so.. im looking for a new career and have been considering doing an apprenticeship. Are there any plumbers here?

I always thought that you guys eventually earned some pretty good money, the master plumbers association seem to think differently plumber.com.au/careers/careers-pathways/?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=36
35-50 k per year for a qualified plumber.. wtf

anyway, i dont quite believe that, so some other questions.

When doing a mature age apprenticeship (aged 32) what would the wage be approximately?
Is the apprenticeship competency based, or is it going to take 4 years regardless?

mmm i thought i had a heap of questions, but have answered quite a few of them using Mr Google, but any other tips or suggestions would be welcome...

cheers

manicskier,

I'm a Licensed Master Plumber in the US since 1982, I started a software & business development company in 1991 NSPG NSPGweb.com to help service business owners/tradesman better understand business concepts allowing them to become more profitable and better pay their employees. The trades are a fantastic career, however here in the US and also in Aus the problem is with the belief that if your a good plumber or tradesman you can run a business that performs that work. Running the business profitable and performing the work are very different. For this reason you find many underpaid Plumbers and owners that just struggle to make a buck. The good news is its changing with more Owners realizing they need business skills along with the technical skills. I have worked with a some good Plumbing company's In AUS (Sydnay, Melbourn, Brighton, Kangaroo Flat, Seville) they are growing and paying their Plumbers well, PM me if you would like their info.

Mike.

manicskier said...
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Is the apprenticeship competency based, or is it going to take 4 years regardless?

Your apprenticeship is actually broken down into hours, which takes around 4 years. So if you do any overtime it will come off that 4 years worth of hours. I think they have capped it now so you can't finish your trade in under 3 and half years.

kitecroc said...



Your apprenticeship is actually broken down into hours, which takes around 4 years. So if you do any overtime it will come off that 4 years worth of hours. I think they have capped it now so you can't finish your trade in under 3 and half years.

^^^ i think that only applies to young apprentices, and there is a limit on how much the overtime counts for. i did a standard 55 hour week when i was an apprentice (15 years ago) and still only got 7 months taken off my time.

Thanks seabreezers

Xstream - PM sent

stamp - money isnt the main motivation, i need a change from what im currently doing, but it is a consideration and if the max $ was going to be 50K that would rule it out. Its good to know that the training rate is 2/3 of a normal wage and that it can be accelerated. I have also had a look around various job being advertised right now, and yes, it seems there are some quite focussed businesses out there - roofers, heating and cooling, general plumbing, commercial, new build etc... so yes im aware that id want to get exposure to all aspects. Cheers

Ral - the early start early finish is a good option for kiting, but not my main motivation for changing jobs. I'll keep this quiet

i guess im mainly after a real job... whatever that means. something hands on though, where at the end of the day there is something to show for you work. When i was doing uni, i got into 3rd year (chemical engineering) and i thought why the hell didnt i do a trade (probabily pushed into it a little with good grades at school - trades were for the year 10 drop outs, similar to what bennie has said...). My uncle is a great plumber and it would have been so easy to work under him.. instead i stuck with it to finish it, then i just fell into a few different jobs in the last 10 years. My uncle has since retired and i now live in melbourne so thats not an option anymore. But im willing to take the plunge, get on the end of a shovel and get it done.

keep the suggestions comming

there is good money to be made in lots of trades...plumbing has the advantage of lots of extra to be made from those little bits on the side- like clearing someones drain on a saturday morning. The plumbers I know are on closer to $60000 plus the car, phone and other perks that go with the job.

Painters and mechanics are the 2 lowest paid i have seen but there are some good jobs there too that get paid well above the award.

Sparkies get well looked after - and they seem to find it easy to get jobs in the mines for 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off, pretty good lifestyle if you ask me

Depends on how long term the goal for you to be on mass money is.......

SMG said...


The apprenticeship for a plumber won't take too long!

You'll need to know two things:

1. Sh#t flows downhill.
2. Pay day is Thursday.

Come on, that's a bit harsh!
My mate, who is a plumber, recons you need to know more than that, like, well....

3. The hot tap goes on the left

So, it seems that you need to know 3 things to be a plumber