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How to hire a maintenance plumber

Maintenance plumber hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring maintenance plumbers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a maintenance plumber is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new maintenance plumber to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a maintenance plumber, step by step

To hire a maintenance plumber, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a maintenance plumber:

Here's a step-by-step maintenance plumber hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a maintenance plumber job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new maintenance plumber
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a maintenance plumber do?

A maintenance plumber repairs individual water systems or large water facilities. This job position monitors, diagnoses, maintains, and repairs gas leaks, water shortages, sewage, and pipe systems. They must have knowledge of repair and skill in maintenance. He/She or she handles installation, prepares needed equipment and machinery, and ensures that they are always in place. A skillful mindset and extensive knowledge in the field is the key.

Learn more about the specifics of what a maintenance plumber does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The maintenance plumber hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect maintenance plumber also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of maintenance plumbers.

    Type of Maintenance PlumberDescriptionHourly rate
    Maintenance PlumberPlumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipes that carry liquids or gases to, from, and within businesses, homes, and factories.$17-37
    Plumber/PipefitterPlumbers/pipefitters only need to have a high school diploma or GED, and they tend to enjoy salaries of $51K per year. They must have skills in cutting, welding, blueprints, and tools such as pneumatic drills... Show more$15-40
    Plumber HelperA plumber helper is responsible for assisting the head plumber in installing plumbing systems, conducting preventive maintenance, and repairing broken components. Plumber helpers inspect and maintain the stability and condition of all the plumbing equipment to avoid potential hazards and ensure no delays in operations... Show more$13-31
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Plumbing
    • General Maintenance
    • Hand Tools
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • Water Heaters
    • HVAC
    • Hot Water
    • Brazing
    • OSHA
    • Dishwashers
    • Water Systems
    • Fall Protection
    • Mechanical Systems
    • Building Codes
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
    • Invoice customers and provide customer service assistance with questions regarding residential plumbing preventative maintenance.
    • Repair and/or replacement of cast iron and PVC pipe.
    • Perform light to medium HVAC systems' maintenance and repairs.
    • Assist in electrical, HVAC, maintaining all aspects of plant facilities.
    • Install all of the weather proofing systems, caulking and flashing of all the areas require by code.
    More maintenance plumber duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your maintenance plumber job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A maintenance plumber can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, maintenance plumbers' average salary in arkansas is 55% less than in oregon.
    • Seniority. Entry-level maintenance plumbers 52% less than senior-level maintenance plumbers.
    • Certifications. A maintenance plumber with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a maintenance plumber's salary.

    Average maintenance plumber salary

    $53,733yearly

    $25.83 hourly rate

    Entry-level maintenance plumber salary
    $37,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average maintenance plumber salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Oregon$82,261$40
    2California$78,669$38
    3Massachusetts$72,945$35
    4Nevada$67,592$33
    5New York$65,630$32
    6Washington$65,020$31
    7Montana$61,155$29
    8Minnesota$58,368$28
    9Ohio$57,141$27
    10Illinois$53,842$26
    11Michigan$50,902$24
    12Georgia$49,091$24
    13Texas$46,931$23
    14South Carolina$45,407$22
    15Virginia$38,726$19

    Average maintenance plumber salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Apple$102,474$49.27
    2Stanford University$80,409$38.662
    3Jacobs Engineering Group$75,841$36.46
    4HRL Laboratories$66,051$31.76
    5Boeing$61,462$29.552
    6UofL Hospital$60,531$29.10
    7LifePoint Health$58,523$28.144
    8L3Harris$58,029$27.902
    9Northrop Grumman$57,570$27.6816
    10Valley Health System$56,962$27.39
    11Dartmouth-Hitchcock$56,143$26.99
    12Clovis Unified School District$55,353$26.61
    13Victor Valley Union High School District$54,898$26.39
    14Aramark$54,396$26.1518
    15CSM Companies$54,191$26.058
    16The Walt Disney Company$53,895$25.918
    17Vectrus$53,867$25.90
    18San Ramon Valley Unified School District$53,742$25.84
    19Peoria Unified School District$53,676$25.81
    20Elk Grove Unified School District$53,623$25.78
  4. Writing a maintenance plumber job description

    A good maintenance plumber job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a maintenance plumber job description:

    Maintenance plumber job description example

    1. Education/Training/Work Experience:

    Education: High School Diploma or equivalent, vocational training in skilled trade or other relevant technical training.

    Certificate/Licenses: Must have a license or certificate in one of the following trades: Plumbing, Carpentry, Electricity.

    Work Experience: Minimum two years’ experience in physical plant operations and equipment maintenance in an institutional health care setting.

    Freedom from illegal use of drugs, and freedom from use and effects of use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

    Persons who have been found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting or mistreating individuals in a health care related setting are ineligible for employment in this position.

    2. Specialized Knowledge & Skills:

    · Demonstrates competence in application of mechanical and technical concepts to facility plant, repair and maintenance projects.

    · Able to maintain all essential mechanical, electrical, and resident care equipment in safe operating condition.

    · Demonstrates sufficient knowledge of basic math to perform essential functions.

    · Technical knowledge and analytic ability to diagnose and repair equipment malfunctions.

    · Current knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations that apply to maintenance services and records in long-term care.

    · Carries out all duties in accordance with the facility mission and philosophy.

    · Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions.

    · Appreciates the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and family information.

    · Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and family property.

    · Able to understand and to follow written and verbal direction. Able to communicate effectively with staff members and residents through verbal and/or written means.

    · Able to express self adequately in written and/or oral communication and to communicate effectively in a long-term care setting with residents, families, staff members, administration, representatives of community and government agencies.

    · Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of facility. Able to locate nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency.

    · Sufficient mobility and strength to move freely throughout building, to assure resident safety at all times and to assist transfer or otherwise move residents in facility out of danger in case of emergency.

    · Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to need of residents by complying with facility policies on attendance, punctuality and dress code. Able to arrive and to begin work on time and to report for duty as scheduled on all shifts, weekends, and holidays.

    · Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of universal precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials.

    · Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time.

    · Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned.

    · Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others.

    PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS:

    Successful performance of essential functions can best be achieved through consistent application of current knowledge, use of good judgment, common sense, ability to establish and carry out priorities, effective use of interpersonal skills and ongoing communication with residents, staff, families, interdisciplinary team members, and government officials including State surveyors and ombudsmen.

    This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an infinite, 24-hour residential care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled cognitively impaired residents. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: shift rotation, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of State Surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.

    Essential functions are carried out in a variety of positions including standing and sitting. To meet residents’ needs, virtually all positions require the ability to move free through the building. Stooping, bending, lifting and carrying, as well as other physical demands may be required as described in the Essential Physical Demands of this position.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right maintenance plumber for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your maintenance plumber job on Zippia to find and recruit maintenance plumber candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting maintenance plumbers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new maintenance plumber

    Once you have selected a candidate for the maintenance plumber position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a maintenance plumber?

Hiring a maintenance plumber comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting maintenance plumbers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of maintenance plumber recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $53,733 per year for a maintenance plumber, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for maintenance plumbers in the US typically range between $17 and $37 an hour.

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