From ₹9,000/Month to ₹65,000/Month: How Rajan Built a Career as a Plumber in Coimbatore

Rajan Murugan learned plumbing the way most tradespeople in Tamil Nadu did — by watching someone else do it. His uncle was a plumber in Erode, and Rajan spent school holidays helping him carry tools and watching him work. By the time he was 19, he could handle most residential plumbing jobs himself.

But knowing the trade and finding consistent work are two entirely different problems.

Life Before Working Class

"I used to stand near the hardware shop on Race Course Road from 7am," Rajan says, referring to a common practice where day-labour tradespeople wait in visible spots hoping homeowners or contractors will hire them. "Some days someone would come by 9am and I'd have work. Some days I'd wait until 11 and go home."

His income was unpredictable — ₹7,000 in a good month, sometimes as low as ₹4,000. He was skilled, he was available, but he had no way to reach customers consistently.

"The problem was never the work. I could fix anything. The problem was that nobody knew I existed. There was no way for someone with a leaking pipe to find me unless they happened to walk past that hardware shop."

The Registration Process

A fellow plumber he knew mentioned Working Class in late 2023. Rajan was sceptical — he'd heard of other platforms that charged fees upfront, promised work, and delivered nothing. But the registration was free, and a colleague had been using it for three months with good results.

The process took about a week. Working Class verified his skills through a practical assessment, ran a background check, and explained how the app worked. Within two weeks of completing the process, he was receiving job requests through his phone.

Building a Reputation

His first month on Working Class earned him ₹18,500 — more than double his previous best. But more importantly, it was predictable. He had a schedule. He knew what he was doing the next day.

Rajan focused relentlessly on his rating. "I realised early that the rating was everything. A job done well gets you the next job. So I started treating every booking like it was the most important one I'd ever done."

His practices were simple but consistent:

• Arrive within the committed time window, every time
• Text the customer when 10 minutes away
• Put shoe covers on before entering the house
• Explain what you found and what you did before leaving
• Clean up completely — no mess left behind

Within four months, his rating was 4.8. By month six, it was 4.9 — where it's stayed. Customers began requesting him by name for repeat bookings.

What His Income Looks Like Now

Today Rajan earns between ₹55,000 and ₹70,000 per month, depending on how many bookings he takes. He controls his own schedule — he takes Sundays off entirely, something he could never afford before.

"Last year I bought a scooter outright," he says. "This year I'm putting money aside for my daughter's education. Two years ago I couldn't have imagined saying that."

He also mentors two other plumbers who recently joined Working Class through his referral. "I tell them the same thing: the platform brings you the customer, but the customer comes back because of you. Focus on the work."

If You're a Skilled Professional in Coimbatore

Rajan's story isn't unusual — it reflects what happens when skilled tradespeople get consistent access to customers who are willing to pay fairly for quality work. The platform handles the finding and booking; the professional handles the work.

If you're an electrician, carpenter, plumber, AC technician, painter, or cleaning professional in Coimbatore, the registration process is free and takes less than a week. Learn more about joining Working Class as a professional.