Skilled Trades
Plumber
Water systems fail on weekends too.
AI Risk Score: 2/10
Score is our body/liability/scarcity rubric, calibrated against public AI-exposure research.
Data last reviewed: 2026-02-25
What you actually do
Install and service pipe systems, fixtures, and code-compliant plumbing infrastructure in homes and businesses.
Why AI does not easily replace it
Emergency response, tactile troubleshooting, and legal accountability keep this deeply human.
What it pays
$49,000 - $86,000
BLS OOH: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (May 2024 pay)
Salary benchmark year: 2024
How to get in
Apprenticeship route with journeyman and master progression.
Estimated time to entry: ~48 months (path-dependent).
State-by-state training and licensing links
- Apprenticeship.gov: Registered apprenticeship job finder
- Apprenticeship.gov: State apprenticeship offices
- U.S. DOL: State apprenticeship agencies directory
Where demand is growing
Aging workforce and housing retrofit demand support durable growth.
Ready to explore?
Compare this career in the full directory, or run the exposure calculator against your current role.
"The moat is not a prompt. It is responsibility in the real world."