That was close to the age I left the factory to be a plumber. 14years later, it was a great decision. Also I’ve found plenty of apprentices that love learning a real hands on skill. Best of luck and keep learning.
Made 90k last year as a technician at my company, really trying to break the 100k barrier this year! Rodger your videos are always enjoyable to watch on my lunch breaks.
Leaving my security job and starting a career in plumbing. I start 5/18 and I am excited to start learning. A little nervous about starting from scratch but I’ve always been a quick learner and I have the drive to be able to provide for my family. Thank you mr. Wakefield for inspiring me even more then I already had been.
Always take pride in what you do, whether you’re a maintenance cleaner, porter, anything that isn’t considered “flashy”, take pride in what you do, no matter what. Hey, people look down on you for doing a trade? Let their ignorance continue to run bliss, at the end of the day, people in the trades is what keeps America strong, they’re the powerhouse of this wonderful country. To me they’re heros.
@@RogerWakefield you bet Mr.Wakefield,dont always leave messages but I watch faithfully,in terms of what I'm going thru trying to be in this trade I just appreciate what you do with your channel.
Man I wish I was still in high school when I found this channel, I’m currently 21 in college. I’m pursuing a degree in health service administration and if it ends up not being worth it, this is definitely my backup plan.
Apprenticeship is way cheaper and fresh out of plumbing school vs fresh out of college I made more and still do than a overwhelming majority of people I went to school with. I’m able to provide for my wife and 3 kids. Wife isn’t able to work much from health issues so this really Is a big deal for me.
As an apprentice. We had c plumber who did nothing but camera jobs. He was fired. I asked the boss to let me run the camera and learn. Added value to myself. Earned a hefty raise. Had my own helper. And now my main job here is Running my camera and locating the problem. I’ve been doing it for 2 years now and I’m also now a Journeyman. And 3rd generation Plumber in my family. Your advice videos help a lot.
I'm not a plumber, but I think that this is excellent advice for any career or skill that one is pursuing. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us.
I am a 5 th gen plumber with almost 10 years under my belt, but like you said, you are ALWAYS learning new things in this trade! You remind me of my father who I work with every day. A freakin boss! You should know that you have priceless content, because even after a long day of plumbing, I can come home and still watch your videos 👩🏻🔧🥰
49 years old and I just retired after 25 years of being a police officer. A local company took a chance of me and took me on as an apprentice and after 3 months I LOVE what I'm doing. Each day I go into work I learn something new. I'm confident that I won't come close to $100,000.00 because I spend most of my paycheck on tools. Damn you Milwaukee!!!
I did finished my apprenticeship last year as a plumber .i did my attachments for several different companies over a period of 4 year . During that time i gained experience but i noticed that i was lacking self satisfaction with my trade because a lot of people look down upon that trade .. Thanks for your words of inspiration Mr Roger .i will never back down on plumbing .im beginning to love my profession more than everything
Roger your video is very inspirational and learning alot. I'm 38 and should be starting my apprenticeship monday. I know I'm late to the game but theres a very bright future in this trade.
It’s 330. You’re damn right I got people to do 😂. Great vid Roger! I just got my Red Seal ticket here in Canada and some days I debate whether I want to do this or not for the rest of my life. But the way I see it is, no matter what I do I give it 110%. If something else comes along and I want to try that I go all in. And plumbing’s been the same thing for me. I run the en-suite for my company making 34$ an hour + overtime whenever we want. So if I really really crank out hours I can get close to 100k a year. Your videos definitely give me a source of inspiration to keep learning and keep pushing.
I’m 31, was part of a wide lay off from this logistics job and was done petty. I’m starting my plumber apprentice job on 5/11/22. I got a 5yr old son and am planning on moving down the road. This helps me gets the gitters out and prepare for my new journey
I started in plumbing at 17, and moved off of the parts counter to become a helper at 18. Now I'm 24 and am making 100k+ per year. Best decision I ever made. I recommend anyone that doesn't have any plans for their future to atleast give plumbing a try. Thank you Roger, I love your videos.
Exactly, any trade is valuable when you can save money fixing your house or whatever it may be, side jobs, the knowledge we hold is unlike most. We can't take these things all over the worlds
Man you have excellent out look and very motivating I am not a plumber but less then a year ago I was just a new mechanic in the shop now a little over a year ago I pounded the class work and testing now master tech for ford Chevy and uhaul spicific and got over 12 bucks an hour increase in pay buy doing exactly what your saying and love my boss and my job and bought a new house and fixing it up love the Channel and watching you actually fixing things
Always a good message from you man. Im 22 and have a welding shop in va and although i am not a plumber, you’re videos have helped a lot with navigating the construction/contracting sort of world. Cheers from va thanks for all the free information you are giving younger guys like me even the ones that aren’t going into plumbing, it translates to most other trades.
Ive been working as a billing specialist at a call center for ten years this year. In the past two years they started sending jobs overseas. I havent had a raise in two years. The past few weeks the option to become a plumber showed up on my radar, but im in that place right now where things are super comfortable and its scary to get out my comfort zone because i will have no safety net. Life, man.
In the mid-90's as a apprentice plumber, there was to many folks in the trade. Under bidding till no money in new construction. But now its very, very different!
Roger I love your show and all the tips tricks and honest advice about the field all of that coupled with the opportunity in my area I’m heading to my local 392 to put in an application for an apprenticeship in the plumbing field keep up the good work sir god bless and god speed
Hey Roger my name is Juan i been a plumber for 8 years i love what i do i recently got my master plumber license in the state of Colorado i been working for the same company for the same time i would like to work for my self i wanted to see if you could give me any advice on how to start and be able to grow? I am going to be honest am pretty scared of starting my own business thank you an advance
I used to tell women that I was a mechanical contractor.... that threw them for a loop and wouldn't ask any more questions... Your right though, take pride in what you do....I am not ashamed to do what I do...
I have 20 years of experience, but just recently got how to read a print. I was the plumber who always got laid off. I had little hands on. There were guys who worked all year every year, but not me. I only averaged between 6 to 8 months a year. One time I was laid off for 2 straight years. I always as an apprentice and now as a Journeyman had a great work ethic and was always on time. I have a backflow license, medical gas license, confined space and OSHA 30 Hour. I am still learning my trade and read my code book. In the 20 years as a plumber this is the 1st time, I had a full year on a tax return. I made 85K this year. The highest AGI was 39K and the average was 18K. I had guys in the Hall come to me and say, "I thought you were out of the Local, I thought you quit"! They never saw me on any job sites. I was at home collecting unemployment. Things got so bad I had to move back in with my parents. So I know you are right. Never give up! Thanks Roger. Much Love!
I'll tell you I've been a painter for 40 years and over the years I've expanded into you know everything by building my house this I have my hands on every phase of every part of the building from the roof to the gutters the leaders the windows the heating the plumbing I love Plumbing by the way but try to tell somebody that you're just a painter that's not quite a highly esteemed thing to be I'd rather say any day that I'm a plumber I mean I thought doctors NV plumbers even.
Hey Rodger I started off doing top out when I was 18 in Arizona for about a year and then they needed a gas guy so then I did gas for a year I was making good money but really didn't know anything else about plumbing, so I took a pay cut and went from piece rate to hourly to commercial where I was around guys that had been doing it a lifetime with them breathing down my throat all the time I learned a little soils a little trim still doing top out and gas I think it helps you be a better plumber when you do the soils and then come back and have to top it out to where you know what pisses you off haha after 2 years of commercial I was growing tired of it and I found a company that capped off their employees at like 50 Grand a year but they were willing to train me in service for about 6 months I love service I'm still super wet behind the ears all the new construction guys always made fun of it but I like it something is always a little bit different you're working on something hop back in the truck go somewhere else. Now I'm in Atlanta Georgia and on Monday I'm starting a new company that's straight commission it makes me nervous but they're going to let me run around with another guy for a couple weeks or as long as I need they said. The little service experience I had made me more comfortable around customers I'm on the other side of my country starting a new type of compensation I'm definitely out of my comfort zone I feel motivated stressed and confident, if that makes sense. I like watching you talk and the way you present yourself. It's kind of like a little adrenaline rush starting something new on the other side of the country. I enjoy what I do I'm still learning everyday. I'm 25 in 4 days out of high school all my friends kept switching jobs different trades I may have switched companies but I always stayed in plumbing, I feel like it is such a vast trade and everybody s**** everywhere you go it's kind of like being a mechanic everybody drives cars.
That's $50/hr Rodger! Especially For a residential service. Last week, a posted question was on facebook group of Service plumber of texas about how much to charge for a Gabage disposal Badger 5 install. I couldnt beleive untill this second how some plumbers charge $75/Hr and some charges more than $189/hr + parts, The question is how the heck you are going to compete with those rate? Especially if you are paying your guys a decent wages.
Get away from time and material and move towards flat rate. 75/HR is side job prices and 189/HR is only billable hours. It doesn't factor in travel and what not which you can't charge for. It's only about $1000/day which isnt enough to grow a business. With flat rate I get $589 for a badger 5 and $729 for 1hp insinkerator. What's crazy is the $729 garbage disposal outsells the badger 5 and I hardly get any push back on price. You've got to give the customer multiple repair options, not just one and you'll see your job averages shot up. For example. I give the customer two garbage disposal choices and from there offer a kitchen drain cleaning for $225 and/or replace the tubular piping under the kitchen for $325. By offering this. I let the customer decide what they want and you'd be surprised how many times they get everything. So by giving multiple options the job went from $75 for some plumbers to over a $1000 for me!
I make over 100k a year as a commercial service in the Nashville TN area with a 9th grade education. Now there are some long days and nights at times some stop everything and fix an emergency but it's always a different call, different place
Fuck yea man thank you for saying this. At 31 I recently finished a short service plumbing trade school and am now bouncing back between learning service work, rough ins and set outs. Small company with good guys and few benefits. I feel like one of the most motivated employees. I wouldn't say I love plumbing but I value the trade and want to be great at it. I want to motivate the other employees to either get more engaged or quit and do whatever it is that they want. If a company is full of unmotivated people, I think everyone's pay suffers. Thanks again for your great advice. I'm a first year apprentice and plan on sticking with it!
The plumbers in my area of Seattle are ridiculous apartments in my area of Seattle are ridiculous. $2,000 to install a toilet that I paid for! $1,200 just to attach a toilet flange to a roughed in pipe in new construction remodel. $14,000 to do rough-in piping and another estimate of $12,000 for an 8 hour job with two people. everyone needs to make a living but it comes to a certain point when you're just taking advantage of homeowners and price gouging when there are no new insurance requirements, no new license requirements and trying to charge $1,500 an hour
I’m 16 and getting my ged and actually want to be a plumber I’m in a community college and they don’t offer plumbing classes and training I don’t know where to go I know I would like to work union or non union doing service work what should I do
As far as calling your employer, another co-worker plumber, I've done this on Fridays, but only post completion within solving the problem within the call. When your employer arrives, you state the call has been completed, he will then ask why did you call me? Your response, well lunch is in you. If you call him prior to completing the call, he won't show up
Are you a fan of union plumbing? I'm a 3rd year apprentice now non union. If I join local 322 I'll have to restart my appreciateship but they rate is 60/hour fir journeymen. They are the busiest union around.
@@PlumberWRX if you have your license, med gas, and backflow certs you come in as a journeyman. Hell I know guys with only a license they let come in as a journeyman. To me if you have to restart school then its may not be worth it. You have to factor in 5 years of your life going to school plus taking an initial pay cut. I've been in the union and worked non union. If you get with the right company you can make just as much or more than the union shops.
Get in the union now. I was non union for about 12 years and now have been in the union for almost 3 years. It’s not perfect, nothing in life ever is but I’ll never go back to non-union.
Biggest advise that I give tradesman on how to make more money are these three things: 1: Be organized. Failure to keep your tools clean and organized. Your truck clean and organized, your work area clean and organized… leads to lost parts, supplies tools and time. Before I got fanatical about organization I was always buying a new pair of channellocks or a new crecent wrench every time I turned around because someone borrowed it or because I left it somewhere. I have found other tradesmens Dewalt and Makita Drills and Saws in basements and attics… I have found 6’ ladders left leaning places. If these items had a company name on them I did return them, but its expensive to misplace a nice drill or a good ladder. That might be all the profit on a small service call! We had an HVAC tech come work on our unit at the house and he left a nice Impact driver behind outside by the unit. Of course I knew who he was so I let him know it was here, but that’s $150-200 he might have never found… 2: have what you need to do 90% of your jobs on the truck so you can avoid trips to the supply house. Try and hit the supply house as few times per week as possible because it eats into your workday. Your goal is to start and close out as many jobs in a day as you can with good quality control. That is how you make money. Not sitting at the supply house. Keep an inventory on your tablet of what is in your truck so you don’t need to go search for it to know if you have one or if you have to run get it. Monitor that inventory to see when you get low and restock. Doing these two things will probably earn/save you 25% more money.
I have done a lot of plumbing for myself, family and my church. I have tons of experience in remodeling and residential construction. I am thinking about getting in a plumber program at a technical college that will end with me having an associates degree in plumbing, & includes an internship. My question is how will that transfer into actually working as a plumber, would I still start as an apprentice or would I be a journeyman? Or would you recommend me going straight into an apprenticeship, I feel like the program would be better, being it’s 2 years and it end with a degree. Anyways any pointers will be appreciated, thank you!
I try to keep up with technology and tankless water heaters have alot of problems from replacing heat exchangers to removing a lizard out of the blower lol it happens definitely need common sense but alot of plumbers stay away from this kind of repairs so its good 2 know if u want a step above the compition
Heres the way my dad makes over $100k in plumbing at 60 years old. He hires no one for his company and just works his ass off all by him self, while mainting healthy physicic by working out every night as well. No pains what so ever and he has been plumbing for 19 years. And its not like its just service work.. its new construction, multple units, rennovations and other high quoting jobs. The contractors never worry about only seeing one guy because hes probably better than half of plumbing companies with multiple guys (in chicago at least). So what im trying to say is, if you have the capability of taking a lot of the profits to your self without killing your self, that is a great way to go. Unless you just dont like doing labor haha.
Nothing to laugh about or look down upon. Here in NYC there’s about 2800 master plumbers in HISTORY. And there have been millions of doctors .. When I decided not to go to college , a lot of people, my family included , thought I was gonna be a homeless bum. With my career and side work combined I make over $200,000 a year . Be a plumber.
My plumber buddy basically said this... You've got to break it down daily. If you want to make like 300 daily which I think works out to about 120k a year (got to remember taxes) then you've got to get in like 4 or 5 jobs a day (house calls) You kind of know where your bar is at when you do these jobs day in day out. Now there's only so many hours in a day and one person can do so much. So yeah..IF you're a master plumber and are in a position to do house calls in nice areas instead of maybe huge new construction contracts you know you can probably get in 2 jobs before lunch and maybe two after. One of them maybe slightly large like installing a hot water tank or something. If you can't do that as a journeyman then like Roger says, you have to learn more to reach that bar. You have to take your test and study and know your code. Break free from your boss so you keep all of your commission from a job. Then you can call the shots and choose your work load. Working under a boss it'll never happen. They won't let it. Why? Because if you're making 100k then you better be sure that your boss is making 5 times as much lol. Unless if he's the president of rotor rooter it ain't happening. Maybe unless if he's a big time city union guy who nabs the high end contracts and has like an outfit of 20 guys. But then I suppose that's relative because 100k if you live in a high end city probably doesn't go as far as a 100k suburban plumber. When I was doing painting my mentor (who at one time owned his own construction company of like 50 dudes) said to me.... painting is ok and all but you should get some books and learn how to do faux techniques. Such as making things look like their marbled or gold leafed or have a texture to it. Those little self taught skills you can charge a fortune for because it'll take you from being a typical house painter to "an artist". And there's a lot of high end middle upper class demand for that kind of styling that people will pay through the nose for.
This is odd. Been in the industry for 24 years now. This is just a bunch of weird generalizations with absolutely no specific instructions. So basically TH-cam channel gristmill.
How much do you want to make as a plumber this year?
Find out more about becoming a plumber: th-cam.com/play/PLSpTuwsLqh7vwDE3X6d7k7gR7lgYKCT2-.html
$100,000
150k
PLUMER JOB BEAST
Because of you I left my job at cvs , and now a plumber appreciate. Best decision of my 23 years of life so far . Teaching me a lot Roger thank you !
WOW! That's amazing! Good luck on your journey! Keep me posted with how it's going for you
That was close to the age I left the factory to be a plumber. 14years later, it was a great decision.
Also I’ve found plenty of apprentices that love learning a real hands on skill. Best of luck and keep learning.
How’s plumbing bro?
No any updates?
Made 90k last year as a technician at my company, really trying to break the 100k barrier this year! Rodger your videos are always enjoyable to watch on my lunch breaks.
Leaving my security job and starting a career in plumbing. I start 5/18 and I am excited to start learning. A little nervous about starting from scratch but I’ve always been a quick learner and I have the drive to be able to provide for my family. Thank you mr. Wakefield for inspiring me even more then I already had been.
Como te ha ido
I have similar plans I’m in security in Florida right now
@@chankanyy924 I would do it. I have been in plumbing for about a year now and it is the best deduction career wise that I made. Good luck 👍🏼
You already got what it takes then you’re only going up
Hang in there , I’m 4 months in and it’s been the best decision for myself as well.
Listening to number 3 really hit home. Totally feel like some people look down on you if you're in a trade. Thanks for an inspirational video dude.
Mr Sam yeah they do until you tell them your hourly rate to fix something.
Always take pride in what you do, whether you’re a maintenance cleaner, porter, anything that isn’t considered “flashy”, take pride in what you do, no matter what. Hey, people look down on you for doing a trade? Let their ignorance continue to run bliss, at the end of the day, people in the trades is what keeps America strong, they’re the powerhouse of this wonderful country. To me they’re heros.
I love this guy. I just found his channel.
I got 17 years as a Plumber. I'm trying to figure how to take my career to the next level.
On a serious note,this mans words are the truth,his channel is priceless to me!!
Thanks for the kind words and support my brother!
@@RogerWakefield you bet Mr.Wakefield,dont always leave messages but I watch faithfully,in terms of what I'm going thru trying to be in this trade I just appreciate what you do with your channel.
100% this man is a messiah for or trade
Our*
Man I wish I was still in high school when I found this channel, I’m currently 21 in college. I’m pursuing a degree in health service administration and if it ends up not being worth it, this is definitely my backup plan.
A plumber as a backup plan? Really?! 🤦
Apprenticeship is way cheaper and fresh out of plumbing school vs fresh out of college I made more and still do than a overwhelming majority of people I went to school with. I’m able to provide for my wife and 3 kids. Wife isn’t able to work much from health issues so this really Is a big deal for me.
Jesse Fritz yes, really. Did you not watch the video?
Think you took the wrong thing from this, you dont wanna start being a plumber at 30 trust me
Plumbings not a back up to your social studies degree
As an apprentice. We had c plumber who did nothing but camera jobs. He was fired. I asked the boss to let me run the camera and learn. Added value to myself. Earned a hefty raise. Had my own helper. And now my main job here is Running my camera and locating the problem. I’ve been doing it for 2 years now and I’m also now a Journeyman. And 3rd generation Plumber in my family. Your advice videos help a lot.
Glad to help Hector. Thank you for watching!
I'm not a plumber, but I think that this is excellent advice for any career or skill that one is pursuing. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us.
I am a 5 th gen plumber with almost 10 years under my belt, but like you said, you are ALWAYS learning new things in this trade! You remind me of my father who I work with every day. A freakin boss! You should know that you have priceless content, because even after a long day of plumbing, I can come home and still watch your videos 👩🏻🔧🥰
49 years old and I just retired after 25 years of being a police officer. A local company took a chance of me and took me on as an apprentice and after 3 months I LOVE what I'm doing. Each day I go into work I learn something new.
I'm confident that I won't come close to $100,000.00 because I spend most of my paycheck on tools. Damn you Milwaukee!!!
I did finished my apprenticeship last year as a plumber .i did my attachments for several different companies over a period of 4 year . During that time i gained experience but i noticed that i was lacking self satisfaction with my trade because a lot of people look down upon that trade ..
Thanks for your words of inspiration Mr Roger .i will never back down on plumbing .im beginning to love my profession more than everything
It seems everybody in Dallas wants to be a plumber,I'm blaming you Mr.Wakefield😅😆
We definitely need them here in Dallas! I guess my videos are working 😅
Roger your video is very inspirational and learning alot. I'm 38 and should be starting my apprenticeship monday. I know I'm late to the game but theres a very bright future in this trade.
It's no surprise you have been successful, you have a great attitude. You also have a great teaching personality. Glad you have a channel. Thank you.
It’s 330. You’re damn right I got people to do 😂.
Great vid Roger! I just got my Red Seal ticket here in Canada and some days I debate whether I want to do this or not for the rest of my life.
But the way I see it is, no matter what I do I give it 110%. If something else comes along and I want to try that I go all in. And plumbing’s been the same thing for me. I run the en-suite for my company making 34$ an hour + overtime whenever we want. So if I really really crank out hours I can get close to 100k a year.
Your videos definitely give me a source of inspiration to keep learning and keep pushing.
I’m 31, was part of a wide lay off from this logistics job and was done petty. I’m starting my plumber apprentice job on 5/11/22. I got a 5yr old son and am planning on moving down the road. This helps me gets the gitters out and prepare for my new journey
Consider your decision wisely.. Best of luck. I'm a few years in and I'm not it was the right move
I stepped up. My mentality is Go, Go , Go, GO!
I started in plumbing at 17, and moved off of the parts counter to become a helper at 18. Now I'm 24 and am making 100k+ per year. Best decision I ever made. I recommend anyone that doesn't have any plans for their future to atleast give plumbing a try.
Thank you Roger, I love your videos.
What was your process bro
@@davidkraus4010 Do you mean the process of becoming a plumber?
@@jordansantanen4144 what steps did you take to go from helper to $100k ?
Parts and counter??
not only for a piumber but as a man this advice are gold
Those people who laughs at plumbers will also never have the skills of a plumber
Exactly, any trade is valuable when you can save money fixing your house or whatever it may be, side jobs, the knowledge we hold is unlike most. We can't take these things all over the worlds
They’ll also never come close to the salary of a plumber either lol.
@@butskiiueepp1625 That is true lol
It’s all fun and games until they need your help 😂
Man you have excellent out look and very motivating I am not a plumber but less then a year ago I was just a new mechanic in the shop now a little over a year ago I pounded the class work and testing now master tech for ford Chevy and uhaul spicific and got over 12 bucks an hour increase in pay buy doing exactly what your saying and love my boss and my job and bought a new house and fixing it up love the Channel and watching you actually fixing things
281 certs later lol
This is what I call words of wisdom from a real pro👍👍👍🖐
Always a good message from you man. Im 22 and have a welding shop in va and although i am not a plumber, you’re videos have helped a lot with navigating the construction/contracting sort of world. Cheers from va thanks for all the free information you are giving younger guys like me even the ones that aren’t going into plumbing, it translates to most other trades.
3 weeks as an apprentice now. Absolutely loving it
Ive been working as a billing specialist at a call center for ten years this year. In the past two years they started sending jobs overseas. I havent had a raise in two years. The past few weeks the option to become a plumber showed up on my radar, but im in that place right now where things are super comfortable and its scary to get out my comfort zone because i will have no safety net. Life, man.
In the mid-90's as a apprentice plumber, there was to many folks in the trade. Under bidding till no money in new construction. But now its very, very different!
This seems like solid advice for anyone whos considering any type of new career. Thanks man !
Thanks Roger, this was really good for me too see, I'm a first year apprentice and wanna learn more. Your videos are informative
Donny please tell 4,000 of your closest friends to subscribe to my channel and ring the bell... Thank you, I do appreciate all the feedback.
I love this channel, Great content Roger!
I always feel there is more to learn. I am currently learning more into other areas that I hadn’t seen before.
That's great! There are always new things to learn...
have you ever worked in Switzerland i am working here finish with my 4 year apprenticeship soon nice youtube channel
Respect this video💯 110% true honesty. I appreciate your help roger.
Roger I love your show and all the tips tricks and honest advice about the field all of that coupled with the opportunity in my area I’m heading to my local 392 to put in an application for an apprenticeship in the plumbing field keep up the good work sir god bless and god speed
Hey Roger my name is Juan i been a plumber for 8 years i love what i do i recently got my master plumber license in the state of Colorado i been working for the same company for the same time i would like to work for my self i wanted to see if you could give me any advice on how to start and be able to grow? I am going to be honest am pretty scared of starting my own business thank you an advance
I used to tell women that I was a mechanical contractor.... that threw them for a loop and wouldn't ask any more questions... Your right though, take pride in what you do....I am not ashamed to do what I do...
Young men will do anything to try to impress the ladies! Glad to hear you're still in the trade and loving it, brother!
Thank you Roger a lot a Great tips I am a journeyman plumber and just stepped up to a foreman position 25 years old
Love your videos, excellent advice
I’m 1 year into my apprenticeship, I love why I do even tho I’m more on the new construction side doing county tie ins
I have 20 years of experience, but just recently got how to read a print. I was the plumber who always got laid off. I had little hands on. There were guys who worked all year every year, but not me. I only averaged between 6 to 8 months a year. One time I was laid off for 2 straight years. I always as an apprentice and now as a Journeyman had a great work ethic and was always on time. I have a backflow license, medical gas license, confined space and OSHA 30 Hour. I am still learning my trade and read my code book. In the 20 years as a plumber this is the 1st time, I had a full year on a tax return. I made 85K this year. The highest AGI was 39K and the average was 18K. I had guys in the Hall come to me and say, "I thought you were out of the Local, I thought you quit"! They never saw me on any job sites. I was at home collecting unemployment. Things got so bad I had to move back in with my parents. So I know you are right. Never give up! Thanks Roger. Much Love!
My competitors are really stalking me as well !
As an electrical contractor, 1 man shop crushing em💪🏾
Great video. Inspiring
Excellent video, great motivation.
That number 5 hit hard lol
I'll tell you I've been a painter for 40 years and over the years I've expanded into you know everything by building my house this I have my hands on every phase of every part of the building from the roof to the gutters the leaders the windows the heating the plumbing I love Plumbing by the way but try to tell somebody that you're just a painter that's not quite a highly esteemed thing to be I'd rather say any day that I'm a plumber I mean I thought doctors NV plumbers even.
Roger puts guy like down because he a cry baby in his eyes ur no. Good handyman
Hey Rodger I started off doing top out when I was 18 in Arizona for about a year and then they needed a gas guy so then I did gas for a year I was making good money but really didn't know anything else about plumbing, so I took a pay cut and went from piece rate to hourly to commercial where I was around guys that had been doing it a lifetime with them breathing down my throat all the time I learned a little soils a little trim still doing top out and gas I think it helps you be a better plumber when you do the soils and then come back and have to top it out to where you know what pisses you off haha after 2 years of commercial I was growing tired of it and I found a company that capped off their employees at like 50 Grand a year but they were willing to train me in service for about 6 months I love service I'm still super wet behind the ears all the new construction guys always made fun of it but I like it something is always a little bit different you're working on something hop back in the truck go somewhere else. Now I'm in Atlanta Georgia and on Monday I'm starting a new company that's straight commission it makes me nervous but they're going to let me run around with another guy for a couple weeks or as long as I need they said. The little service experience I had made me more comfortable around customers I'm on the other side of my country starting a new type of compensation I'm definitely out of my comfort zone I feel motivated stressed and confident, if that makes sense. I like watching you talk and the way you present yourself. It's kind of like a little adrenaline rush starting something new on the other side of the country. I enjoy what I do I'm still learning everyday. I'm 25 in 4 days out of high school all my friends kept switching jobs different trades I may have switched companies but I always stayed in plumbing, I feel like it is such a vast trade and everybody s**** everywhere you go it's kind of like being a mechanic everybody drives cars.
That's $50/hr Rodger! Especially For a residential service. Last week, a posted question was on facebook group of Service plumber of texas about how much to charge for a Gabage disposal Badger 5 install. I couldnt beleive untill this second how some plumbers charge $75/Hr and some charges more than $189/hr + parts, The question is how the heck you are going to compete with those rate? Especially if you are paying your guys a decent wages.
Are you saying that you can compete because that's not enough money for because that's too much money
Get away from time and material and move towards flat rate. 75/HR is side job prices and 189/HR is only billable hours. It doesn't factor in travel and what not which you can't charge for. It's only about $1000/day which isnt enough to grow a business.
With flat rate I get $589 for a badger 5 and $729 for 1hp insinkerator. What's crazy is the $729 garbage disposal outsells the badger 5 and I hardly get any push back on price.
You've got to give the customer multiple repair options, not just one and you'll see your job averages shot up. For example. I give the customer two garbage disposal choices and from there offer a kitchen drain cleaning for $225 and/or replace the tubular piping under the kitchen for $325. By offering this. I let the customer decide what they want and you'd be surprised how many times they get everything.
So by giving multiple options the job went from $75 for some plumbers to over a $1000 for me!
I make over 100k a year as a commercial service in the Nashville TN area with a 9th grade education. Now there are some long days and nights at times some stop everything and fix an emergency but it's always a different call, different place
Fuck yea man thank you for saying this. At 31 I recently finished a short service plumbing trade school and am now bouncing back between learning service work, rough ins and set outs. Small company with good guys and few benefits. I feel like one of the most motivated employees. I wouldn't say I love plumbing but I value the trade and want to be great at it. I want to motivate the other employees to either get more engaged or quit and do whatever it is that they want. If a company is full of unmotivated people, I think everyone's pay suffers. Thanks again for your great advice. I'm a first year apprentice and plan on sticking with it!
I have a new big brother to look up too thanks Roger W.
Yes preach my journey man plumber always calling everyone for help and I just tell him to stop bothering other people 🤦🏿♂️
The plumbers in my area of Seattle are ridiculous apartments in my area of Seattle are ridiculous. $2,000 to install a toilet that I paid for! $1,200 just to attach a toilet flange to a roughed in pipe in new construction remodel. $14,000 to do rough-in piping and another estimate of $12,000 for an 8 hour job with two people. everyone needs to make a living but it comes to a certain point when you're just taking advantage of homeowners and price gouging when there are no new insurance requirements, no new license requirements and trying to charge $1,500 an hour
Step up and grow a pair. Ouch! That was need Mr. Roger. Thanks.
Now I'm a master plumber In jersey city nj one tip for u I get it you got a TH-cam
I’m 16 and getting my ged and actually want to be a plumber I’m in a community college and they don’t offer plumbing classes and training I don’t know where to go I know I would like to work union or non union doing service work what should I do
You have intrigued me.
I got a crazy uncle who got rich as a plumber 🙊
Sometimes I have a s***** attitude though mostly I'm positive so this video hit home for me
As far as calling your employer, another co-worker plumber, I've done this on Fridays, but only post completion within solving the problem within the call. When your employer arrives, you state the call has been completed, he will then ask why did you call me? Your response, well lunch is in you. If you call him prior to completing the call, he won't show up
You need to strive to be the best at your craft; whatever craft that may be. Set yourself apart from the rest and make yourself of value!!
Thank you 🙏
Well put bud!!
Thank you.
Are you a fan of union plumbing? I'm a 3rd year apprentice now non union. If I join local 322 I'll have to restart my appreciateship but they rate is 60/hour fir journeymen. They are the busiest union around.
Get your license then join the union as a journeyman
@@charlesking678 I'll have to restart Schooling anyway
@@PlumberWRX if you have your license, med gas, and backflow certs you come in as a journeyman. Hell I know guys with only a license they let come in as a journeyman. To me if you have to restart school then its may not be worth it. You have to factor in 5 years of your life going to school plus taking an initial pay cut. I've been in the union and worked non union. If you get with the right company you can make just as much or more than the union shops.
I say all that to say get license and the money will come.
Get in the union now. I was non union for about 12 years and now have been in the union for almost 3 years. It’s not perfect, nothing in life ever is but I’ll never go back to non-union.
Biggest advise that I give tradesman on how to make more money are these three things:
1: Be organized.
Failure to keep your tools clean and organized. Your truck clean and organized, your work area clean and organized… leads to lost parts, supplies tools and time.
Before I got fanatical about organization I was always buying a new pair of channellocks or a new crecent wrench every time I turned around because someone borrowed it or because I left it somewhere. I have found other tradesmens Dewalt and Makita Drills and Saws in basements and attics… I have found 6’ ladders left leaning places. If these items had a company name on them I did return them, but its expensive to misplace a nice drill or a good ladder. That might be all the profit on a small service call!
We had an HVAC tech come work on our unit at the house and he left a nice Impact driver behind outside by the unit. Of course I knew who he was so I let him know it was here, but that’s $150-200 he might have never found…
2: have what you need to do 90% of your jobs on the truck so you can avoid trips to the supply house. Try and hit the supply house as few times per week as possible because it eats into your workday.
Your goal is to start and close out as many jobs in a day as you can with good quality control. That is how you make money. Not sitting at the supply house.
Keep an inventory on your tablet of what is in your truck so you don’t need to go search for it to know if you have one or if you have to run get it. Monitor that inventory to see when you get low and restock.
Doing these two things will probably earn/save you 25% more money.
awesome videos
Nice 👍🏾
I have done a lot of plumbing for myself, family and my church. I have tons of experience in remodeling and residential construction. I am thinking about getting in a plumber program at a technical college that will end with me having an associates degree in plumbing, & includes an internship. My question is how will that transfer into actually working as a plumber, would I still start as an apprentice or would I be a journeyman? Or would you recommend me going straight into an apprenticeship, I feel like the program would be better, being it’s 2 years and it end with a degree. Anyways any pointers will be appreciated, thank you!
Is possible to do electrical and plumbing at same time
I try to keep up with technology and tankless water heaters have alot of problems from replacing heat exchangers to removing a lizard out of the blower lol it happens definitely need common sense but alot of plumbers stay away from this kind of repairs so its good 2 know if u want a step above the compition
I just pulled a lizard out of a Noritz the other day. I like the Navien water heaters. They're waterproof oh, it's harder for lizards to get in them
Heres the way my dad makes over $100k in plumbing at 60 years old. He hires no one for his company and just works his ass off all by him self, while mainting healthy physicic by working out every night as well. No pains what so ever and he has been plumbing for 19 years. And its not like its just service work.. its new construction, multple units, rennovations and other high quoting jobs. The contractors never worry about only seeing one guy because hes probably better than half of plumbing companies with multiple guys (in chicago at least). So what im trying to say is, if you have the capability of taking a lot of the profits to your self without killing your self, that is a great way to go. Unless you just dont like doing labor haha.
The laugh thing... make clients laugh too. Relate a bit so rapport is built and they will feel better about making that plumbing call to you
Hello is me John am in a country call gambia and doing plumbing but I want land more from you
those girls at country bars should look at you now!
They are missin out 🤘
Nothing to laugh about or look down upon. Here in NYC there’s about 2800 master plumbers in HISTORY. And there have been millions of doctors ..
When I decided not to go to college , a lot of people, my family included , thought I was gonna be a homeless bum.
With my career and side work combined I make over $200,000 a year .
Be a plumber.
I will not laugh at you, will laugh with you Roger.😊
You’re too kind 🙂
My plumber buddy basically said this... You've got to break it down daily. If you want to make like 300 daily which I think works out to about 120k a year (got to remember taxes) then you've got to get in like 4 or 5 jobs a day (house calls) You kind of know where your bar is at when you do these jobs day in day out. Now there's only so many hours in a day and one person can do so much. So yeah..IF you're a master plumber and are in a position to do house calls in nice areas instead of maybe huge new construction contracts you know you can probably get in 2 jobs before lunch and maybe two after. One of them maybe slightly large like installing a hot water tank or something.
If you can't do that as a journeyman then like Roger says, you have to learn more to reach that bar. You have to take your test and study and know your code. Break free from your boss so you keep all of your commission from a job. Then you can call the shots and choose your work load.
Working under a boss it'll never happen. They won't let it. Why? Because if you're making 100k then you better be sure that your boss is making 5 times as much lol. Unless if he's the president of rotor rooter it ain't happening. Maybe unless if he's a big time city union guy who nabs the high end contracts and has like an outfit of 20 guys. But then I suppose that's relative because 100k if you live in a high end city probably doesn't go as far as a 100k suburban plumber.
When I was doing painting my mentor (who at one time owned his own construction company of like 50 dudes) said to me.... painting is ok and all but you should get some books and learn how to do faux techniques. Such as making things look like their marbled or gold leafed or have a texture to it. Those little self taught skills you can charge a fortune for because it'll take you from being a typical house painter to "an artist". And there's a lot of high end middle upper class demand for that kind of styling that people will pay through the nose for.
I WOULD LIKE to WORK with a coanad America joB
You have to tell the girls you lay pipe
🤣🤣🤣
I’m starting college soon for plumbing wen I finish shud I go straight to the union and stay in union for 20+ or wat
its never good to have a mindset that you think you know everything
GOOD morning sir sandeep plumber INADIA to America joB plumber help joB SARCH
This is odd. Been in the industry for 24 years now. This is just a bunch of weird generalizations with absolutely no specific instructions. So basically TH-cam channel gristmill.
Thank you