For qualified plumbers working abroad is an option. NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3 with a technical certificate are recognised in most European Countries, Australia, Canada and the America. Immigration issues aside (which could fit into a whole other blog) If you wanted to work as a plumber in Australia you would normally need to secure work before you go to the country which can be very difficult. Another option would be to get a 1 year working holiday visa then travel to the country with savings to support you until you find work. This makes it easier to gain citizenship.  Working in Spain, France, Germany as a Plumber is easier as you can work without having to get a visa but on the flip side there is a big language barrier. Dedicated people will attend night classes to get a grasp of the language, depending on your learning ability and how dedicated you are, it normally takes from 1-2 years to become proficient in another language. One of the best ways to learn is to throw yourself in the deep end and live in the country as you learn.

I like the idea of working as a plumber in Australia! How about you?

I have to admit that I am not particularly passionate about pipes or blockages. What appeals to me is the plumbing lifestyle. I love being self employed, I like a technical challenge and I don’t like being in one place for too long. I like working with people but I also like to be able to choose not to work with unpleasant people.  Plumbing offers a certain amount of freedom; to work in other parts of the UK or even abroad, part time or full time.  Its freedom that is the biggest appeal, relative to other jobs,  plumbing (and some other trades) offer you as much freedom from wage slavery as you are going to realistically get, unless you want to live in the wild.

Plumber Wages Summary

If you are going into plumbing for the money then you need to check there is demand in your area, no demand equals low wages. You will also want to go into the highest paying area which is probably gas and heating engineers but this requires the most time and work. If there is no demand in where you live you may consider relocating or commuting. Working for one of the big boys like British gas may be an option. That being said, plumbing probably won’t bless you with spectacular riches; the average plumber wage is about £26k per year. Being realistic; if you work outside of London and if you are not highly qualified or experienced you may not get close to this figure anytime soon.  Starting salaries can be around £15-20k for the newly qualified. Some experienced plumbers acting in a supervisory capacity can earn over £35000. More on wages in a future post.

Demand for Plumbers

It is often said that there is a national shortage of plumbers; this is not strictly true. Demand varies a lot from place to place. Check the yellow pages, your local papers for ads; if there are loads then you may be out of luck. Try asking a friendly local plumber if he is keeping busy.

At the end of the day the answer to this question lies within that brain of yours; you have to figure it out for yourself!