Plumbing Service Technician Job Description Template: Hire Top Techs to Grow Your Business

Many plumbing companies face rising demand for their services but struggle to find applicants to fill plumbing service technician roles. The numbers support that, as job postings for workers with plumbing experience swelled by more than 133% since early 2020, according to a plumber jobs database shared with ServiceTitan by ZipRecruiter.

A plumbing company needs quality workers to fill job openings to schedule more jobs, maintain top customer service, and grow its commercial or residential plumbing business. A customized, up-to-date plumbing service technician job description enables you to identify the best techs, so you can hire and train the employees you need.

Table of Contents

Plumber technician job description template

What does a plumbing technician do?

Common plumber technician responsibilities

Common plumber technician requirements and skills

When done correctly, job descriptions give your company a well-executed playbook for the entire employee life cycle, says Ian Schotanus of The Big Picture Consulting, who calls himself "The HR Guy for the Trades."

"It manages expectations. It provides clarity, and it gives you a baseline to build that employer-employee relationship," Schotanus says.

Maximize your plumbing service tech job description by using an all-in-one plumbing software solution, and read on to learn additional best practices for hiring.

Plumber technician job description template

This template includes all of the essential information you need, such as required qualifications, skills, and experience. Customize it to create the right plumber job description for your role and company. For instance, you could ask about experience with types of plumbing projects your company specializes in, or about other specific skills and experience you seek in a candidate.

Plumbing Service Technician

The Plumbing Service Technician will apply their technical skills and knowledge in performing diagnostic, service, and installation of plumbing in residential and light commercial environments and ensure that work is performed in accordance with relevant codes. Responsibilities include assembling, installing or repairing pipes, fittings, or fixtures of heating, water, or drainage systems in accordance with plumbing code specifications.

► Primary responsibilities:

• Performs residential and light commercial service to diagnose and resolve plumbing issues.

• Identifies potential problems to prevent premature and/or unexpected breakdowns/callbacks.

• Maintains and repairs plumbing systems carrying water, steam, chemicals, and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems.

• Inspects high-pressure, air, steam, water, and gas systems to ascertain malfunctions.

• Repairs or replaces plumbing fixtures, tests joints and pipe systems.

• Interprets drawings and specifications to determine layout requirements.

• Reviews blueprints, building codes or specifications to determine work details and procedure.

• Studies building plans and inspects structures to assess material and equipment needs, establish sequence of pipe installations, and plan installation around obstructions.

• Measure, cut, thread, bend, ream, and install pipe and pipe fittings.

• Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings.

• Locates and marks position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures.

• Installs pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances or fixtures using hand or power tools.

• Maintains accurate documentation of service calls and time management.

• Submits all complete paperwork in an accurate and timely manner.

• Maintains a properly clean and stocked service vehicle.

• Attends weekly departmental meetings.

• Participates in periodic inventory and truck inspections.

• Maintains tools and machinery in good condition and uses all tools in a safety-conscious manner.

• Explains to the client each service performed each time a maintenance or repair is completed and ensures complete customer satisfaction.

• Explains club membership agreements to every client; maintains a 25% club membership conversion rate for repair clients.

• Documents part sheets listing, corresponding job numbers and parts used on each job and turns in to the office daily.

• Debriefs with dispatch after completion of every job.

• Creates or calls in for PO numbers for any materials picked up at suppliers and provides cost before and after taxes to ensure accuracy.

• Turns in all parts receipts/packing slips daily and has corresponding job numbers written on them.

• Provides pricing to the customer for approval prior to performing any work.

• Retains 80% of membership clients and maintains an 80% appointment conversion ratio in the home.

• Maximizes lead opportunities based on the company's business plan.

• Participates in all company-sponsored training classes.

• Always maintains a professional image by:

• Wearing only company-approved apparel.

• Following safety policies and procedures.

• Abiding by all company standards of performance and code of ethics.

• Maintaining a courteous demeanor with all customers and associates.

• Maintaining a company vehicle, ensuring cleanliness and organization, both inside and out.

• Respecting the customer’s property.

► Required knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Must have a minimum of five years of verifiable plumbing experience in a residential service and maintenance operation.

• Knowledge of local and national plumbing codes.

• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and drawings.

• Basic change order cost-estimating experience.

• Computer proficiency to include Microsoft Word and Excel.

• Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

► Educational/certification requirements:

• GED or high school diploma

• Journeyman license

• Preferred: Associate’s degree in related field

► Environmental conditions:

• Field service environment

• Exposure to smells associated with sewer and water, sounds associated with power tools

• Exposure to dust and other debris

• Extreme weather conditions

• Extended work hours to include day and/or evening shifts

• Local travel

► Physical requirements:

• Ability to work under stressful conditions and may be exposed to verbal and/or physical confrontations

• Ability to work extended hours, nights or weekends

• Ability to stand, walk, and climb ladders and stairs

• Ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl

• Natural or corrected vision to see and focus for close, distance, peripheral vision with normal depth perception

• Perform work assignments with or without reasonable accommodation to a known disability.

What does a plumbing technician do?

A plumbing technician installs, maintains, and repairs plumbing systems in new and existing residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Plumbing technicians play a vital role in ensuring access to clean water and proper disposal of waste water.

Plumbing technicians install pipes, fixtures, and appliances, such as faucets, bathtubs, dishwashers, and water heaters. Common repairs include leaks, broken pipes, and clogged drains. Maintenance includes services such as drain cleaning, pressure testing, and backflow prevention.

Common plumber technician responsibilities

Some of the main and most common plumbing technician responsibilities are the following:

• Install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems: This includes pipes, fixtures, and appliances. It may also include occasionally working on heating systems and other energy systems that intersect with plumbing.

• Troubleshoot and diagnose plumbing problems: Plumber technicians must identify the source of a problem and recommend the best course of action. They should be skilled in using blueprints and other plumber resources, too.

• Educate customers about plumbing: Many technicians must play a customer service role by communicating clearly with clients and managing their expectations. Technicians can also take a proactive role here by teaching customers preventative maintenance.

Other common responsibilities include responding to plumbing emergencies, collaborating with other contractors, and keeping up with industry codes and regulations.

Common plumber technician requirements and skills

To become a plumber technician, you must typically meet certain requirements and have certain skills. These requirements and skills may vary depending on the employer, but some of the most common include:

• High school diploma or equivalent: Most employers require this of their plumber technicians, even their most experienced plumbers.

• Vocational training or apprenticeship program: These programs teach the core skills and knowledge all plumbing technicians should know.

• State license: Plumbing license requirements in most states usually test applicants’ knowledge of plumbing codes and regulations.

• Minimum years of experience: This is at each employer’s discretion, but ask for verifiable work experience going back an appropriate amount of years. Master plumbers and journeyman plumbers will naturally have more experience than apprentice plumbers.

As for common skills, plumber technicians should have:

• Technical skills: Install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems. This includes reading blueprints and diagrams, using plumbing tools, and soldering pipes.

• Problem-solving skills: Troubleshoot and diagnose plumbing problems. This requires thinking critically to identify the source of a problem.

• Communication skills: Communicate effectively with customers and other contractors. This includes explaining plumbing problems and solutions in a clear, concise manner.

• Customer service skills: Provide excellent customer service. This includes being polite, professional, and responsive to customer needs.

Other valuable qualities include good health, as plumbing requires lifting heavy tools, not to mention the dexterity to use them in cramped spaces. It’s also valuable to hire plumbing technicians who work equally well independently and as part of a team.

Also, it’s more important than ever to hire plumbers who are comfortable with technology. ServiceTitan’s Field Service App makes sure your plumbing technicians arrive fully informed and on time for each appointment, setting them up to deliver excellent customer service and even upsell. Learn more with a free demo.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the most common questions about plumbing technician jobs from the employer side.

When Should I Add a Plumbing Technician to My Company?

Annual planning shows you how many technicians your plumbing company needs for the coming year. It breaks down revenue by year, department, and month based on previous years’ performance. With that data, you can forecast the number of sales, jobs, and technicians needed to hit revenue targets.

Learn more about annual planning in the webinar “Unlock the Power” with Angie Snow, co-owner of Western Heating & Air Conditioning in Utah and a Principal Industry Advisor at ServiceTitan.

What is the pay range of plumbers?

The average plumbing technician salary in the United States based on salary.com is between  $64,140 and $83,183 annually (data as of Sept. 25, 2023). This is about $30.84 to $39.99 per hour. Note plumber salaries vary for many reasons, including state.

What are some good personality traits for a plumber?

Plumbers with strong soft skills, also known as interpersonal skills, tend to outperform their peers. A big reason is the diversity of people a plumber must work with — other plumbers; other service providers such as carpenters and electricians; customers; and suppliers. Good personality traits to look for when asking plumber interview questions include:

• Communicative 

• Punctual 

• Good listener

• Safety-minded

• Attentive to detail

• Time management

That’s a solid though not exhaustive list of traits indicating strong soft skills. Other personality traits to look for include being a problem-solver and good teammate. 

What are the main skills a plumber needs?

The main skills a plumber needs are:

• Technical skills: The ability to install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems using blueprints, diagrams, and standard plumbing tools.

• Problem-solving skills: The ability to troubleshoot and diagnose plumbing problems, and identify the best course of action to repair.

• Communication skills: The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and respectfully with customers and other contractors.

• Customer service skills: The ability to be polite, professional, and responsive to customer needs.

In addition, plumbers should have experience with field service technology, such as ServiceTitan plumbing software, which provides the tools they need to operate more efficiently in the office or field. Get started with a free demo.