Post job

Plumbing technician vs plumber helper

The differences between plumbing technicians and plumber helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a plumbing technician and a plumber helper. Additionally, a plumbing technician has an average salary of $59,049, which is higher than the $43,893 average annual salary of a plumber helper.

The top three skills for a plumbing technician include plumbing, hand tools and HVAC. The most important skills for a plumber helper are hand tools, plumbing, and cast iron.

Plumbing technician vs plumber helper overview

Plumbing TechnicianPlumber Helper
Yearly salary$59,049$43,893
Hourly rate$28.39$21.10
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs58,88621,963
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 58%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Plumbing technician vs plumber helper salary

Plumbing technicians and plumber helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Plumbing TechnicianPlumber Helper
Average salary$59,049$43,893
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $88,000Between $28,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, MASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaMassachusetts
Best paying companyNavistarENCON Heating
Best paying industryAutomotiveManufacturing

Differences between plumbing technician and plumber helper education

There are a few differences between a plumbing technician and a plumber helper in terms of educational background:

Plumbing TechnicianPlumber Helper
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 58%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Plumbing technician vs plumber helper demographics

Here are the differences between plumbing technicians' and plumber helpers' demographics:

Plumbing TechnicianPlumber Helper
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 97.5% Female, 2.5%Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 1.9% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between plumbing technician and plumber helper duties and responsibilities

Plumbing technician example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
  • Invoice customer for services render.
  • dig ups to expose pipes outside.
  • Perform brazing, soldering, pipefitting and welding.
  • Operate backhoes to dig up lines and replace.
  • Use jetting equipment and augers to unclog drains.
  • Show more

Plumber helper example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
  • Install lavatories, help install urinals and commodes, roof drains and hose-bibs.
  • Assist journeyman plumber with measuring, cutting, brazing and sweating copper and copper fittings.
  • Perform solder brazing, some rough work with acetylene torch and grinders and various cutting implements.
  • Used tools of the trade; pipe cutters, cutting torches, pipe threading and pipe bending machines
  • Operate equipment such as cutting torches, threading machines, grinders, beveling machines and round up clamps.
  • Show more

Plumbing technician vs plumber helper skills

Common plumbing technician skills
  • Plumbing, 32%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • HVAC, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Service Calls, 4%
Common plumber helper skills
  • Hand Tools, 36%
  • Plumbing, 18%
  • Cast Iron, 18%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • PEX, 5%
  • Sewer Lines, 2%

Browse construction and extraction jobs