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.
Jobs, demand and who does this work
Figures for the ANZSCO occupation Plumber (General) (334111), the closest official match for plumber, from Your Career (Jobs and Skills Australia data, sourced 2026-09-23).
- Median weekly earnings (full-time)
- $2,000
- People employed
- 53,400
- Future demand
- Moderate
- Work full-time
- 85%
- Average full-time hours
- 43 a week
- Women
- 1%
- Median age
- 32
Where the jobs are (share of workers)
| NSW | 31.6% |
| VIC | 32% |
| QLD | 17.6% |
| WA | 8.2% |
| SA | 6.3% |
| TAS | 1.9% |
| ACT | 1.6% |
| NT | 0.9% |
Highest qualification held by workers
| Postgraduate qualification | 0.2% |
| Bachelor degree | 1.1% |
| Diploma or advanced diploma | 2.5% |
| Certificate I-IV | 73.9% |
| Year 12 | 10.5% |
| Below Year 12 | 10.4% |
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 (for example Building Commission NSW, Victoria's Building and Plumbing Commission or the QBCC)
- 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 roles. Apprentice and tradesperson pay is set by the modern award or enterprise agreement that covers the job; check it with the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool.
- Apprentice4 yearsTypical roles: First-year apprentice plumber, Fourth-year apprentice plumber
- Tradesperson0-4 yearsTypical roles: Domestic plumber, Maintenance plumber, Gas fitter
- Leading hand or supervisor5-10 yearsTypical roles: Leading hand, Hydraulic supervisor, Service manager
- 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 | Building Commission NSW (NSW Fair Trading) |
| VIC | Building and Plumbing Commission (replaced the Victorian Building Authority on 1 July 2025) |
| QLD | Queensland Building and Construction Commission |
| SA | Consumer and Business Services SA |
| WA | Plumbers Licensing Board WA (Building and Energy) |
| TAS | Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania |
| NT | Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board NT |
| ACT | Access Canberra |