Careers in the Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Industry

Your future is bright in South Dakota’s Plumbing, Heating and Cooling industry!

Work in the P-H-C profession offers good money and the work is essential to the comfort and safety of society. Many people love their work in this field because they see projects created and completed right before their eyes—you get to see the completion of your own work! The members of the South Dakota Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors employ hundreds of plumbing and HVAC apprentices and journeymen—and the demand for these skills is growing! Plumbing and HVAC contractors, large and small, are in business in all parts of South Dakota, plus Sioux City, Iowa. Wages vary by location, but listed below are several of the average hourly wages for the professionals in South Dakota’s P-H-C industry:

Apprentices - $10.00 to $15.00 per hour plus benefits
Journeymen - $12.00 to $20.00 per hour plus benefits
Foremen - $16.00 to $28.00 per hour plus benefits

South Dakota’s P-H-C industry members also offer training and career advancement for their employees.

What’s needed to become employed in this rewarding industry?

Some amount of post-secondary education is helpful, but in the P-H-C field, on-the-job training is as important as education. The entry level position in this field is apprenticeship. In South Dakota, apprentices are licensed and they work under the supervision of journeymen on commercial and residential plumbing and heating. An apprenticeship consists of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, plus an approved curriculum program offered by SDAPHCC. The SDAPHCC offers curriculums for both plumbing and HVAC apprenticeships. Once an apprentice has completed the on-the-job training, they’re allowed to take the journeyman’s test.

Where’s more information about jobs in the P-H-C industry?

Click on our Industry Job Listings and Classifieds to view current job openings. Also, view the list of members of the SDAPHCC to find employers in your area. Call or email the SDAPHCC and we can provide more information about jobs and training in South Dakota’s P-H-C industry.

The contractor members of the SDAPHCC ask you to consider a profession in the plumbing and HVAC fields. You’ll find the work exciting, fulfilling and financially rewarding too! You’ll find that your skills are in demand and that as the industry changes, you can adapt your skills to meet new technologies and challenges.