Also called: Plumbing Design Engineer, MEP Plumbing Engineer
Designs the water, drain, gas and medical-gas piping systems for big buildings.
You figure out how big the pipes must be so 2,000 fans can flush the stadium toilets at halftime without anything backing up. You lay out pipes on 3D building models and answer questions from contractors in the field.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in mechanical or architectural engineering; CPD certification available.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering.
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years). Rolled into mechanical engineers; plumbing engineers are in short supply.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. BIM software and AI auto-route pipes and run sizing; code interpretation, coordination with contractors and stamped approvals stay human.
Classes: Algebra II, Physics, Drafting or architecture CTE, Environmental science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2141.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.