Do you want to be a plumbing professional or an electrician? Both options have their pros and cons and they can be hard to choose. If you’re not sure which career is right for you, it’s time to take a closer look at the two. Here are some things to consider before making your decision.
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What is the difference between plumbing and electrician?
When it comes to working, plumbing deals with water and gas. This can include dirty water and poop. Plumbers also have to be able to work with several materials. This includes PEX, PVC, copper, and steel. Plumbers often have to repair systems. This can require a lot of creativity and insights. There are a lot of plumbing systems out there and learning about them is quite challenging as it is constantly changing.
Electricians are mainly working with cables and focus on installing systems. Electric systems generally don’t break that often. Both often work shortly after each other when they are renovating or building a house. This can lead to conflicts as each of them have other priorities. The project manager has to make sure that everyone gets along.
What are the similarities between plumbing and electrician?
In both trades, you can go for commercial or residential systems. Commercial systems can be very complex and you often have to work together with other people to get them installed or fixed. This can require more training but also increase the pay.
Safety is important in both trades. You might have to work on a ladder or in a busy location. You have to wear the required safety gear such as gloves, boots, and a helmet. This can be difficult to do when it is hot but you have to stick with the rules.
Plumbers and electricians are both often very proud of the work that they do. It can be quite intense to install a system and seeing the result of your hard work can provide a lot of satisfaction.
Plumbers and electricians often get along well with their colleagues. People know how hard the trades can be and this creates a unique bond. It can be great to talk about what you have learned that day and see how other people have experienced this problem. You always keep learning and discovering new things.
What would you need to be a plumber or electrician?
A licensed plumbing professional must pass a licensing exam. This can require a few years of experience before you get it.
The same is true for a licensed electrician. In both domains, you can start as an apprentice and work from there. It is also possible to go to a trade school to learn the basics. Each state has its own rules so check with your local regulator. You have to study the local code so that you follow this and your installations get approved by inspectors.
Both trades are in demand and if you are willing to work, hard chances are that companies hire you on the spot. There can be local differences though as each market has its own dynamic You can reach out to local companies to see in what trade they have to most vacancies. This can help to choose between becoming a plumber or an electrician.
Should I become a plumber or electrician?
It can hard to chose between the two trades. In the following part of this post, we will discuss the pros and cons of each option. This will help you to make a choice between the two.
Why you should become a plumber
If you want to be a plumbing professional, there are a few important benefits. You can grow a lot in this profession. You can evolve from apprentice to project manager and even own your own shop over time.
There will always be demand for plumbing and there are several ways to specialize. For example, some plumbers focus on unclogging drains. Others mainly do new installations. This can make the work more diverse than that of an electrician. You can be on the road as well and meet a lot of people.
Furthermore, plumbers also have to do repairs and this can make them earn more. Plumbers can also have long-term contracts with customers as heaters need maintenance. This is great as your income is more predictable and you don’t have to look for work all the time.
Plumbers often keep their prices high and don’t compete on price. Electricians might lower their prices just to be able to work. There are also a lot of unskilled electricians that do work on the cheap.
Plumbing also allows you to get into HVAC as a lot of skills are coming back. Electricians can learn this field also but they often don’t have experience with liquids.
Why you should become an electrician.
Electric work can be a lot of fun. With the advent of solar panels and batteries, this field offers a lot of opportunities and can lead to a very successful career.
The work of an electrician is cleaner. You don’t have to deal with dirty water or stinky situations. This can be a big advantage as getting showered by poop is not fun. Electricians often get home quite cleanly.
Electricians also don’t have to get up in the middle of the night. Leaks can be very urgent. If the light doesn’t work, it can often wait for a few hours. This can make the life of the electrician a lot more relaxed.
Plumbers need a lot of expensive equipment. It can cost quite some money to start a plumbing shop. Electricians don’t need that many items.
Plumbers often have to work in uncomfortable situations. Small and damp cellars or attics. This is not a lot of fun to do. Electricians are generally able to work inside the garage as the cables often run indoors.
To conclude, we can state that each trade has its unique advantages and disadvantages. You have to look at the local market situation to see what the demand is. Furthermore, you also have to think about what you enjoy the most. What gives you energy? Working on an electrical installation or installing a sink? If you are not sure, you can work in both fields and see what you like the most.
If you are still unsure, you can give both a try. Plumbers need to know a thing or two about electricity so it can help you if you study this as well. It is only by trying something that you know what you will like. A lot of people don’t want to become a plumber as you might have to deal with clogs and sewage. If you just plan to install new water pipes, this shouldn’t be an issue though.
Both plumbers and electricians earn quite a lot so you see it as a good career if you want to work hard.
