understand local codes, and work in tight spaces without dropping a wrench. Tools like pipe cutters, pressure testers, and drain snakes are standard, but the real equipment is experience. Many plumbers start as apprentices, learning on the job while getting paid. You don’t need to be a math genius—you just need to know how much water flows through a 3/4-inch pipe and how to calculate slope for drainage.

And yes, plumbers make good money. In places like Texas and Toronto, experienced pros earn well over $30 an hour. Mobile plumbers who own their trucks and handle emergency calls can clear $100,000 a year. It’s not about having a fancy title—it’s about being the person everyone calls when the water stops. The plumbing training, structured programs that teach pipe installation, code compliance, and safety procedures you get through apprenticeships or vocational schools is more valuable than most college degrees when it comes to job security.

What’s changing? More women are entering the trade. More cities are upgrading old pipes. And more homeowners are choosing local plumbers over big companies. The plumbing jobs, positions requiring certified skills to install, repair, and maintain water and gas systems aren’t disappearing—they’re growing. If you’re tired of sitting in front of a screen, if you like finishing a job and knowing it works, this is your path.

Below, you’ll find real stories and facts about what it takes to work in this trade—how much plumbers earn, what skills actually matter, and how to start even if you’ve never held a wrench before. No theory. No fluff. Just what you need to know to decide if this career fits you.