Plumber Helper
B-06B Other Construction electrical jobs · Start level · O*NET 47-3015.00
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $41,950
- work over
40 h a week - 27%
- load index
from O*NET data - 3.6/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +8.7%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
Whole occupation: all Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000047301513 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 7,210 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000047301501).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000047301513 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 7,210 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000047301501).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +8.7% jobs · about 800 openings a year (7,030 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +4.9% jobs · about 4,900 openings a year (45,300 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2026, n = 12 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2026, n = 12 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 80% · irregular 20% · seasonal 0%
Striped: O*NET marks the estimate "Recommend suppress" (low precision).
Physical load 3.6 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (3.44, 6 measures) and an exposure index (3.69, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (3.44, 6 measures) and an exposure index (3.69, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing4.08
- Bending or twisting3.72
- Kneeling or crawling3.52
- Walking or running3.37
- Climbing ladders3.31
- Keeping balance2.64
Exposure
- Hazardous equipment4.46
- Very hot or cold4.24
- Outdoors, all weather4.12
- Cramped space3.63
- High places3.61
- Hazardous conditions2.95
- Protective gear2.82
Getting in
- License
- Texas: register as a Plumber's Apprentice with TSBPE ($15, age 16+) to assist with plumbing under a licensed plumber; hours count only after registering.
- Degree
- 10% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years of related experience is the most common answer (38% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Start: Title contains 'Helper' (apprentice/helper/trainee level in O*NET and DOL apprenticeship titles). Texas: Plumber's Apprentice registration (TSBPE) (Age 16 or older).
Moves to the side 6
- B Plumber O*NET lists Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.88. License gate: Journeyman Plumber (TSBPE), Tradesman Plumber-Limited (TSBPE).
- B1 Electrical Apprentice O*NET lists Helpers--Electricians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86. License gate: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR).
- R1 Maintenance Helper O*NET lists Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.84. License: depends on the work.
- B Pipelayer O*NET lists Pipelayers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.78. License: depends on the work.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
- Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
- Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
- Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
- Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
- Repairing
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000047301513, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 47-3015.00 Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
