IIM grad's math on Delhi plumber earning ₹2,000 a month during peak season draws flak: 'Sheer nonsense'

A post shared by an IIM graduate on X has sparked a new discussion about the earning potential of skilled tradespeople, with many users comparing the income of blue-collar workers to that of corporate professionals. The debate was sparked after a user recounted an interaction with a plumber in Delhi whose reported earnings raised questions about whether some skilled workers could be earning as much as, or even more than, many salaried workers.

Short plumbing leads to surprising revenue estimates

According to the viral post, the user hired a plumber to replace the shower faucet and install a new faucet. The job was completed in about 15 minutes which the plumber billed for ₹700.

During their conversation, the businessman reportedly revealed that he completes around five to six similar tasks each day, generating between ₹3,000 a ₹4,000 per day from plumbing services alone.

The plumber also claimed to make extra money doing electrical work and seasonal air conditioning installation and maintenance. He stated that AC related tasks generally apply between ₹1,000 a ₹3,000 per job and that he usually manages two to three such jobs a day during the summer months.

Using these numbers, User X estimated that a plumber could earn anywhere in between ₹7,000 a ₹10,000 per day, which means roughly a month’s income ₹2 lakh up to ₹3 lakhs. The user further suggested that professions such as plumbing, electrical work and AC service are becoming more valuable and remain less exposed to the risks posed by artificial intelligence.

Social media users are questioning the calculations

The post quickly attracted widespread attention, with many users debating whether the revenue estimates reflected reality.

Several commentators disputed these figures, arguing that they overlooked the irregular nature of freelance work. One user described the calculations as “pure nonsense” and claimed that most plumbers are unable to save more than ₹20,000- ₹35,000 per month. The commenter also argued that artisans do not secure work every day and that completing multiple tasks at different locations in a single day is often unrealistic.

Taxation and income comparison enter the conversation

Others steered the discussion towards taxation and the differences between the salaried and the self-employed. One commenter argued that many skilled tradespeople accept cash payments while white-collar workers have their taxes deducted directly from their paychecks, causing frustration among some professionals.

A number of users also highlighted a recurring tendency to compare salespeople with software engineers. “Everyone calculates their plumber’s income but still chooses software engineering,” one user commented.

Another commenter noted that direct comparisons can be misleading because employees are taxed at source, while many self-employed people receive their earnings directly.

(Disclaimer: This report is based on user generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)