--- title: Life Insurance for Plumbers and pipefitters | Coverfolk url: https://coverfolk.com/jobs/plumbers updated: 2026-10-08 --- # Life insurance for plumbers and pipefitters Plumbers and pipefitters keep water, gas, and steam moving. BLS counts about 511,000 of these jobs. Cuts, burns, and falls from ladders are common injuries. [Find my coverage gap](/jobs/plumbers/calculator) Updated October 8, 20263 sources[Fact checked](/editorial-standards) **511,000**About 511,000 plumber, pipefitter, and steamfitter jobs (510,600) (2025)[Source: BLS OOH: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm) **5.8**fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in 2023, vs 3.5 for all jobs[Source: BLS CFOI: Civilian occupations with high fatal work injury rates, 2023](https://www.bls.gov/charts/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries/civilian-occupations-with-high-fatal-work-injury-rates.htm) **1.7x**the average risk at work, based on the BLS rates [### plumbers coverage calculator Your pay, your loans, your work plan. See the gap in 30 seconds. Open](/jobs/plumbers/calculator) [### If you die on the job What workers comp, work plans and Social Security pay, and what they don't. Open](/jobs/plumbers/on-the-job-death) ## Why it matters In 2023, pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters had a fatal injury rate of 5.8 per 100,000 full time workers. The rate for all workers was 3.5. Some plumbers run their own business. If you work for yourself, there is no work life plan unless you buy one. A plan you own can protect your family. * BLS says common injuries include cuts from sharp tools, burns from hot pipes, and falls from ladders. * Life insurance from work usually ends when you leave the job. A basic work plan often pays only one or two times your yearly pay. ## What an insurer may ask you Have these ready. Being honest up front gets you a real price and avoids problems at claim time. * Your job: home service, new building, or industrial pipe work * Work at heights or in trenches * Whether you are self employed * Your age, health, and tobacco use ## Common questions Can plumbers get life insurance? Yes. Plumbing is not one of the riskiest jobs. Your age and health matter most. I run my own plumbing shop. Do I have coverage? Only if you bought it. There is no employer plan when you work for yourself. Does my union or job give me coverage? It might. Work coverage usually ends when you leave. A policy you own does not. How much coverage should I get? Think about your mortgage, debts, kids, and how many years your family would need your pay. ## Coverage people in this job pick [**Term life: The most coverage for the least money, for 10 to 30 years.**](/coverage/term-life)[**Mortgage protection: Life insurance sized to your home loan, so the house stays paid.**](/coverage/mortgage-protection)[**Final expense: Small whole life plans that pay for a funeral and last bills.**](/coverage/final-expense)[**Does my job change what I pay for life insurance?**](/answers/does-my-job-affect-life-insurance)[**Is the life insurance from my job enough?**](/answers/work-life-insurance-enough)[**How much life insurance do I need?**](/answers/how-much-life-insurance-do-i-need) ## Sources 1. [BLS OOH: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm) 2. [BLS CFOI: Civilian occupations with high fatal work injury rates, 2023](https://www.bls.gov/charts/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries/civilian-occupations-with-high-fatal-work-injury-rates.htm) 3. [Texas Department of Insurance: Life insurance guide](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb018.html) Other jobs ## We cover a lot of hard jobs [**7.7x** the average risk**Truck drivers**Long hauls, owner operators and company drivers.](/jobs/truck-drivers)[**5.3x** the average risk**Lineworkers**Power line crews who climb for a living.](/jobs/lineworkers)[**14.8x** the average risk**Roofers**One of the riskiest jobs in the country.](/jobs/roofers)[**4.4x** the average risk**Construction**Laborers, helpers and crew leads.](/jobs/construction-workers)[**2.2x** the average risk**Electricians**Union, open shop and self employed.](/jobs/electricians)