Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between service 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 service plumber and a plumber helper. Additionally, a service plumber has an average salary of $54,946, which is higher than the $43,893 average annual salary of a plumber helper.
The top three skills for a service plumber include plumbing, residential service and customer service. The most important skills for a plumber helper are hand tools, plumbing, and cast iron.
| Service Plumber | Plumber Helper | |
| Yearly salary | $54,946 | $43,893 |
| Hourly rate | $26.42 | $21.10 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 8,369 | 21,963 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 52% | High School Diploma, 58% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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 They also adjust pipe systems, replace outdated gutters, and adhere to the highest safety standards and protocols during operations.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.
Service plumbers and plumber helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Plumber | Plumber Helper | |
| Average salary | $54,946 | $43,893 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $82,000 | Between $28,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tacoma, WA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | JK Realty | ENCON Heating |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a service plumber and a plumber helper in terms of educational background:
| Service Plumber | Plumber Helper | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 52% | High School Diploma, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service plumbers' and plumber helpers' demographics:
| Service Plumber | Plumber Helper | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 98.0% Female, 2.0% | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |