💡 Why it matters: Every home, hotel and factory needs plumbing, and a good plumber's skills never go out of fashion. Experienced plumbers can build strong businesses.
🌍 Around the world
- United States: Jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦600k – ₦1.6M
- Mid-career
- ₦2M – ₦5M
- Senior
- ₦5M – ₦12M
≈ ₦167k – ₦417k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇺🇸 United States
Closest US category: Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters. Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Install pipes, taps, toilets and water tanks
- Fix leaks and blocked drains
- Fit water heaters and pumps
- Read plans for water and drainage layouts
- Test systems for safe, clean flow
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Hands-on skill
- Problem solving
- Customer care
- Physical fitness
- Attention to detail
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Apprenticeship with a master plumber
- NABTEB trade test certification
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Apprenticeship with a plumbing firm (about 3 to 4 years)
- College course, then work experience
🇺🇸 United States
- Apprenticeship through a union or an employer (typically 3 to 5 years, varies by trade)
- Entry-level job with on-the-job training
🇨🇦 Canada
- Apprenticeship: classroom blocks plus paid on-the-job hours (varies by province)
- Pre-apprenticeship or trades college program, then apprenticeship
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Learn basic maths and measuring at school
- 2Join an apprenticeship or technical college
- 3Pass the trade test and get certified
- 4Work on bigger buildings and borehole projects
- 5Run your own plumbing company
⏰ A day in the life
A hotel has low water pressure. You check the tank, pump and pipes, find a blocked valve and replace it. Later you install a new bathroom set in another house and test for leaks.