How people get into Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
About 543 of these jobs around here. The most common entry is a certificate after high school, but under half of people in it came in that way; a high school diploma or ged is next.
Shrinking here This kind of work is projected to shrink around here. That does not mean there is no work in it, and the pay above is real. It does mean it is worth asking an employer how they see the next few years before you commit to retraining for it.
What it takes to do this work
This one is licensed, and more than one credential applies: NCCER Core + Craft (Carpentry / Electrical / Welding), and Plumbing License. The craft training is a way in. The licence is what lets you do the work on your own. Financial aid is available for some of these, so the figures below are what the training lists, not necessarily what you would pay.
Financial aid means you may not pay this yourself. WorkOne checks what you qualify for at no cost and no obligation, and it is worth doing before you rule anything out on price.
The jobs people hold first
These are the jobs people hold before moving into this one. Doing one of them is not the only way in, and it is not a requirement. It is the route the data can actually see.
| Work people come from | Typical pay | Step up | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Employers often ask for:
NIMS Industrial Technology Maintenance (ITM) Level 1
I do this now →
|
$49,520 | +$27,460 | |
|
Electricians
Needs:
NCCER Core + Craft (Carpentry / Electrical / Welding)
aid available,
Journeyman Electrician (Indiana local licensure),
Master Electrician License
I do this now →
|
$65,130 | +$11,850 | |
|
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Needs:
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification,
HVAC Technician Certificate
aid available
I do this now →
|
$62,160 | +$14,820 | |
|
Construction and Building Inspectors
No licence we can see
I do this now →
|
$63,650 | +$13,330 | |
|
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
No licence we can see
I do this now →
|
$48,450 | +$28,530 | |
|
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
No licence we can see
I do this now →
|
$59,290 | +$17,690 | |
|
Solar Photovoltaic Installers
No licence we can see
I do this now →
|
$39,690 | +$37,290 | |
|
Insulation Workers, Mechanical
No licence we can see
I do this now →
|
$74,840 | +$2,140 |
The federal O*NET occupation index lists this as related to your kind of work, because the two share skills and day-to-day activities. It is a match on the work itself, not a record of people moving between them.
We keep those labels apart because they are different strength claims, and none of them means we watched individual people make the move.
Routes that already pay more than plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are left out, because those are side moves rather than ways in. So are routes needing more schooling than you told us about.
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