plumber
Plumbers maintain and install water, gas and sewage systems. They inspect pipes and fixtures on a regular basis or make repairs as needed. They bend, cut, and install pipes. They test systems and make adjustments safely and following regulations. They place sanitary equipment.
plumber plumbers maintain and install water, gas and sewage systems. They inspect pipes and fixtures on a regular basis or make repairs as needed. They bend, cut, and install pipes. They test systems and make adjustments safely and following regulations. The role shows low AI exposure (0.30 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include plumbing tools, types of piping, replace faucets, work ergonomically, prepare copper gas-lines pipes.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £37,881 a year for Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £31,656 to £45,451 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5315). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only plumber, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
What you'd actually do
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
- Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
- Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
- Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
- Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does plumber do?
Plumbers maintain and install water, gas and sewage systems. They inspect pipes and fixtures on a regular basis or make repairs as needed. They bend, cut, and install pipes. They test systems and make adjustments safely and following regulations. They place sanitary equipment.
What skills does plumber need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include plumbing tools, types of piping, replace faucets, work ergonomically, prepare copper gas-lines pipes, snap chalk line. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace plumber?
Our AI-durability model gives plumber a score of 0.30 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.