Journeyman vs master plumber

The differences between journeymen and master plumbers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a journeyman and a master plumber. Additionally, a journeyman has an average salary of $57,682, which is higher than the $54,091 average annual salary of a master plumber.

The top three skills for a journeyman include hand tools, work ethic and HVAC. The most important skills for a master plumber are plumbing, hand tools, and HVAC.

Journeyman vs master plumber overview

	Journeyman	Master Plumber
Yearly salary	$57,682	$54,091
Hourly rate	$27.73	$26.01
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	13,953	19,962
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 31%	High School Diploma, 35%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

Journeyman vs master plumber salary

Journeymen and master plumbers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Journeyman	Master Plumber
Average salary	$57,682	$54,091
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $83,000	Between $36,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Baltimore, MD
Highest paying state	Washington	Oregon
Best paying company	CVR Energy	HealthTrust
Best paying industry	Construction	Technology

Differences between journeyman and master plumber education

There are a few differences between a journeyman and a master plumber in terms of educational background:

	Journeyman	Master Plumber
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 31%	High School Diploma, 35%
Most common major	Business	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
Most common college	-	-

Journeyman vs master plumber demographics

Here are the differences between journeymen' and master plumbers' demographics:

	Journeyman	Master Plumber
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8%	Male, 97.2% Female, 2.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 1.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between journeyman and master plumber duties and responsibilities

Journeyman example responsibilities.

Manage 22 active duty hydraulic technicians in support of 32 of USAF's 59 KC-10A aircraft.
Serve as the hoisting specialist for critical glass lifts in order to achieve proper install while mitigating any risk for loss.
Implement and manage training program for incoming and/or replacement facility managers enhancing overall knowledge of CE maintenance and repair operations.
Install EMT to rigid including PVC.
Perform arc welding of steel clips for curtain wall installation.
Repair the electrical systems of various engineering equipment utilizing soldering irons, resistors, relays, switches, and hand tools.

Master plumber example responsibilities.

Install pvc, c900 and ductile iron sewers.
Install copper, pvc and cast iron water mains.
Install water heater and place toilets, faucets, and dishwashers.
Install and repair portable water lines, fixtures including faucets, basins, water closets and urinals.
Perform start-ups and repairs for residential-commercial HVAC systems.
License and authorize to install and to assume responsibility for contractual agreement and to secure any permits for plumbing installations.

Journeyman vs master plumber skills

Common journeyman skills

Hand Tools, 21%
Work Ethic, 13%
HVAC, 12%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Plumbing, 5%
OSHA, 5%

Common master plumber skills

Plumbing, 29%
Hand Tools, 7%
HVAC, 6%
Water Heaters, 5%
Plumbers, 4%
Hot Water, 4%