Understanding Plumbing Licenses and Certifications: Why They Matter

The most prestigious certification for a plumber is the Master Plumber credential. This certification represents the very highest level of expertise and experience in the plumbing trades. To earn the designation of Master Plumber, one must fulfill a number of requirements—quite a few of which are of the sort that one would expect if someone were trying to become a true master of any field. Work experience is paramount. Prüfungsangst (fear of the test) is minimized when the candidate knows he or she is ready to pass. Continuing education, too, keeps both mind and work practice up to date. And even the Master Plumber himself or herself is supervised by some oversight body.

In California, to legally work on plumbing jobs as a contractor, a person needs a C-36 plumbing contractor license. That license is issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). To obtain it, a person must have a combination of education and experience amounting to at least four years and must demonstrate competency by passing significant examinations. Those working under a contractor may not need to have a contractor's license in their own right but may need some type of certification or registration. Whether a person's job requires that much documentation depends on specific plumbing work directives and local legal ordinances.

An individual who has finished the essential education and training programs and has passed the requisite exams to be deemed qualified for plumbing work is what most people would think of as a certified plumber. But there's more to it than just what most people think. These individuals have a thorough understanding of not just how to carry out plumbing tasks but also how to do so safely and with competence, which is why they are certified. Conversely, master plumbers are an advanced designation that usually requires years of extra experience, further education, and passing tougher exams. Master plumbers have a much deeper and broader understanding of plumbing systems and codes. They are often authorized to design plumbing systems, supervise other plumbers, or do more complex projects. The two roles are distinguished by a progression of expertise, responsibility, and work scope.

To ensure that plumbing tasks are performed by suitably skilled, knowledgeable, and expert individuals, it is vitally important to have plumbing personnel who are licensed. This is because licensing—and the plumbing profession as a whole—guarantees that plumbing work is done safely, effectively, and in accordance with all applicable industry standards and building codes. The upshot? We are far less likely to encounter problems like those mentioned at the outset of this section—problems that could endanger, contaminate, or inconveniently compromise the health, safety, and life of the public.

The sort of plumber who generally earns the highest income is a master plumber. Master plumbers have extensive knowledge and experience, and they usually possess a master plumbing license, which qualifies them to handle much larger, more complex projects and to direct many more people than a journeyman or apprentice can. Consequently, master plumbers generally earn much more than those two categories. Of course, a master plumber in a pinch just might have to pick up the business end of the project. But generally speaking, it is not the labor of a master plumber that makes him or her rich; it is the know-how and the business sense to do what a master plumber does.

An entry-level position in plumbing is usually called a level 1 plumber. This designation often refers to an apprenticeship where someone is just beginning their career and education in plumbing and has not yet achieved a journeyman status. An entry-level apprentice in plumbing will work under the supervision of experienced plumbers, gaining practical on-the-job training, as well as completing any required coursework. These work experiences and trainings are vital for developing plumbing skills and also for the understanding and recognition of state and local plumbing codes.

Indeed, some plumbers earn six-figure incomes, especially those with advanced skills, specialized certifications, or considerable experience. Likewise, those who run their own businesses and work in economically vibrant regions where the cost of living is high have a better chance of hitting the six-figure mark. Plumbers with good business sense who know how to grind it out can do very well. Still, many factors contribute to the pay divergence in this industry, namely: proficiency in different plumbing types, varied levels of experience, multiple certifications, and a good amount of business savvy.

Identifying the "richest plumber" can be a matter of personal judgment. In most cases, the wealthiest individuals in the plumbing industry have done something else besides plumb to amass their fortunes. They are plumbing company owners, plumbing inventors, or plumbing entrepreneurs. And in those cases where they are working as plumbers, the amount of plumbing work they do from day to day is not the primary source of their great wealth. That source, as we might expect when we think about the richest people in any field, is either from owning or from entrepreneurship within the plumbing industry. When we think about the plumbing industry, we also have to think about the pivotal roles played by plumbing licenses and certifications.

The pay scale for plumbers is uneven. It all depends on several factors. These include: location, experience, type of work, even level of education in some cases. On the whole, though, plumbers in the U.S. seem to be making anywhere from 20 to 40 bucks an hour. But the average doesn't tell the whole story. Some areas of the U.S. experience a high demand for labor and pay rates that do not reflect the median scales at all. In these areas, it's not unreasonable to expect that skilled, experienced plumbers are making 50 an hour and, in some cases, even more.

Earnings for plumbers and electricians can differ widely, depending on such factors as geographic locale, years of experience, and the level of certification they hold. For the most part, both trades return a comfortable wage, frequently influenced by the same kind of variables that affect overall compensation: union membership, geographic demand, and the kind of specialized skills that make an individual employee more valuable. Nonetheless, there are times when one trade's compensation may exceed the other's; in fact, there are regions of the country where plumbers consistently out-earn electricians and regions where the opposite is true. Both trades hold the same potential to deliver a salary that makes life comfortable; it's all about where you work and what you do.