In recent years, the debate about the salary of traditional jobs has gained weight in Spain. While sectors such as plumbing continue to be essential, society’s perception and the economic compensation for these jobs are not always aligned with the effort involved. In fact, it is one of the reasons why fewer and fewer young people want to dedicate themselves to it.
This is what he pointed out Santi Villafruela, a 37-year-old self-employed plumber with more than 20 years of experience in the sector, in an interview for NewsWorkin which he explains the reasons that led him to choose this profession, the evolution of his working conditions and the salary reality of the sector.
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Santi’s first contact with plumbing came from his cousin when he was barely 14 years old, although he has always been marked by the search for autonomy. After having several jobs as a salaried employee, he did not hesitate to take the leap when he felt ready. A change that, as he assures, was substantial in economic terms, since he went “from earning 1,200 euros a month to having a decent salary to live, travel and indulge my whims,” he points out.
How much does a self-employed plumber earn?
Santi’s case illustrates one of the least visible realities of the sector, which is the income difference between those who work as self-employed workers and those who work as employees. The professional assures that in his case he has “about 4,000 clean euros per month” left, after deducting taxes and expenses derived from the activity.
A figure that, although a priori might seem high compared to other sectors, responds to long hours, a considerable physical load and carrying the risks and responsibilities associated with self-employment. “The truth is that the salary does not match the work you do, especially physically,” he says convinced.
“A good plumber would have to earn 3,000 euros a month, since you spend all day grinding yourself, on your knees, with busted hands, with back pain, carrying weight and climbing to heights that, unlike a person who is sitting in a chair, does not run those risks.”
Salary difference between a self-employed and salaried plumber
However, the brunt of this profession is mostly borne by salaried workers. Well, according to Santi, “a plumber who works in a company is not going to charge more than 1,800 euros, unless he is in charge or carries out the entire work,” he assures.
Thus, Santi’s experience leads him to send a clear message to those considering their professional future in plumbing. Betting on self-employment is, in his opinion, the most profitable route in the sector. “I am clear that any plumber today is going to earn much more money becoming self-employed than working for a company,” he says with conviction.
For Santi, the most important thing when embarking on this profession is to gain experience as an employee and learn all the facets of the trade, and then make the leap to working on your own. “If I started in this, I would learn everything I could and, tomorrow, I would fly alone,” he recommends.