Plumber job description template

What a plumber does

Plumbers install and repair the water, drain, and gas systems every building depends on. Like electricians, licensed plumbers are scarce, and the best ones choose employers carefully. They want to know the license level required, whether the work is service, new construction, or commercial, the pay method, and on-call expectations. A clear posting gets you calls from people who already know they're a fit.

Plumber job description template

Copy the description, replace everything in [brackets], and cut any line that isn't true for your job. The duties and requirements are a starting point written by HR practitioners, not a legal standard, so edit them to match the real work.

Plumber

Details
- Department: [Department]
- Reports to: [Manager title]
- Location: [City, State, or remote]
- Employment type: [Full-time, part-time, or seasonal]
- FLSA status: Nonexempt
- Pay range: [$X to $Y per hour]

About [Company]
[Two or three sentences about what your company does, who it serves, and why people like working here.]

Job summary
We're hiring a licensed plumber to install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems safely and to code for our [residential, commercial, or new construction] customers.

What you'll do
- Install and repair water supply, drain, waste, and vent piping.
- Install and service fixtures, water heaters, and appliances.
- Diagnose leaks, clogs, and pressure problems.
- Read plans and follow plumbing codes and permit requirements.
- Install and test gas piping where licensed.
- Explain repair options and costs to customers.
- Supervise and train apprentices.
- Keep the work vehicle stocked and job sites clean.

What you'll need
- [Journeyman or master] plumber license in [State].
- [Four] or more years of plumbing experience.
- Strong knowledge of local plumbing code.
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record.

Nice to have
- Completion of a registered apprenticeship.
- Backflow prevention certification.
- Medical gas or commercial experience.

Skills
Pipe installation, Troubleshooting, Code knowledge, Customer service, Safety, Mentoring.

Physical demands and work environment
Customer homes, businesses, and construction sites. Requires working in tight spaces, crawl spaces, trenches, and outdoors, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Pay and benefits
[$X to $Y per hour], based on experience and location. [List benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plan match, paid time off, and training.]

Equal opportunity
[Company] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview, contact [name] at [email or phone].

How to customize it for your job

• State license level and the type of work.
• Explain pay method and overtime.
• List vehicle, tools, and on-call policy.
• Mention apprenticeship and license support.

Then check it against the HRTally job description standard, our 10-point checklist, and run it through the inclusive language swap list. Both take about five minutes.

How much to pay a plumber

Half of US plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earned more than $30.67 an hour in May 2025, and half earned less, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That national figure is a starting point, not a pay range. Pay for the same job can differ by 30 percent or more between metro areas, so check the BLS occupation profile for state and metro data before you set your range.

For hourly roles, the legal floor matters as much as the market rate. Check the current rate where the job is based in our minimum wage by state table, and the state's overtime and break rules in our state labor law library.

To convert between hourly and annual pay, use our salary to hourly calculator. If you hire in a state or city with a pay transparency law, the range must appear in the posting itself. Our pay transparency laws guide lists where, and our guide to salary bands explains how to set ranges you can defend.

Exempt status, licenses, and legal notes

FLSA status: Nonexempt (overtime eligible). Job titles don't decide overtime eligibility. Duties and pay do. Our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees walks through each test, and the overtime calculator shows what a nonexempt employee is owed.

Plumbers are licensed by most states, and some cities have their own licenses, with apprentice, journeyman, and master levels. Gas fitting and backflow testing often require separate certifications. Plumbers on federally funded projects must receive Davis-Bacon prevailing wages. Trench and excavation work falls under OSHA's excavation standard, which requires protective systems for trenches 5 feet deep or more.

This is general information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by state and city, so confirm the current rules or talk to employment counsel before you rely on them.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same core questions and score answers against the same criteria. Structured interviews are fairer and predict job performance better than open conversation.

1. Walk me through how you'd find a hidden leak.
2. How do you explain a repiping job to a worried homeowner?
3. Tell me about a code issue you caught on a job.
4. How do you work safely in a trench?

When you're ready to schedule, use our interview invitation email template. For a full hiring process, read the recruitment process guide.

Frequently asked questions