Drain cleaner, plumber vs plumber helper

The differences between drain cleaners, plumber and plumber helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a drain cleaner, plumber and a plumber helper. Additionally, a drain cleaner, plumber has an average salary of $55,318, which is higher than the $43,893 average annual salary of a plumber helper.

The top three skills for a drain cleaner, plumber include plumbing, and . The most important skills for a plumber helper are hand tools, plumbing, and cast iron.

Drain cleaner, plumber vs plumber helper overview

	Drain Cleaner, Plumber	Plumber Helper
Yearly salary	$55,318	$43,893
Hourly rate	$26.60	$21.10
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	42,513	21,963
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 58%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

Drain cleaner, plumber vs plumber helper salary

Drain cleaners, plumber and plumber helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Drain Cleaner, Plumber	Plumber Helper
Average salary	$55,318	$43,893
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $75,000	Between $28,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City	-	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	ENCON Heating
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between drain cleaner, plumber and plumber helper education

There are a few differences between a drain cleaner, plumber and a plumber helper in terms of educational background:

	Drain Cleaner, Plumber	Plumber Helper
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 58%
Most common major	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians	Business
Most common college	-	-

Drain cleaner, plumber vs plumber helper demographics

Here are the differences between drain cleaners, plumber' and plumber helpers' demographics:

	Drain Cleaner, Plumber	Plumber Helper
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 99.2% Female, 0.8%	Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.0% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between drain cleaner, plumber and plumber helper duties and responsibilities

Drain cleaner, plumber example responsibilities.

Manage troubleshooting, pump repair, converters, brazing, and soldering.
Repair and maintain plumbing by replacing washers in leaky faucets, mending burst pipes and opening clog drains.
Check plumbing systems for leakage; install water lines, water heater, septic systems and all plumbing relate issues.
Service department manager who coordinate estimates and train apprentice plumbers.
Specialize in new residential construction for local contractors from rough-in through final inspection.

Plumber helper example responsibilities.

Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
Install lavatories, help install urinals and commodes, roof drains and hose-bibs.
Assist journeyman plumber with measuring, cutting, brazing and sweating copper and copper fittings.
Perform solder brazing, some rough work with acetylene torch and grinders and various cutting implements.
Used tools of the trade; pipe cutters, cutting torches, pipe threading and pipe bending machines
Operate equipment such as cutting torches, threading machines, grinders, beveling machines and round up clamps.

Drain cleaner, plumber vs plumber helper skills

Common drain cleaner, plumber skills

Plumbing, 100%

Common plumber helper skills

Hand Tools, 36%
Plumbing, 18%
Cast Iron, 18%
Ladders, 9%
PEX, 5%
Sewer Lines, 2%

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Construction and Extraction Industry
Drain Cleaner, Plumber
Drain Cleaner, Plumber vs Plumber Helper

Updated January 8, 2025

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