Steamfitter vs plumber

The differences between steamfitters and plumbers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a steamfitter has an average salary of $69,544, which is higher than the $55,337 average annual salary of a plumber.

The top three skills for a steamfitter include brazing, hand tools and carbon steel. The most important skills for a plumber are plumbing, hand tools, and plumbers.

Steamfitter vs plumber overview

	Steamfitter	Plumber
Yearly salary	$69,544	$55,337
Hourly rate	$33.43	$26.60
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	632	12,307
Job satisfaction	-	4.4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	4

Steamfitter vs plumber salary

Steamfitters and plumbers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Steamfitter	Plumber
Average salary	$69,544	$55,337
Salary range	Between $50,000 And $95,000	Between $36,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	Oregon
Best paying company	-	Kern Community College District
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between steamfitter and plumber education

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

	Steamfitter	Plumber
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Heating And Air Conditioning	Business
Most common college	-	-

Steamfitter vs plumber demographics

Here are the differences between steamfitters' and plumbers' demographics:

	Steamfitter	Plumber
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5%	Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between steamfitter and plumber duties and responsibilities

Steamfitter example responsibilities.

Manufacture piping sections and join pipes by brazing, soldering and threading.
Perform tasks using torches, power tools, gauges and oxygen lances.
Install and inspect new and existing plumbing lines up to inches in diameter.
Pass many welding tests in Stick-Tig.-and Mig for high pressure steam, amonia refrigeration, medical gas.
Design and install commercial and residential plumbing.
Field fabricate and install piping, pump systems, fire protection sprinklers, and HVAC systems for fire protection systems.

Plumber example responsibilities.

Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
Replace old copper and cast iron plumbing, install PEX water lines, CPVC lines and PVC lines.
Learned how to read blueprints, use plumbing math and read sub/spec data.
Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using various techniques, including caulking, soldering, and brazing.
Install, repair and maintain plumbing systems and components including toilets, urinals, faucets, hose bibs drains, etc.
Dig trenches for new pipeline.

Steamfitter vs plumber skills

Common steamfitter skills

Brazing, 16%
Hand Tools, 16%
Carbon Steel, 9%
Plumbing, 8%
HVAC, 7%
OSHA, 6%

Common plumber skills

Plumbing, 23%
Hand Tools, 7%
Plumbers, 6%
Customer Service, 6%
Cast Iron, 4%
Pipe Systems, 4%