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The differences between journeyman plumbers and commercial 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 plumber and a commercial plumber. Additionally, a journeyman plumber has an average salary of $54,678, which is higher than the $54,423 average annual salary of a commercial plumber.
The top three skills for a journeyman plumber include plumbing, hand tools and work ethic. The most important skills for a commercial plumber are plumbing, PVC, and cast iron.
| Journeyman Plumber | Commercial Plumber | |
| Yearly salary | $54,678 | $54,423 |
| Hourly rate | $26.29 | $26.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 10,869 | 34,990 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A journeyman plumber is responsible for conducting basic plumbing tasks, such as installing and repairing plumbing lines under the supervision of a head plumber. Journeyman plumbers connect pipes and ensure the stability of plumbing lines to avoid potential hazards and possible defects. They handle the maintenance and replacement of fixtures and identify the source of failure to adjust pressure and seal connections as needed. A journeyman plumber must be able to detect irregularities immediately and provide estimate costing to the customers for repairs.
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.
Journeyman plumbers and commercial plumbers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Journeyman Plumber | Commercial Plumber | |
| Average salary | $54,678 | $54,423 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $81,000 | Between $36,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Baton Rouge, LA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Constellation Energy Partners | Stanley Furniture |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a journeyman plumber and a commercial plumber in terms of educational background:
| Journeyman Plumber | Commercial Plumber | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between journeyman plumbers' and commercial plumbers' demographics:
| Journeyman Plumber | Commercial Plumber | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.1% Female, 2.9% | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 1.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |