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You may have never considered a career in the plumbing industry, especially if you're looking for a job in Portland. However, if you long for a reliable position that pays well, plumbing is a good starting point. Go to http://portland.jobing.com to learn more about jobs in Portland.

Plumbing, although an often under-appreciated career path, is a somewhat difficult and rewarding job. Overall, plumbing is one of the top paid construction positions. Fortunately for those in Portland, the average wage for a plumber in Oregon is one of the highest in the nation.

During 2008, Oregon was one of the top three states in terms of wages, as half of all plumbers in the state earned more than $28.83 per hour, or about $60,000 each year. The Multnomah/Washington area, where Portland is located, leads the state in plumbing salaries. Plumbers there earned an average salary of $30.88 per hour, or $64,236 per year, during 2008.

Some of the top paying plumbing positions throughout the country are in the areas of pharmaceutical, motor vehicle, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Plumbers can focus on everything from home repair to working on new commercial and residential construction or working in manufacturing plants. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that plumbers typically specialize in pipe laying, pipe fitting, steam fitting, sprinkler installation or general plumbing.

Most workers who want to become plumbers are usually required to obtain a state plumber's license by completing an apprenticeship, which requires the applicant be at least 18-years old and provide a proof of high school graduation or GED.

An apprenticeship, which is very much like an entry level job, usually lasts four to five years and apprentices start out by earning about half of what their journey-level counterparts make. However, wages can increase every six months, depending on the progression of the program. Most apprenticeships include at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and a minimum of 144 hours of related instruction each year.

The BLS estimates that the majority of plumbers are employed by building equipment contractors, nonresidential building contractors and utility system construction firms. During 2008, only about 12 percent of plumbers were self-employed, while about 30 percent were part of a union.

On top of all the rewarding aspects of the career itself, the Oregon Employment Department expects plumbing industry employment to grow as fast as the state average through 2016, at about 14 percent. From 2010 through 2016, there were expected to be 733 openings in the industry due to growth and 1,278 openings due to retirements or workers leaving the trade.

Labels: Portland jobs