What does a commercial plumber do?
Commercial plumbers are specialized plumbers who work on housing or retail developments, commercial businesses, and properties. They repair, install, and maintain plumbing systems and services on a larger, more complex scale. They work on an infrastructure's water pressure, boiler systems, water supply, and waste following blueprint designs and understand the requirements for each project. Some jobs require them to have basic carpentry skills for when they need to access pipes inside walls or to brace pipes to keep them in place. They will also solder, weld, and attach fittings and fixtures when needed.
Commercial plumber responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real commercial plumber resumes:
- Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
- Pipe fitting, soldering, brazing
- Install copper and PVC piping and setting fixtures.
- Purchase materials, work with HVAC and carpenters.
- Involve cutting, threading, fit pipes, valves, and caulking.
- Set rooftop units for HVAC, run refrigeration as well as med gas lines
- Experience in commercial plumbing such as corporate offices, dining establishments, and educational institutions and federal contracts.
- Levele earth to fine grade specifications, using picks and shovels, and mix concrete, using portable mixer.
Commercial plumber skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Commercial Plumbers are proficient in Plumbing, PVC, and Cast Iron. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Dexterity, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Commercial Plumbers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Plumbing, 27%
Experienced in commercial plumbing such as corporate offices, dining establishments, and educational institutions and federal contracts.
- PVC, 22%
Assisted in the installation of underground PVC, Ductile Iron and Copper pipe for main supply and drain lines.
- Cast Iron, 21%
Installed cast iron piping for drains, ventilation and sewage ranging from 2" cast iron pipe to 6" pipes.
- Building Codes, 3%
Review blueprints, building codes, and specifications to determine pluming layout.
- Drainage Systems, 3%
Assembled, installed and repaired pipes fitting and fixtures of heating, water and drainage systems.
- Troubleshoot, 2%
Responded quickly to emergency residential repairs and troubleshoot issue to resolve effectively.
Common skills that a commercial plumber uses to do their job include "plumbing," "pvc," and "cast iron." You can find details on the most important commercial plumber responsibilities below.
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a commercial plumber to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "plumbers must be able to direct workers, bid on jobs, and plan work schedules." Additionally, a commercial plumber resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "assisted with electrical, structural, hvac, and communication systems installations and support. "
Dexterity. Many commercial plumber duties rely on dexterity. "plumbers must be able to maneuver parts and tools precisely, often in tight spaces.," so a commercial plumber will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways commercial plumber responsibilities rely on dexterity: "certified in excavation, aerial lifts, forklifts, osha 40, confined space entry & ppe. "
Mechanical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of commercial plumbers is mechanical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday commercial plumber duties, as "plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters choose from a variety of tools to assemble, maintain, and repair pipe systems." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "performed basic and mechanical plumbing. "
Troubleshooting skills. A big part of what commercial plumbers do relies on "troubleshooting skills." You can see how essential it is to commercial plumber responsibilities because "plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters find, diagnose, and repair problems." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical commercial plumber tasks: "service work/ troubleshooting, new construction, ran pex, cast iron, waste and vent"
The three companies that hire the most commercial plumbers are:
- Moores Electrical And Mechanical16 commercial plumbers jobs
- Honeywell13 commercial plumbers jobs
- Aerotek11 commercial plumbers jobs
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Compare different commercial plumbers
Commercial plumber vs. Fire control system installer
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, commercial plumber responsibilities require skills like "plumbing," "pvc," "cast iron," and "building codes." Meanwhile a typical fire control system installer has skills in areas such as "cctv," "jacks," "tms," and "control systems." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that fire control system installers earn slightly differ from commercial plumbers. In particular, fire control system installers are 7.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a commercial plumber. Additionally, they're 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Commercial plumber vs. Drain technician
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, commercial plumber responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cast iron," "drainage systems," "osha," and "pipe fittings." Meanwhile, a drain technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "sewer lines," "cdl," "customer service," and "customer training." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Drain technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than commercial plumbers. In fact, they're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Commercial plumber vs. Plumbing technician
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a commercial plumber is likely to be skilled in "cast iron," "troubleshoot," "water heaters," and "install valves," while a typical plumbing technician is skilled in "work ethic," "customer satisfaction," "sewer lines," and "strong customer service."
Plumbing technicians make a very good living in the automotive industry with an average annual salary of $72,336. On the other hand, commercial plumbers are paid the highest salary in the insurance industry, with average annual pay of $58,659.Most plumbing technicians achieve a similar degree level compared to commercial plumbers. For example, they're 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Commercial plumber vs. Water softener installer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between commercial plumbers and water softener installers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a commercial plumber might have more use for skills like "cast iron," "building codes," "drainage systems," and "troubleshoot." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of water softener installers require skills like "customer service," "pipe threaders," "control valves," and "water quality. "
In general, water softener installers hold similar degree levels compared to commercial plumbers. Water softener installers are 2.7% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of commercial plumber
Updated January 8, 2025
