Is becoming a plumber worth it?

Plumbing is a profession that will always be needed. Almost every building has pipes and water flow, so experts will always be needed to repair and maintain them. So does becoming a plumber live up to expectations? CNBC Make It spoke with plumbers, students and administrators about the costs of training, how much plumbers actually earn and what it's like to work in the profession. Plumbing is an excellent career that allows you to combine knowledge and innovation with the ability to create and build with your hands.

It also offers tremendous benefits and career potential. While many other people who work in classic office jobs can work from home or from many other places that they prefer even more, you will have to be present in person to carry out your work as a plumber. As you can see from the above analysis, working as a plumber has a lot of advantages and disadvantages. While you won't make as much money as doctors, lawyers, or investment bankers, you can still make a living from plumbing, and good plumbers may even be able to afford some luxury.

For example, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you'll barely be able to pay the bills for your job as a plumber, as living costs are extremely high. While you'll be very good at plumbing, you'll still struggle if you don't want to work as a plumber anymore, especially if you want to switch to a job that involves a lot of computer work, since you often haven't learned the skills needed to succeed in those jobs. Since working as a plumber involves some physical exercise, you'll also stay in shape naturally. In fact, many plumbers suffer from back pain or even disc prolapse sooner or later and you should make sure that you're willing to put your health at risk before becoming a plumber.

The states in orange currently have a high demand for plumbers and the states in light blue have an average demand. Many plumbers have engineering experience, and the wealthiest plumbers can often be more accurately classified as business owners who, after working as plumbers for several years, started their own businesses that employ several other plumbers. While this eliminates mundane routines and makes it interesting, it can put a plumber under immense pressure. But what are the pros and cons of being a plumber? Understanding the pros and cons of a plumbing career is important, as it helps you manage your expectations even in the early stages of the career.