Are you a plumber? Know one really well? Married to one?
How did you/the person you know get into it? Did they have to go to school? What kind of training is required? How long does it take to officially become a plumber? 'Bout how much do plumbers pull down these days?
Tell me all about it!
Firstly, I’m not sure that GQ is the right place for this, but i’ll run with it for now.
To be a plumber, you need an apprenticeship, and most likely some sort of 1-day-a-week tech college training.
In Aus, at least, plumbers are pullin in quite a decent figure.
Not sure of how long, i’d guess about 4 years or so.
Unions run the apprenticeship programs, in the apprenticeship program you work as a plumber’s helper by day and attend whatever formal training is required at nite. Program lasts severla years - then you get to journeyman level. You can usually apply at local unemployment offices but it is better to have a father or uncle who is in the union.
Like some of the other trades, you can take tests for certifications beyond journeyman level and have plumbers and helper sworkng for you under your licnese.
$20-40 per hour for journeyman depending on part of US
So if you applied to be an apprentice, you’d go to the unemployment office instead of the union?
The local paper had an ad in it from the Union looking for apprentices. I applied and got into the apprenticeship program after passing a dexterity test at the unemployment office. Starting pay was 50% of journeyman’s wages, with an increase every so often. After 6,000 hours (3+ years) and attending class one night a week I took the state test for my journeyman license. Once a year a continuining education class is required. The pay, counting the retirement which isn’t on the paycheck is about $23. The pay is better in almost every other part of the country, but the cost of living is kind of low, here, too.
Had a roommate in college who joined the air force as a plumber. He did two tours in Germany and left the service after four years. Two years later he had a masters licencse.
Just goes to show you - you can join the service and not have to kill anyone.
Since you’re looking for personal experiences more than straight facts, I’ll move this thread to IMHO.
bibliophage
moderator GQ