Entry Level Qualification 

8

Career Fields 

Plumber, Fitter, Electrician, Welder & Carpenter

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

No Entrance Exam

About Career 

As a Plumber, you will be assembling, installing and maintaining sewage and drainage systems, plumbing (pipelines used for passage of fluids) fittings and fixtures, gas and water pipelines, water heating systems etc.

You may work in housing, commercial and industrial setups and will be responsible for testing, repairing and maintaining pipelines, drainage systems etc. You have to drill passage holes in walls or floors for fixing necessary supporting equipments, if required, like stands, holders etc.

Plumbers working in an industrial set up also need to follow instructions provided by Sanitary Engineers or Civil Engineers regarding proper plumbing layouts and specifications. They may also need to study and examine certain engineering drawings and descriptions to estimate their work procedures.

In a household set up, you need to fix problems like dripping taps, leaking pipes, water heating issues, leaking water heaters, clogged drains, frozen pipelines etc.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As a Plumber, you will be engaged with one or more of the following roles and responsibilities: -

1. You will be installing valves, fittings, pipe assemblies, fixtures such as sinks or toilets or appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, using hand or power tools.

2. You will be measuring, cutting, threading, or bending pipes to fit required angles, using hand or machines or power tools, such as pipe-threading machines, pipe cutters, or pipe-bending machines.

3. You will be cutting openings or drilling holes in adjacent structures to accommodate pipes or fittings, using hand and power tools.

4. You will be assembling tubing, pipe sections, or fittings using couplings, screws, clamps, bolts, cement or welding equipment etc.

5. You will be filling plumbing fixtures or pipes with air or water and observing pressure gauges for detecting and locating leaks.

6. You will be maintaining or repairing plumbing infrastructure by replacing or mending broken pipes, replacing defective washers, or opening clogged drains.

7. You will be reviewing blueprints, specifications or building codes, for determining work procedures.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 5 in school – NSQF Level 1 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber General Helper’ or similar courses

After completing Class 5 in school, you need to undergo National Skill Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 1 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber General Helper’ or similar courses. The total hours of training will be 200.

Class 5 in school – MES course for ‘Plumber’ or similar courses

After completing Class 5 in school, you can enroll for Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) course for ‘Plumber’, ‘Assistant Plumber’ or similar courses based on Modular Employable Skills (MES) framework under the Ministry of Labour and Employment of India.

Class 8 in school –NSQF Level 2 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber General Assistant’ or similar courses

After completing Class 8 in school, you need to undergo National Skill Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 2 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber General Assistant’, ‘Assistant Plumber’, ‘Plumber -Maintenance and Servicing Assistant’, ‘Plumber Welder Assistant’ or similar courses. The total hours of training will range from 200 - 1000.

Class 8 in school – obtain National Apprenticeship Certificate for ‘Plumber’ or related trades

After completing Class 8 in school, you can obtain a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) for ‘Plumber’, ‘Pipe Fitter’ or related trades after completing Apprenticeship training. Apprenticeship training will be for 3 years.

Class 8 in school –training at an ITI or similar institute for ‘Plumbing’ or related trades

After completing Class 8 in school, you need to undergo training at Industrial Training Institute (ITI), National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Regional Vocational Training Institute (RVTI), National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Industrial Training Center (ITC) or other vocational institutes for ‘Plumbing’, ‘Plumber’, ‘Mechanic Plumber’ or any similar course. After completing this training, you will sit for All India Trade Test (AITT) and you will get a National Trade Certificate (NTC) if you pass.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - CTS NSQF Level 4 Training for ‘Plumber’ or related courses / training at an ITI or similar institute for ‘Welder Plumber’ or related trades

After Class 10, you can go for the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) course for ‘Plumber’ or related courses under the National Skills Qualification Framework Level 4. This is a 1-year course with 2 semesters of 6 months each. After completing Class 10 with any subjects, you can also go for training at Industrial Training Institute (ITI), National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Regional Vocational Training Institute (RVTI), National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Industrial Training Center (ITC) or other vocational institutes for ‘Welder Plumber’ or any similar course. After completing this training, you will sit for All India Trade Test (AITT) and you will get a National Trade Certificate (NTC) if you pass.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - NSQF Level 3 and 4 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber’ or similar courses

After Class 10, you can undergo National Skill Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 3 and 4 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber’, ‘Plumber General’, ‘Plumber (Maintenance & Servicing)’, ‘Plumber Mason’, ‘Plumber Operations’, ‘Plumber Pipeline’, ‘Plumber Welder’, ‘Plumber (Dual System)’, ‘Plumber –Pumps & E/M Mechanic’ or similar courses. The total hours of training will range from 240 - 2080.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject combination as per scheme of studies - NSQF Level 5 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber’ or similar courses

After Class 12, you can undergo National Skill Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 5 Training and Certificate for ‘Plumber’, ‘Plumbing Foreman’ or similar courses. The total hours of training will range from 720 - 4120.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

After Class 5 in school, you can go for:

1. NSQF Level 1 courses

2. MES courses

After Class 8 in school, you can go for:

1. NSQF Level 2 courses

2. NAC

3. ITI training courses

After Class 10, you can go for:

1. CTS courses

2. NSQF Level 3 and 4 courses

3. Diploma courses in ‘Plumbing’

After Class 11-12, you can go for NSQF Level 5 courses too. The duration of training is different for each NSQF Level, though the qualification titles may be similar.

If you complete Class 10 or Class 11-12 and finish NSQF training, you can directly apply for lateral entry to degree level courses for Engineering trades in various institutes across the country.

Compentencies Required

1. You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

2. You should have interests for Conventional Occupations. Conventional occupations involve repetitive and routine tasks as well as fixed processes or procedures for getting things done. These occupations involve working more with data, systems, and procedures and less with ideas or creativity.

3. You should have knowledge of Mechanical Engineering & Technology - Knowledge of Mechanical Engineering & Technologies which include design, development, testing, manufacturing, installation, operations, repair and maintenance of different machinery, devices, equipment, and tools.

4. You should have Machine Repair and Maintenance Skills - performing repair and maintenance of different machines, equipment, and devices.

5. You should have Problem Solving Skills - analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.

6. You should have Process and Operation Controlling Skills- controlling processes and operations of various machines, equipment, devices and systems using different types of electrical and electronic control instruments and systems.

7. You should have Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

8. You should have Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

9. You should have Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

10. You are always or mostly careful about your actions and behavior.

11. You are practical always or in most situations.

12. You are always or mostly disciplined in your action and behavior.

13. You are always or mostly organized in your day-to-day life and activities.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

You may get work opportunities as:-

1. Plumber

2. Assistant Plumber

3. Roof Plumber

4. Plumbing Foreman

5. Pipefitter and Steamfitter

6. Plumber General

7. Plumber cum Fitter

8. Plumber (Maintenance & Servicing)

9. Plumber Mason

10. Plumber Operations

11. Plumber Pipeline

12. Plumber Welder

13. Plumber (Dual System)

14. Plumber –Pumps & E/M Mechanic

You will find a variety of employers serving industrial sectors like:

1. Construction / Engineering / Cement / Metals

2. Travel / Hotels / Restaurants / Airlines / Railways

3. Medical / Healthcare / Hospitals

4. Facility Management

5. Government / Defence

6. Architecture / Interior Design

You may also start your own business, after sufficient work experience, of providing sales, solutions related to modern plumbing activities, infrastructure design etc.

Career Growth

Industrialization and civil expansion has brought with it a growing demand for plumbers. On gaining an experience of at least 10 years, you can move upwards in the field as a Senior Plumber, Senior Plumbing Foreman etc. If you can start your own business in this field, then you may record decent growth and serve eminent clients in future. If you start working abroad, you can expect huge returns after a few years of work experience.

Salary Offered  

1. Salaries vary according to the kind of facilities you get to work at.

2. In the entry-level jobs: You may expect between Rs. 6,000 – Rs. 7,000 or more per month.

3. With 2-5 years of work experience, you may expect between Rs. 8,000 –12,000 or more per month.

4. After having 6-10 years of work experience, you may expect to earn between Rs. 10,000 – 20,000 per month or even more.

5. After having 12-15 years of work experience, you may expect to earn between Rs. 15,000 – 50,000 per month or even more.

6. If you can later set up your own business in the plumbing sector, you can earn around Rs. 25,000 – Rs. 50,000 or more per month.

7. You can get many jobs abroad also, mostly in Middle Eastern and African countries. After having 2-5 years of experience, as a Plumber, you can earn about Rs. 50,000 – 80,000 or more per month. In these jobs, after having, 7-12 years of experience, you can earn about Rs. 75,000 – 150,000 or even more per month. There is a lot of demand for trained Plumbers and Plumbing Foremen abroad.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience 

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience 

3. Mid-Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience 

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Information not available.

Work Activities 

As a Plumber, you will be involved in some or all of the following activities:-

1. Operating machines, equipment, devices, systems and processes - Using various methods and techniques to operate machines, equipment, devices, systems, and processes in industrial and other settings.

2. Getting Information and learning - Observing, hearing, reading, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

3. Handling and moving objects and materials - Using hands or otherwise use physical strength to handle and move objects and materials; manoeuvre, install, lift, place, manipulate, etc.

4. Inspecting equipment, systems, structures, and materials - Inspecting equipment, systems, structures, and materials to ascertain quality, performance, defects, causes of errors, etc.

5. Installing, repairing and maintaining equipment, devices and products - Installing, servicing, repairing, and maintaining equipment, devices, and products for usages in homes, workplaces and industrial settings.

6. Operating vehicles, mechanized devices, or other movable devices - Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment.

7. Performing physical activities - Performing physical activities that require the use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials

8. Communicating with co-workers and others - Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large.