Industry Insights: Plumbing Occupations in the United States
The plumbing industry across the United States is essential to the construction and maintenance sectors. This overview explores employment trends, compensation, and demand across various plumbing roles, offering a national perspective on critical data points based on Q4 2024 insights from Lightcast.
Job Market Overview
The plumbing sector in the US includes a wide array of roles, each with distinct job demands and hiring patterns. Here's an overview of employment size and job postings across several plumbing-related roles:
Plumbing Installers and Technicians: This core segment sees consistent demand nationwide, with a job family employment size of approximately 43,500 and significant job posting activity.
Foremen in Construction Trades: Plumbing foremen play a critical role in overseeing projects and managing teams. Around 73,819 people are employed in this position, and there is a steady demand for it.
Cost Estimators: These professionals are essential for accurately budgeting plumbing projects. The job family size is 25,916, and there is high job posting activity, reflecting strong demand.
Sales Associates: Sales associates support the industry from a retail and sales perspective. They account for a large workforce, with 337,789 employed individuals.
Compensation Trends
Wages across plumbing roles in the US vary based on specialization, experience, and demand. Below are typical compensation ranges for various roles:
Plumbing Installers: Earn between $26.42/hr and $35.75/hr, with a median wage of $31.08/hr.
Plumbing Technicians: Typically earn between $25.72/hr and $34.79/hr, with a median wage of around $30.25/hr.
Cost Estimators: Average pay ranges from $34.13/hr to $46.18/hr, with a median wage of $40.16/hr.
Foremen in Construction: Compensation for foremen ranges from $37.03/hr to $50.11/hr, with a median wage of $43.57/hr.
Sales Associates: Typically earn between $14.81/hr and $20.03/hr, with a median wage of $17.42/hr.
Demand Levels and Job Posting Activity
Demand for plumbing-related roles remains high nationwide, particularly in urban areas. Here's an overview of job postings and demand indicators:
Plumbing Installers: High demand across the US, reflected in thousands of unique job postings.
Plumbing Technicians: Significant hiring activity nationwide, particularly for technicians in urban regions.
Cost Estimators: Among the highest posting activity for analyzed roles, indicating a strong need for budgeting and financial planning expertise in the construction sector.
Foremen: Moderate demand with steady job postings, particularly for managing and overseeing construction projects.
Diversity and Workforce Composition
Diversity remains a focus within the US plumbing sector, with notable trends in workforce composition:
Installers and Technicians: 60% racially diverse, with 2% women in the workforce.
Foremen: Composed of 48% racially diverse workers and 6% women.
Cost Estimators: Higher representation of women at 19% and 38% racially diverse.
Sales Associates: The most gender-diverse role, with 54% women and 62% racial diversity.
Conclusion
Competitive wages, high demand across various roles, and moderate diversity characterize the U.S. plumbing industry. Key insights reveal a strong need for skilled professionals, particularly in urban areas, where wages are adjusted to meet higher living costs. Employers aiming to attract and retain top talent should consider competitive compensation and diversity initiatives to effectively meet industry demands.
