Residential plumber vs plumber helper

The differences between residential plumbers 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 residential plumber and a plumber helper. Additionally, a residential plumber has an average salary of $54,486, which is higher than the $43,893 average annual salary of a plumber helper.

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

Residential plumber vs plumber helper overview

	Residential Plumber	Plumber Helper
Yearly salary	$54,486	$43,893
Hourly rate	$26.20	$21.10
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	18,520	21,963
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 58%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a residential plumber do?

A residential plumber installs, repairs, fits, and maintains pipes in a drainage system for residential buildings. They also do fixtures associated with water heating and cooling, water distribution, and sanitation services. Their duties and responsibilities include interpreting blueprints and building specifications to draw a map layout, documenting problems, and inspecting drainage systems.

What does a plumber helper do?

A 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. They also adjust pipe systems, replace outdated gutters, and adhere to the highest safety standards and protocols during operations. A plumber helper must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills to perform services under minimal supervision and strict timetables.

Residential plumber vs plumber helper salary

Residential plumbers and plumber helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Residential Plumber	Plumber Helper
Average salary	$54,486	$43,893
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $82,000	Between $28,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City	Framingham, MA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Horizon Services	ENCON Heating
Best paying industry	Professional	Manufacturing

Differences between residential plumber and plumber helper education

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

	Residential Plumber	Plumber Helper
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 58%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Residential plumber vs plumber helper demographics

Here are the differences between residential plumbers' and plumber helpers' demographics:

	Residential Plumber	Plumber Helper
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4%	Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 64.8% 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 Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between residential plumber and plumber helper duties and responsibilities

Residential plumber example responsibilities.

Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
Install copper and PEX water supply.
Assist with HVAC, run water lines, install washer boxes etc
Learned skills such as welding, soldering, brazing, blueprint reading, schematic drawings, rigging, and crane signaling.
Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using clamps, screws, or soldering, brazing or welding equipment.
Contract work-Sears-replacing dishwashers and water heaters.

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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.

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Residential plumber vs plumber helper skills

Common residential plumber skills

Plumbing, 32%
Water Heaters, 14%
Hand Tools, 7%
Troubleshoot, 5%
PVC, 4%
Caulking, 4%

Common plumber helper skills

Hand Tools, 36%
Plumbing, 18%
Cast Iron, 18%
Ladders, 9%
PEX, 5%
Sewer Lines, 2%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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