Plumber
Installs, repairs and maintains water supply systems, drainage, sanitation and gas piping in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. A fundamental trade with severe shortage of skilled workers in Kenyas growing construction sector. Combines traditional pipefitting with modern PPR, PVC and solar water heating systems.
- AI exposure
- 12 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Rising
- Hiring rate
- 65%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- High
- Time to senior
- 5 years
- Adaptation level
- Moderate
A day in the role
Instates PPR piping in a new apartment block, repairs a blocked drainage system at a commercial building, quotes materials for a bathroom renovation, and responds to an emergency leak call.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 20,000-35,000
- Mid
- KES 55,000-90,000
- Senior
- KES 110,000-200,000+
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 5% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside trades & vocational the mean is 11, across 66 careers.
What the rating is made of
Share of recorded tasks- Machine does it
- 3%Software can already complete this work end to end.
- Machine assists
- 10%A person still decides, but the drafting is done for them.
- Person does it
- 87%Judgement, relationships and accountability that do not transfer.
Named task by task
Already automated
- Generating job scheduling optimisations
- Producing material estimate calculators
- Automating invoicing and quotations
Still human
- Installing and repairing pipe systems
- Reading blueprints and technical drawings
- Diagnosing drainage and water supply issues
- Ensuring building code compliance
- Emergency leak repairs
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Certificate in Metal Processing TechnologyKsh 42,600a year
- Artisan in Building TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Carpentry and JoineryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Front Office OperationsKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in HorticultureKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Land SurveyingKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in MasonryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Refrigeration and Air ConditioningKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
Vocational training (NITA)
2-3 yearsLow cost
National Industrial Training Authority certificate at a technical institute
Apprenticeship
2-4 yearsLow cost
Learn under a master plumber, build experience
Who hires
- Nairobi Water Company
- Bamburi Cement
- Self-employment
- Construction firms
- Property management companies
Common misconceptions
Plumbing is unskilled work
Modern plumbing requires technical knowledge of water systems, building codes, material science and safety standards.
No career growth
Experienced plumbers run profitable businesses, employ teams and earn significantly more than many office jobs.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Supply and demand
- Demand
- 65
- Supply pressure
- 30
- Balance
- High demand
What to learn
- Modern piping systems
- Solar water heating
- Green plumbing
Related careers
Kenyan market notes
Kenya faces a severe shortage of skilled construction workers, driving labor costs upward. Plumbers earn KES 1,500-2,200 per day in Nairobi (KES 39,000-57,200/month equivalent). Self-employed plumbing contractors earn KES 110,000+ monthly. NITA certification is the standard qualification. Growing demand for solar water heating and green plumbing. Most plumbers are self-employed or work as contractors. TVET courses in plumbing are among the most marketable in 2026.
Further reading
This role is rated 12 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.