Master plumber vs drain technician

The differences between master plumbers and drain technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a master plumber and a drain technician. Additionally, a drain technician has an average salary of $59,122, which is higher than the $54,091 average annual salary of a master plumber.

The top three skills for a master plumber include plumbing, hand tools and HVAC. The most important skills for a drain technician are plumbing, sewer lines, and CDL.

Master plumber vs drain technician overview

	Master Plumber	Drain Technician
Yearly salary	$54,091	$59,122
Hourly rate	$26.01	$28.42
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	19,962	25,624
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 51%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

Master plumber vs drain technician salary

Master plumbers and drain technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Master Plumber	Drain Technician
Average salary	$54,091	$59,122
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $80,000	Between $38,000 And $89,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Oregon	California
Best paying company	HealthTrust	American Residential Services
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between master plumber and drain technician education

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

	Master Plumber	Drain Technician
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 51%
Most common major	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians	General Studies
Most common college	-	-

Master plumber vs drain technician demographics

Here are the differences between master plumbers' and drain technicians' demographics:

	Master Plumber	Drain Technician
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 97.2% Female, 2.8%	Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.0% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between master plumber and drain technician duties and responsibilities

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.

Drain technician example responsibilities.

Used various equipment and tools to unclog drains, camera pipes, install urinals and toilets.
Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
Perform trench work, laying pipe, building underground manholes.
Assemble many pieces for custom bags and cushions utilizing good body mechanics.
Install pvc pipe, copper lines and flexible hose for residential water systems.
Remove and replace broken tile section or pipe, using caulking compound and cement to form watertight joint.

Master plumber vs drain technician skills

Common master plumber skills

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

Common drain technician skills

Plumbing, 52%
Sewer Lines, 11%
CDL, 9%
Commercial Buildings, 7%
Customer Service, 4%
Water Heaters, 2%