Plumber
Licensed trade installing and maintaining water, sanitary, gas-fitting, roof and mechanical services. Requires a state plumber licence on top of the apprenticeship Cert III.
What a plumber actually does
Plumbing days usually start between 6:30 and 7am, often with a depot stop to load fittings and copper before heading to site. New-build work runs in phases: rough-in for slab pre-pour, then in-wall pipework, then fit-off with tapware, toilets and hot-water units. Maintenance plumbers run a daily run sheet of blocked drains, leaks and hot-water failures, working out of a van stocked with PEX, copper, fittings and a small jetter. Expect dirt - drainage work means crawl spaces, trenches and the occasional sewer. Gas fitters spend more time on appliance commissioning and pressure testing. Tradespeople carry a folder of compliance certificates for every job that touches water or gas. Hot work permits, confined-space entries and pressure testing each have their own paperwork. Most days finish around 3-4pm on domestic work, later on commercial.
Skills you'll use
- Reading hydraulic drawings and AS/NZS 3500 plumbing code
- Copper brazing, PEX crimping and solvent-weld PVC
- Drain laying, jetting and CCTV inspection
- Gas-fitting and appliance commissioning under AS 5601
- Hot-water system sizing and installation
- Backflow prevention and TMV servicing
- Writing Certificates of Compliance and quoting variations
How to become one
- 1Finish Year 10 or above (most employers prefer Year 12 with Maths Standard)
- 2Sign a 4-year apprenticeship with a licensed plumbing contractor or a Group Training Organisation
- 3Complete the CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing through TAFE block-release
- 4Complete the additional gas-fitting and roof plumbing units required by your state
- 5Apply for your state's plumbing licence (Victorian Building Authority, NSW Fair Trading, QBCC and similar)
- 6Renew the licence annually and keep your gas-fitting endorsement current with CPD
Where you can work
- Residential builders on new estates
- Commercial construction contractors on CBD towers and shopping centres
- Industrial and mechanical services firms
- Local water authorities and councils
- Mining and resources camps
- Hot-water specialists and emergency 24/7 maintenance firms
- Self-employed sole trader or small contracting firm
Career progression
Typical stages and pay bands. Figures are sourced from Job Outlook, the Fair Work Building Industry Award, or industry bodies; brackets are 25th-75th percentile.
- Apprentice4 yearsTypical roles: First-year apprentice plumber, Fourth-year apprentice plumberSalary band: $28,000 - $55,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
- Tradesperson0-4 yearsTypical roles: Domestic plumber, Maintenance plumber, Gas fitterSalary band: $75,000 - $100,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
- Leading hand or supervisor5-10 yearsTypical roles: Leading hand, Hydraulic supervisor, Service managerSalary band: $100,000 - $140,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
- Subcontractor or business owner8+ yearsTypical roles: Sole-trader plumber, Plumbing contracting business owner
Is this for you?
You might love this if
- You don't mind getting wet, muddy or worse on a daily basis
- You can lift, carry and crawl in tight spaces without complaint
- You enjoy diagnosing where a leak or blockage actually starts
- You can talk politely to a customer whose floor is flooding
- You're comfortable with maths to size pipework and gas loads
This might not suit you if
- You can't commit to 4 years of low apprentice pay
- You can't handle the smell of sewer or grease-trap work
- You have a back or shoulder condition that limits lifting heavy fittings
- You'd rather not be on call for after-hours emergency callouts
Entry requirements
- Year 10 or equivalent
- A signed apprenticeship training contract with a host employer.
State licensing
This trade requires a state licence on top of the apprenticeship qualification.
| State | Licensing authority |
|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Fair Trading |
| VIC | Victorian Building Authority |
| QLD | Queensland Building and Construction Commission |
| SA | Consumer and Business Services SA |
| WA | Plumbers Licensing Board WA |
| TAS | Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania |
| NT | Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board NT |
| ACT | Access Canberra |