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The differences between journeyman plumbers and service 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 service plumber. Additionally, a service plumber has an average salary of $54,946, which is higher than the $54,678 average annual salary of a journeyman plumber.
The top three skills for a journeyman plumber include plumbing, hand tools and work ethic. The most important skills for a service plumber are plumbing, residential service, and customer service.
| Journeyman Plumber | Service Plumber | |
| Yearly salary | $54,678 | $54,946 |
| Hourly rate | $26.29 | $26.42 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 10,869 | 8,369 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| 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.
Service plumbers repair tanks, pipes, and water fixtures. Part of their job may include unclogging drains and toilets and handling various residential plumbing requirements. They may also troubleshoot systems, diagnose problems, and collaborate with other contractors when required. Service plumbers should be able to work under pressure and be willing to do house calls after hours. Plumbers are not only experts in their trade but also offer superb customer service. They need to have a minimum of a high school diploma, interpret blueprints, and have a polite manner and excellent customer service skills.
Journeyman plumbers and service plumbers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Journeyman Plumber | Service Plumber | |
| Average salary | $54,678 | $54,946 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $81,000 | Between $36,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Tacoma, WA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Constellation Energy Partners | JK Realty |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Professional |
There are a few differences between a journeyman plumber and a service plumber in terms of educational background:
| Journeyman Plumber | Service Plumber | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between journeyman plumbers' and service plumbers' demographics:
| Journeyman Plumber | Service Plumber | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.1% Female, 2.9% | Male, 98.0% Female, 2.0% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |