Smelly creatures, sewage baths and late-night emergency calls to fix broken pipes are all part of the mix in Mr. But the potential to earn a good living, doing a job he finds rewarding, outweighs the drawbacks, Mr. Rosenblum, 34, said. Turns out there may be something to the advice your meddling uncle gave you at your high school graduation, about skipping college and becoming a plumber instead. Demand for plumbers and fitters is strong. The number employed is expected to grow 21 percent byversus 11 percent across all occupations, according to Labor Bureau statistics. Requirements vary by state, but prospective plumbers typically spend four to five years as paid apprentices, while also taking classroom instruction in skills like reading blueprints. Then they must pass an plumver to obtain a license.