As a parent, you may have followed media coverage of the question aimed at your teenager : Would I be better off training as a plumber instead of spending three years at university?
It’s a question being asked more often, and recent media coverage has added fuel to the debate. Stories of plumbers earning more than graduates can make university seem like a less attractive option—especially when student debt is part of the picture.
But the reality is more complex.
The starting point for this discussion is salary. Recent UK data shows graduates earn around £27,000 one year after leaving university, rising to around £35,000 within five years. By comparison, newly qualified plumbers employed by a company can earn between £24,000 and £32,000. That means, in the early years, some young plumbers may indeed earn as much as—or more than—some graduates.
What often grabs attention, though, are reports of plumbers earning £80,000 or even £100,000 a year. While those figures are possible, they usually apply to experienced, self-employed plumbers who work long hours and often specialise, for example in gas boiler installation. For many self-employed plumbers, earnings are more realistically in the £40,000–£70,000 range.
So yes, a skilled trade can provide excellent earning potential.
But salary alone should never drive career decisions.
The bigger question is whether the job actually fits your young person’s strengths and interests. Plumbing is a highly skilled profession, but it requires practical ability, problem-solving, resilience, and the willingness to work physically—sometimes in difficult conditions. A teenager who is highly academic and enjoys classroom-based learning may not find that pathway rewarding. Equally, a young person who prefers practical, hands-on work may thrive in an apprenticeship rather than in university lectures.
The same applies in reverse. University can open the door to careers in law, medicine, finance, engineering, and technology, where long-term earnings can be significantly higher than many trade-based careers. Graduate success, however, depends heavily on degree subject, university choice, and the career path that follows.
Student finance is another important factor for families to consider. With repayment thresholds relatively low, some graduates may begin repaying loans while earning only modest salaries. This makes it more important than ever to research the likely outcomes of a chosen degree and understand the realistic return on investment.
As parents, one of the most valuable things we can do is encourage our teenagers to look beyond headlines and ask better questions:
- What am I naturally good at?
- What kind of work would suit me?
- What training route matches my strengths?
- What are the long-term career and salary prospects?
The real choice is not simply plumber or university. It’s about finding the pathway—whether degree, apprenticeship, or another route—that gives your young person the best opportunity to succeed and feel fulfilled.
Good decisions come from good information, honest reflection, and careful planning. And for many families, having expert careers guidance can help make sense of all the options. Career Lift-Off can help with this, so if you and your young person are finding career decision making stressful you can get clear and objective information, sound advice and guidance which puts the aspirations and interests of your young person at heart.
Michael Stockwell, Career Lift-Off, 29 April 2026
