Plumbers

NOC
72300

install and repair pipes and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and waste water disposal in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

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Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Moderate
Moderate

3-Year Job Openings

97
 

Median Hourly Wage

$25.00
$16.00
Low
$34.49
High

Average Salary

$49,400
 

Typically Required

College or apprenticeship

Employed

1,141
 
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Job details

Full NOC Description

Plumbers install, repair and maintain pipes, fixtures and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and waste water disposal in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. They are employed in maintenance departments of factories, plants and similar establishments, by plumbing contractors, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Read blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine layout of plumbing system, water supply network and waste and drainage systems
  • Install, repair and maintain domestic, commercial or industrial plumbing fixtures and systems
  • Locate and mark positions for pipe connections, passage holes and fixtures in walls and floors
  • Cut opening in walls and floors to accommodate pipe and pipe fittings
  • Measure, cut, bend and thread pipes using hand and power tools or machines
  • Join pipes using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement or soldering, brazing and welding equipment
  • Test pipes for leaks using air and water pressure gauges
  • May prepare cost estimates.

    • Also Known As

    • maintenance plumber
    • plumber
    • plumber apprentice
    • plumbing mechanic
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    Requirements

    Employment Requirements

    Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in plumbing is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • Trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified plumbers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

    • Provincial Regulation

    • Provincially Regulated: Yes
    • Compulsory: Yes
    • Red Seal: Yes

    Regulation Body

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    Employment by Sex

    The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

    Data legend

    2.1%
    Female
    97.9%
    Male
    Employment by age

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

    Data legend

    13.2%
    15-24
    26.4%
    25-34
    32.0%
    35-44
    15.7%
    45-54
    8.6%
    55-64
    4.1%
    65+
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    Employment by highest level of education

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

    Data legend

    1.5%
    No Certificate, Diploma or Degree
    8.7%
    High School, Diploma or Equivalent
    42.6%
    Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma
    44.6%
    College or University Below Bachelor Level
    2.6%
    University - Bachelor Level or Above
    Employment by Industry

    The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

    Data legend

    85.1%
    Construction
    4.1%
    Public administration
    3.1%
    Health care and social assistance
    7.7%
    All Other Industries
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    Employment by Economic Regions

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

    Data legend

    17.50%
    Northeast
    31.40%
    Southeast
    18.00%
    Southwest
    23.70%
    Central
    9.30%
    Northwest
    Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

    Economic Regions

    The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

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    Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

    The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

    Data legend

    $48,000
    Northeast
    $52,400
    Southeast
    $53,000
    Southwest
    $45,600
    Central
    $48,000
    Northwest
    Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

    Economic Regions

    The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

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    Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

    The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

    Northeast

    $25.00
    $16.00
    Low
    $34.49
    High

    Southeast

    $23.00
    $15.30
    Low
    $33.50
    High

    Southwest

    $25.00
    $16.00
    Low
    $34.49
    High

    Central

    $24.75
    $21.00
    Low
    $36.00
    High

    Northwest

    $26.69
    $20.91
    Low
    $35.23
    High
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    Salary

    The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

    New Brunswick

    $49,400

    Newfoundland

    $62,000

    Prince Edward Island

    $51,200

    Nova Scotia

    $54,900

    Canada

    $64,300
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    Employment Outlook

    The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

    Three Year Outlook

    Total Openings: 3-Year

    97
     

    New Jobs: 3-Year

    38
     

    Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

    60
     

    Ten Year Outlook

    Total Openings: 10-Year

    281
     

    New Jobs: 10-Year

    73
     

    Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

    211
     
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