Skilled labor simply refers to jobs that involve complicated tasks that require workers to have specific skill sets, training, and experience. Jobs that fall under this category include brain surgeons, electrical engineers, and you guessed it, plumbers. College is a huge investment and for some occupations, a college degree is unnecessary. Plumbing is an occupation that doesn’t require a college degree and is a growing field.
The Value of Skilled Labor
According to Forbes, there were 3 million open skilled labor jobs in 2016. Plumbing is a skilled labor job that is critical to our modern lifestyle. It allows clean water to be available for drinking, bathing, cooking, and other essential aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Good plumbing is critical for businesses as well. Specialized factories employ steam turbines, which require proper plumbing and everyday businesses require proper plumbing to maintain day-to-day activities.
Skilled jobs require practical skills, which should never be underestimated in any job to give a leg-up in the always competitive job market. While a college degree isn’t required, a basic foundation of math and science will help with job duties. You can find local technical schools and community colleges that provide vocational classes and practical skills for highly skilled jobs like plumbing. An apprenticeship, knowledge of the latest plumbing codes, and certifications are required to become a licensed plumber. The return-on-investment to become a licensed plumber is much quicker than other higher-education degrees and fields.
Plumbing is a Growing Field
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics states that the average income of plumbers in 2016 was $51,450. The field also has a 12% growth rate, which is faster than average and the benefits of becoming a plumber are many and include:
- You can skip college. Plumbing doesn’t require years of school and lots of money spent on a higher degree.
- No prior training or experience. All training is done on the job through the apprenticeship, which is typically paid.
- Great earning potential. The average is around $50,000, meaning that there is potential for more! Plumbers can make significantly more than average in bigger cities with a high demand.
- Job security. Since plumbing is an essential part of life, there will always be a need for skilled plumbers.
St. Matthews Plumbing employs honest and reliable professionals that specialize in residential, commercial and food truck plumbing. It has been our privilege to serve the Kentuckiana area for 25 years and counting. You can request service online or contact us for all your plumbing needs. We also provide additional resources and information on our blog. Interested in working for St. Matthews Plumbing? Reach out and get a conversation started.