Plumber Resume Skills: 40 Skills and 6 Sections to Copy
By CVBooster Team · Published · Updated
7 min read
The plumber resume skills that get you hired are specific: the pipe materials you work with, the systems you install, the codes you work to, the tools you run, and the license you hold. A list that says plumbing, problem solving and teamwork tells a contractor nothing. Below are 40 plumbing skills in six groups, then six complete skills sections for an apprentice, a residential service plumber, a commercial new construction plumber, a drain and sewer technician, a gas and backflow specialist and a master plumber. Each one comes with three experience lines that prove the skills.
Every plumber resume lists attention to detail. So does every leak that a plumber with attention to detail left behind a wall. The line that gets the call says PEX, 2-inch copper, pressure test to code and no callbacks.
Example 1: apprentice plumber skills section
Entry level: Apprentice plumber, second year (141 words)
Skills - Pipe and fittings: PEX crimp and expansion, PVC and ABS solvent welding, copper soldering (learning brazing) - Rough-in: drain, waste and vent layout under journeyman direction; water supply rough-in - Tools: press tool, PEX expander, pipe threader, reciprocating saw, rotary hammer, laser level - Safety: OSHA 10 card (Construction), trench and ladder safety, confined space awareness - Reading plans: residential plumbing drawings and fixture schedules
Proof in the experience section Plumbing Apprentice, Marlow Creek Plumbing, Columbus, OH | Jun 2025 to present - Rough in drain, waste, vent and PEX supply lines for 2 to 3 new single-family homes a month with a journeyman - Set toilets, lavatories and tub valves at trim-out, about 25 fixtures a week - Load the truck each morning from the job list and keep the van stock sheet up to date
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40 plumber resume skills, grouped
Pick the ones that match the job post. O*NET's plumber task list is the best check on wording: it includes "Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment" and "Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures." Those are skills written as tasks, which is what a resume line should be.
Pipe and joining (8)
- Copper soldering and brazing
- PEX crimp, clamp and expansion
- PVC, CPVC and ABS solvent welding
- Cast iron no-hub and hub
- Steel pipe threading
- Press fittings (copper and steel)
- Grooved fittings
- Pipe hangers and supports
Installation (8)
- Drain, waste and vent rough-in
- Water supply rough-in
- Fixture trim-out
- Water heater installation, tank and tankless
- Water softener and filtration
- Sump and ejector pumps
- Gas piping
- Medical gas (with the required certification)
Service and repair (7)
- Leak detection
- Drain cleaning and cabling
- Hydro jetting
- Camera inspection and locating
- Valve and fixture repair
- Water heater diagnostics
- Backflow testing and repair
Codes, plans and testing (6)
- Blueprint and isometric reading
- Plumbing code (state and local)
- Pressure testing
- Permit and inspection coordination
- Material takeoffs
- Fixture unit and pipe sizing
Tools and equipment (6)
- Press tools
- Pipe threaders
- Jetters and drain machines
- Sewer cameras and locators
- Core drills
- Mini excavators
Safety and people (5)
- OSHA 10 or 30 card
- Trench and excavation safety
- Customer communication and pricing
- Training apprentices
- Job site cleanliness
That is 40. Use the exact words of the job post where they overlap, and spread them through your experience lines rather than only in a list.
Example 2: residential service plumber
Mid level: Journeyman residential service plumber (124 words)
Skills - Service: leak detection, water heater diagnostics and replacement (tank and tankless), fixture and valve repair, drain cabling - Systems: PEX, copper, CPVC, PVC and ABS; pressure-reducing valves and expansion tanks - Customer: flat-rate pricing, upfront quotes, clean-up and explanation of repairs - Tools: press tool, drain machine, sewer camera, thermal camera - License: Journeyman Plumber (Texas)
Proof in the experience section Service Plumber, Pecan Hollow Plumbing, Austin, TX | Mar 2021 to present - Run 4 to 6 residential service calls a day, quoting and completing most repairs on the first visit - Replace about 15 water heaters a month, including tankless conversions with gas line and venting changes - Top-rated technician on the company's customer reviews board in 2025
Example 3: commercial new construction plumber
Mid level: Journeyman commercial plumber (116 words)
Skills - Commercial rough-in: cast iron no-hub, copper press, grooved steel, PVC underground - Plans: commercial plumbing drawings, isometrics, riser diagrams, submittals - Testing: hydrostatic and air tests, test documentation for inspectors - Equipment: rotary hammer, core drill, scissor lift, mini excavator - Safety: OSHA 30 card, fall protection, trench safety
Proof in the experience section Journeyman Plumber, Larkhaven Mechanical, Denver, CO | Aug 2020 to present - Install underground, rough-in and trim on schools, medical offices and multi-family buildings up to 6 stories - Lay out sleeves and hangers from coordinated drawings ahead of the concrete pours - Lead a 3-person crew on floor rough-in and pass inspection on first visit on most floors
Example 4: drain and sewer technician
Mid level: Drain and sewer service technician (110 words)
Skills - Drain cleaning: sectional and drum machines, hydro jetting, root cutting - Diagnostics: sewer camera inspection, line locating, video reports for customers - Repair: spot repairs, cleanout installation, trenchless lining support - Safety: confined space awareness, excavation safety, PPE - Customer: explaining camera footage, written estimates
Proof in the experience section Drain Technician, Gulfmoor Drain Pros, Tampa, FL | Jan 2022 to present - Clear 6 to 8 residential and restaurant drain lines a day with cable machines and jetters - Run camera inspections and send video and a written estimate to the customer before any dig - Install exterior cleanouts and coordinate excavation with the repair crew
Example 5: gas, backflow and specialty plumber
Senior level: Plumber with gas and backflow specialties (118 words)
Skills - Gas piping: black iron and CSST, sizing, pressure testing, appliance connections - Backflow: testing, repair and annual certification reports - Specialties: commercial water heaters, booster pumps, grease interceptors - Codes: state plumbing and fuel gas code, permit and inspection - License: Journey level plumber certificate (Washington); backflow assembly tester certification
Proof in the experience section Lead Service Plumber, Fennick Plumbing and Gas, Spokane, WA | Jun 2018 to present - Test and certify about 300 backflow assemblies a year for commercial customers and file reports with the water purveyor - Size and install gas piping for restaurant kitchens and commercial water heaters - Train 2 apprentices a year on gas testing and backflow repair
Example 6: master plumber and foreman
Senior level: Master plumber, field foreman (116 words)
Skills - Leadership: crew scheduling, apprentice training, job site safety meetings - Estimating: material takeoffs, change orders, pricing review with the project manager - Code and permits: pulling permits, scheduling inspections, resolving corrections - Systems: full commercial and residential plumbing, gas, medical office fit-outs - License: Master Plumber (Texas); OSHA 30 card
Proof in the experience section Plumbing Foreman, Cibolo Bend Mechanical, San Antonio, TX | Feb 2019 to present - Run 2 crews of 4 on commercial projects up to $2 million in plumbing scope - Prepare material takeoffs from drawings and keep each job within the material budget - Pull permits and manage all plumbing inspections; zero failed final inspections in 2025
License and safety lines
Your license is a skill in its own right, so give it a line. License names differ by state. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, on its license types page, adds that "All licensees must complete six hours of continuing professional education to be eligible to renew." Check your own state board's names and write them exactly.
OSHA cards go on the resume, but call them cards, not certifications. OSHA's Outreach Training Program page says "None of the courses within the Outreach Training Program is considered a certification," and that "The 10-hour class is intended to provide workers with awareness of common job-related safety and health hazards, while the 30-hour class is more appropriate for supervisors or workers with some safety responsibility." Write OSHA 10 card or OSHA 30 card, with the industry.
How to use these skills on your resume
- Match the post. Pull the skills that appear both in the job post and in your work.
- Group them. Pipe and joining, installation, service, codes, tools, license. A grouped list reads faster than a long line.
- Prove them. Each skill in the list should show up again in an experience line with a number.
- Name materials and tools. PEX, copper, cast iron, press tool, jetter. Generic skills are invisible.
- Put the license high. In the header or the first line of skills.
For a full plumber resume, see the plumber resume. Related trades: pipefitter and HVAC technician resumes, and skills for an electrician resume. If you are moving into a lead role, our foreman resume keywords guide helps. For other fields, browse resume skills.
Frequently asked questions
What skills should I put on a plumber resume?
The pipe materials and joining methods you use, the systems you install or service, codes and plan reading, your main tools, safety training and your license. Pick the ones the job post asks for.
How many skills should a plumber list?
A focused set in the skills section, grouped by type and matched to the job post, and the same skills repeated with numbers in your experience lines.
What skills does an apprentice plumber put on a resume?
The materials and tools you already use, rough-in and trim-out under supervision, plan reading, your OSHA card and your apprenticeship year.
Should soft skills go on a plumber resume?
A few, written as work: explaining repairs to customers, quoting jobs, training apprentices, keeping a clean site. Skip vague words such as hardworking.
Is an OSHA 10 card a certification?
No. OSHA says its Outreach Training Program courses are not certifications. List it as an OSHA 10 card or OSHA 30 card.
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