Plumbing companies hiring in your area need workers right now. The skilled trades shortage means over 120,000 open positions across the country. Your local job market probably has opportunities waiting.
Starting pay looks solid. Entry apprentices make $18-25 hourly in most areas. Licensed journeyman plumbers pull in $50,000-80,000 yearly. Demand keeps growing as experienced plumbers retire and construction picks back up.
This guide shows you exactly where plumbing companies hiring near you advertise jobs, what they want from candidates, and how to land these positions fast. You’ll find out about major employers, small local shops, and strategies that actually work.
Finding Local Plumbing Companies That Need Workers
Looking for plumbing companies hiring means checking several different places. Each source brings different opportunities.
Start with the big job boards. Indeed updates with thousands of plumbing jobs daily. Type “plumbing companies hiring” plus your city into search. Set up email alerts so fresh postings come straight to you. LinkedIn works better for commercial and industrial positions. Filter by newest postings first to catch openings before everyone else applies.
Trade sites focus only on skilled work. Blue Collar Jobs and Tradesmen International connect plumbers straight to employers who get the industry. These platforms use the right terminology and list specialized positions that never show up on Indeed. You’ll spot opportunities most people miss.
Check company websites directly. Major brands like Roto-Rooter, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and Mr. Rooter post jobs on their own sites first. Local franchises keep separate listings from corporate offices. Bookmark careers pages of every plumbing company in your area and check weekly.
Union halls remain powerful for finding work. The United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters runs local halls all over. Walk into your local hall or look at their website. Lots of apprenticeships and journeyman spots go through union channels only. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union plumbers make notably higher wages than non-union workers.
Trade schools connect graduates with employers actively looking. Career services offices maintain solid relationships with local businesses. If you just finished a program, call your school’s placement office. Many companies recruit straight from technical schools before posting jobs publicly.
Facebook groups for plumbers in your city share leads constantly. Groups specific to your metro post opportunities members hear about through the grapevine. Join these groups and check daily. Some of the best jobs come from word-of-mouth instead of formal postings.
What Companies Want When Hiring Plumbers
Knowing what employers look for helps you present yourself right. Plumbing companies hiring check several specific things when sorting candidates.
Licenses and Specialty Certifications
A journeyman license puts you at the top of the list. Most states require specific licenses for plumbing work. Companies verify these through state databases before making offers. Keep yours current with whatever continuing education your state mandates.
Apprentice spots don’t need licenses yet but you must be enrolled in a registered program. Many plumbing companies hiring apprentices work directly with trade schools or union programs. You’ll work under a licensed plumber while logging hours toward your own license.
Extra certifications make you stand out. Backflow prevention certification means you can handle commercial systems. Medical gas installation opens up healthcare facility work. Green plumbing credentials appeal to companies focused on sustainable building. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association offers several recognized certifications worth getting.
How Much Experience Different Jobs Need
Entry apprentice positions take people with almost no experience. Companies hiring apprentices care more about mechanical aptitude and showing up on time. Construction background helps but isn’t required. Being reliable and wanting to learn matters most.
Journeyman spots usually want 2-5 years you can prove. Companies call your previous employers to verify what you did. Residential service looks different from new construction or commercial projects. Make sure your background matches what that company actually does.
Master plumbers with 5+ years qualify for senior roles. Companies hiring at this level want leadership proof and problem-solving ability you can demonstrate. These positions involve overseeing projects, training newer plumbers, and tackling the toughest installations.
Physical Ability and People Skills
Customer service matters hugely for residential service work. You’ll deal with homeowners during stressful moments like burst pipes or sewage backups. Companies screen hard for communication ability and staying professional under pressure. Technicians who explain problems clearly and make people comfortable get better reviews and more callbacks.
Physical fitness isn’t optional. The work means lifting 50+ pounds regularly, crawling under houses, and being on your feet all day. Some companies require a physical exam before hiring to make sure you can handle it.
Problem-solving separates okay plumbers from great ones. Being able to diagnose issues fast and figure out solutions matters tremendously. Companies test this through scenario questions or having you actually work through problems during interviews.
A valid driver’s license is essential for service jobs. Most positions mean driving to several locations every day. Companies check your record for accidents or tickets. Some give you a company truck while others expect you to drive your own vehicle to job sites.
Different Types of Plumbing Work Available
Plumbing companies hiring fill several different kinds of roles. Knowing these differences helps you go after jobs that fit your skills.
The main types break down like this:
- Residential Service Plumber – Go to people’s houses for repairs, fix leaks, clear drains, swap out fixtures. Lots of customer contact, different work every day. Makes $45,000-75,000 yearly.
- Commercial Plumber – Work happens in office buildings, stores, apartment complexes. Bigger systems, steadier hours, way less customer interaction. Brings in $55,000-85,000 annually.
- New Construction Plumber – Install complete systems in buildings going up. Follow blueprints, work normal day shifts. Physically demanding but you rarely talk to customers. Averages $50,000-80,000 yearly.
- Industrial Plumber – Maintain systems in factories and big facilities. Specialized equipment, high-pressure stuff. Needs extra training beyond basic plumbing. Pays $60,000-95,000.
- Plumbing Apprentice – Learn and earn at the same time, help experienced plumbers, take on more as you go. Programs run 4-5 years. Start at $18-25 hourly.
- Service Manager – Run teams, handle schedules, deal with customers. Needs lots of experience plus management chops. Makes $70,000-120,000 with bonuses.
Big Plumbing Companies Hiring Nationwide
National chains hire consistently in most cities. These outfits offer structured training, real benefits, and ways to move up that tiny contractors can’t always match.
Roto-Rooter operates almost everywhere through franchises and company-owned shops. They bring on apprentices, service plumbers, and drain techs all year. The company trains people even with pretty limited experience. Pay starts between $18-28 hourly depending where you live.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has franchises across North America and always needs plumbers. They do mostly residential service and push customer service as hard as technical skills. Benefits usually mean health insurance, vacation time, and a company van.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing handles residential and lighter commercial jobs. They hire both entry-level people and veterans. Since it’s franchised, hiring differs by location. Most will train you if you show motivation.
ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric works mainly in the Midwest and Southwest. They hire for multiple trades including plumbing. Apprenticeship programs run constantly with classroom time plus paid field work.
ServiceMaster runs plumbing through several different brands. They keep big service fleets in major cities. Jobs include residential service plumbers, commercial plumbers, and emergency responders. HomeAdvisor research shows plumbing service demand keeps climbing, which drives hiring at these major players.
Local independent shops often pay better and give you more flexibility than chains. These range from one-person operations to companies with 20-50 employees. Check your city’s Better Business Bureau or contractor association for reputable local outfits hiring.
Getting Hired by Plumbing Companies Looking for Workers
How you apply makes a huge difference in getting responses. These tactics help you stand out when companies review candidates.
Build a Resume That Works
Customize your resume every time. Generic resumes go straight to the trash. Put your license number and expiration date right at the top if you have one. List actual systems you’ve worked on like tankless water heaters, gas lines, commercial fixtures.
Use numbers everywhere you can. “Completed 8-12 service calls daily with 95% first-visit fix rate” proves you’re capable way better than “did service calls.” Quantify installations, repairs, customer ratings.
Keep it simple looking. Skip graphics and weird fonts. Stick to basics: contact info, licenses, work history, skills, education. Lots of companies use software that can’t read fancy formatting.
Write Cover Letters That Get Read
Cover letters still count in the trades. Write three short paragraphs about why you want that specific company, what you bring, and when you can start. Mention if you know their service area or heard good things about them.
Use the hiring manager’s name if possible. Check the website or call and ask who does hiring. That personal touch shows you did homework instead of mass applying.
Fill Out Applications Completely
Online forms feel tedious but half-done applications get auto-rejected. Fill every single field even when the same info is on your resume. Lots of systems filter based on how you answer specific questions.
Give solid references. List previous supervisors who can back up your skills and reliability. Tell them you’re using them as references so they’re ready when calls come. Weak or surprised references kill job offers.
Follow Up the Right Way
Wait about a week after applying then call. Ask for the hiring manager or service manager. Quick restate your interest and qualifications. This shows you’re serious and keeps you on their radar.
Don’t bug them constantly. One call and one email is enough. Too much contact annoys people and wrecks your shot.
Show Up Ready for Interviews
Research the company before you go in. Know what services they do and where they work. Prep questions about their training, typical jobs, team setup. Asking questions proves you actually care.
Bring your license, certifications, and references in a folder. Wear clean work clothes or business casual. Get there 10 minutes early. These basics matter way more than people think.
Expect questions about real situations. Interviewers ask how you’d handle specific problems or customer issues. Use actual examples from jobs you’ve done. Explain what happened, what you did, what the outcome was. Real stories prove you know your stuff better than vague answers.
What You’ll Make Working for Plumbing Companies
Knowing typical pay helps you judge whether offers are fair. Pay varies quite a bit by where you live, how much experience you have, and what type of plumbing you do.
Entry apprentices start around $18-25 hourly in most places. Big cities like New York or San Francisco pay $25-30 hourly. Rural spots offer more like $15-20 hourly. Most apprentices get raises every 6-12 months as they get better.
Licensed journeyman plumbers make $25-40 hourly typically. That works out to $52,000-83,000 yearly full-time. Experience changes pay a lot. Just got your license? You’re at the lower end. Five years in? You’re pulling the higher numbers.
Master plumbers hit $35-55 hourly. Commercial and industrial specialists often top $60 hourly. Yearly that’s $73,000-115,000. Leadership spots and owning your own business push earnings even higher.
Benefits add serious value on top of hourly pay. Health insurance, retirement matching, paid vacation, company trucks increase your total package 20-30%. Look at everything together when comparing job offers.
Overtime pumps up earnings substantially. Lots of service plumbers work 45-50 hours weekly with time-and-a-half for extra hours. Being on emergency call rotation brings premium pay too. Annual earnings often beat base salary by $10,000-20,000 just through overtime.
Where you live matters enormously. Plumbers in Hawaii, Alaska, New York, and California make 30-50% more than the national average. Cost of living eats some of that but real wage gaps exist. Salary.com data breaks down pay by specific metro areas.
Why Working for Established Companies Beats Going Solo
Plumbing companies hiring full-time people usually offer solid benefits beyond just wages. These extras really impact your life quality and money security.
Health insurance saves you thousands every year. Most established companies cover 50-80% of premiums for you and your family. Dental and vision usually come with medical plans. Buying this yourself costs $500-1,200 monthly.
Retirement plans set up your future. Many companies match what you put into a 401(k) up to 3-5% of salary. Make $50,000 with 4% match? That’s $2,000 yearly the company adds that grows for decades.
Paid time off prevents you from burning out. Entry spots typically give 1-2 weeks yearly. Experienced plumbers earn 3-4 weeks. Paid holidays add 6-8 more days. You’re getting paid for 10-15 days you’re not even working.
Company trucks eliminate beating up your personal vehicle. Service plumbers get maintained vans loaded with tools and materials. This saves $5,000-8,000 yearly on car costs, gas, insurance.
Tool allowances or provided tools cut your investment. Plumbing needs thousands in specialized equipment. Companies often supply major tools while you bring hand tools. Some give annual allowances of $500-1,500 for buying tools.
Training keeps your skills fresh. Employers pay for manufacturer training, code updates, certification renewals. Paying for this yourself runs $1,000-3,000 yearly.
Clear paths to move up give you somewhere to go. Start apprentice, become journeyman, maybe move into supervision. Good companies promote their own people instead of hiring managers from outside.
Making Your Job Search Way Easier
Finding every plumbing company hiring and applying to each one eats massive time. Doing applications manually means typing the same information over and over. Each thorough application takes 20-30 minutes easily.
Regular job searching creates other headaches too. You miss new posts that show up after you already looked. Tracking which companies got your application turns into a mess. Following up with a bunch of employers at once gets overwhelming fast.
Modern tools handle the repetitive stuff through automation. RoboApply takes care of applications to plumbing companies hiring across multiple job sites automatically. The system finds relevant positions based on your skills, where you live, and what you want.
The AI Resume Builder makes plumbing-specific resumes showing your licenses, experience, and technical abilities. Everything gets formatted for human readers and computer systems both. Answer questions about your background once and the AI builds a professional resume in minutes.
AI Tailored Apply adjusts your resume for each specific company. It reads job descriptions and tweaks your resume to highlight the most relevant stuff. Company wants residential service experience? That gets emphasized. They need commercial expertise? The system pushes that forward instead.
Auto Apply sends out applications to matching jobs automatically. Set what position types you want, how far you’ll travel, what pay you need. The system finds plumbing companies hiring that fit and applies with your customized materials. This happens continuously as new jobs get posted.
The AI Cover Letter tool writes personalized letters for every application. Each one mentions that specific company, talks about the position details, explains why you’re interested. Personalization happens in seconds instead of taking 10-15 minutes per letter.
Track everything through one dashboard. See which companies got your application, when you applied, response status. Set reminders for following up. Export your complete application history whenever you want.
The platform connects with major sites where plumbing companies hiring post jobs. Works with Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, company career pages. One account covers every place local companies advertise openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do plumbing companies hiring usually require?
Most want a valid plumbing license, clean driving record, and ability to do physical work. Entry positions take enrolled apprentices without licenses yet.
How much do plumbing jobs typically pay per hour?
Apprentices make $18-25 hourly. Licensed journeyman plumbers earn $25-40 hourly. Master plumbers and specialists get $35-55 hourly based on location and experience.
Do I need experience to apply to plumbing companies hiring?
Not for apprentice positions. Companies hiring apprentices train you. Licensed spots usually want 2-5 years you can prove for journeyman roles though.
How long does the hiring process take for plumbing jobs?
Most companies finish hiring in 1-3 weeks. That includes reviewing applications, doing interviews, running background checks, verifying credentials before your start date.
What benefits do plumbing companies offer employees?
Common benefits are health insurance, retirement matching, paid vacation, company vehicles, tool allowances, and training the employer pays for.
