Courtesy of Joseph Ahrens
- Joseph Ahrens is a plumbing superintendent in San Diego who makes $140,000 a year.
- Inspired by his brother, Ahrens started a plumbing apprenticeship at 19 and worked his way up.
- He tells apprentices who work for him to care for their bodies and finances to succeed as plumbers.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Joseph Ahrens, a 39-year-old plumbing superintendent based in San Diego. The following has been edited for length and clarity.