SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Drain Technician
  • Fire Sprinkler Service Technician
  • Pipe Welder
  • Pipefitter
  • Plumber
  • Plumbing Installer
  • Residential Plumber
  • Service Plumber
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What do Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters do?

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters are skilled tradespeople who work on the installation, maintenance, and repair of piping systems in various settings. Plumbers primarily focus on water supply and drainage systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, ensuring that water flows properly and is disposed of safely. Pipefitters, on the other hand, specialize in the installation and maintenance of piping systems that carry gases, chemicals, and other substances, often working in manufacturing and energy sectors. Steamfitters deal specifically with the installation and maintenance of piping systems that carry steam and hot water, which are commonly used in heating systems and power generation. All three professions require technical knowledge and skills related to the analysis of blueprints, adherence to building codes, and the use of various tools and techniques to ensure the safe and efficient operation of plumbing and piping systems.

What the work actually is

  • Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
  • Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
  • Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
  • Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
  • Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Repairing Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Troubleshooting Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities

  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Finger Dexterity The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Knowledge

  • Building and Construction Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Mechanical Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Design Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Associate's degree

A normal week

  • Getting Information
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Performing General Physical Activities

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Accounting software Bookkeeping software · Intuit QuickBooks · KRS Enterprises Service First! · Quicken
  • Analytical or scientific software Bentley Systems AutoPIPE · COADE CAESAR II · Quote Software QuoteExpress · Watter Hammer Software Hytran
  • Computer aided design CAD software AEC Design Group CADPIPE · Drawing and drafting software · Horizon Engineering Sigma Plumbing Calculator · ViziFlow
  • Project management software Estimating software · FastEST FastPipe · Piping construction costs estimation software · Vision InfoSoft Plumbing Bid Manager
  • Data base user interface and query software Database software · Insight Direct ServiceCEO · PricePoint · Wintac Pro

Tools

  • Specialty wrenches Chain wrenches · Spud wrenches · Strainer wrenches
  • Pipe or tube cutter Pipe cutters · Power pipe cutters · Ratcheting polyvinyl chloride PVC cutters
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipment Drain cleaning cables · Hand spinners · Power sink machine drain cleaners
  • Levels Laser levels · Pocket levels · Torpedo levels
  • Pressure indicators Air pressure gauges · Heavy duty water pressure gauges · Maximum reading water pressure gauges

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn in South Africa?

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters do?

Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches, Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing and Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.