Skip to main content

Plumber

Stable

Skilled Trades

Installs and maintains piping, water and sanitation systems for homes and buildings. Entry via TVET/ILP certificate; steady demand from construction and property maintenance, with self-employment common at mid-career.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

General

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
  2. 2Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
  3. 3Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
  4. 4Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
  5. 5Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
  6. 6Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
  7. 7Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
  8. 8Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.
  9. 9Select pipe sizes, types, or related materials, such as supports, hangers, or hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications.
  10. 10Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks.
  11. 11Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components.
  12. 12Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods.
  13. 13Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
  14. 14Anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place.
  15. 15Attach pipes to walls, structures, or fixtures, such as radiators or tanks, using brackets, clamps, tools, or welding equipment.
  16. 16Modify, clean, or maintain pipe systems, units, fittings, or related machines or equipment, using hand or power tools.
  17. 17Install automatic controls to regulate pipe systems.
  18. 18Keep records of work assignments.
  19. 19Estimate time, material, or labor costs for use in project plans.
  20. 20Inspect structures to assess material or equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, or to plan installation around obstructions, such as electrical wiring.
  21. 21Maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains.
  22. 22Repair or remove and replace system components.
  23. 23Cut openings in structures to accommodate pipes or pipe fittings, using hand or power tools.
  24. 24Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness.
  25. 25Install pipe systems to support alternative energy-fueled systems, such as geothermal heating or cooling systems.
  26. 26Install fixtures, appliances, or equipment designed to reduce water or energy consumption.
  27. 27Repair hydraulic or air pumps.
  28. 28Install green plumbing equipment, such as faucet flow restrictors, dual-flush or pressure-assisted flush toilets, or tankless hot water heaters.
  29. 29Weld small pipes or special piping, using specialized techniques, equipment, or materials, such as computer-assisted welding or microchip fabrication.
  30. 30Operate motorized pumps to remove water from flooded manholes, basements, or facility floors.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • ESA
  • Fitter
  • Tinner
  • Plumber
  • Gasfitter
  • Pipefitter
  • Gas Plumber
  • Pipe Fitter
  • Pipe Welder
  • Steamfitter

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationPost-secondary certificate

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Civil Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Engineering DrawingDraws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Mechanical Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
PhysicsDraws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Building and Construction87%

    Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Mechanical87%

    Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Design75%

    Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing

  • Mathematics75%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Customer and Personal Service72%
  • Administration and Management66%

    BusinessEconomics

Skills to build

Hands-on focusSafety disciplineReliability

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedRarely
  • Outdoors, in all weatherOften
  • Noisy environmentEvery day

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

0%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

Pay in the private market

Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.

Entry

Private
RM1,700 – RM2,400

Mid-career

Private
RM2,800 – RM4,500

Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.

Job demand outlook

Stable

Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.

Your readiness

How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.

Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.

Add my grades

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

TVET

Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.

1–3 years

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

International Pre-U

A-Levels, AUSMAT, IB and more. The flexible premium route, local or overseas.

1–2 years

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Source: Ministry of Human Resources: Guide on Starting Wages for Skills-Based Jobs · as of Aug 2025

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org