---
title: "Electrician vs Plumber: Pay & Training Compared"
description: "Electrician vs Plumber compared on BLS median pay, wage percentiles, projected growth, openings and entry requirements. Sourced federal data, no school…"
canonical: "https://nuecareer.com/careers/electrician-vs-plumber"
last-updated: "2026-08-23T15:56:39.581Z"
---

# Electrician vs Plumber (2026)

These two pay almost the same: $63,190 a year for Electrician and $63,800 for Plumber (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gap of $610. The real differences are in the training, the setting and the work itself, which is what the rest of this page compares.

Both are entered through a four-to-five-year paid apprenticeship rather than a degree, both are licensed at state or local level, both are physically demanding for a whole career, and their federal medians sit close enough together that pay is not the deciding variable. This is one of the few pairs on this site where the honest answer is that the money is a tie and the work is the whole question: conduit, panels and code on one side, pipe, drainage and water on the other.

## Electrician vs Plumber, side by side

| Measure | Electrician (Electrician) | Plumber (Plumber) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOC occupation code | 47-2111 | 47-2152 | US Standard Occupational Classification, 2018 |
| Median annual wage | $63,190 | $63,800 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median hourly wage | $30.38/hr | $30.67/hr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Lowest 10% earn under | $42,640 | $44,150 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $49,430 | $50,190 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Top 25% earn over | $83,940 | $85,110 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Top 10% earn over | $108,510 | $108,420 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| People employed in the US | 757,220 | 465,840 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected employment change | +9.5% | +4.5% | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| Openings a year | 81,000 | 44,000 | BLS EP, 2024–2034, including replacement demand |
| Typical entry education | High school | High school | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| Prior work experience typically needed | None | None | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| On-the-job training typically needed | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship | BLS EP, 2024–2034 |
| Preparation level (O\*NET job zone) | Some preparation | Some preparation | O\*NET 30.3 Database, May 2026 |
| AI-resilience score (NueCareer analysis, 0–100) | 72 | 64 | NueCareer analysis of O\*NET work activities and work context — not a BLS figure |

- Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release. Employment change, annual openings and entry requirements are BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. Job zone is O\*NET 30.3 Database (May 2026).
- The AI-resilience score is a NueCareer analysis of O\*NET work-activity and work-context composition. It is our number, not a BLS or O\*NET one, and it describes task mix rather than forecasting adoption.

## What actually differs day to day

Pay is the easy comparison. These are the O\*NET task statements and work-context ratings for each occupation — the part of the decision a salary table cannot show. Work context is rated on a 1–5 scale by people doing the job, and every measure O\*NET rates for both occupations is printed below, ranked by how far apart the two sit. A gap of a full point is a real difference in the work; anything smaller is the two occupations being alike, and is shown as such rather than filtered out.

### What each one does

- **Electrician** — Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes. Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes. Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures. Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps. Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
- **Plumber** — Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment. Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools. Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels. Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks. Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.

| Work context (O\*NET, 1–5) | Category | Electrician | Plumber | Gap | Real difference? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | Physical | 4.7 | 3.8 | 0.8 | No — within a point |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | People | 3.8 | 3.0 | 0.8 | No — within a point |
| Contact With Others | People | 4.8 | 4.1 | 0.6 | No — within a point |
| Spend Time Sitting | Physical | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | No — within a point |
| Conflict Situations | Pressure | 3.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | No — within a point |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | People | 4.9 | 4.5 | 0.4 | No — within a point |
| Consequence of Error | Pressure | 3.3 | 3.0 | 0.3 | No — within a point |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | Environment | 4.1 | 3.9 | 0.2 | No — within a point |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | Environment | 3.3 | 3.1 | 0.2 | No — within a point |
| Spend Time Standing | Physical | 4.5 | 4.7 | 0.1 | No — within a point |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | Autonomy | 4.5 | 4.4 | 0.1 | No — within a point |
| Time Pressure | Pressure | 4.3 | 4.3 | 0.1 | No — within a point |

None of the 12 measures separates these two by a full point. O\*NET cannot tell them apart on the conditions of the work, which is a real finding rather than missing data: whatever divides these two jobs, it is not what the day feels like.

## What it takes to get in, on each side

Entry requirements below are BLS Employment Projections for both occupations. Where an occupation carries a hand-verified credential record, the accrediting body, the named exam and the realistic program length are shown too, each traced to the issuing body's own page with the date it was checked. Where it does not, this page publishes the federal data and says so rather than filling the gap.

### How you become an Electrician

Credential detail below is hand-verified against the issuing bodies, last checked 2026-08-23.

There is no single national electrician license. Most states require electricians to pass an exam and hold a state license, and many cities and counties license separately, so the practical gate is completing a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship and then passing the licensing exam where you intend to work.

- **Typical entry education (BLS):** High school diploma or equivalent
- **On-the-job training (BLS):** Apprenticeship
- **Typical program length:** 4-5 years
- **Realistic range:** Most apprenticeships run 4 or 5 years, with roughly 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training per year plus technical instruction. Prior electrical experience from the military or construction may shorten the program, subject to testing.
- **Accreditation: Registered Apprenticeship:** Apprenticeships registered with the U.S. Department of Labor are the standard entry path: you are paid from day one, receive progressive wage increases and classroom instruction, and finish with a nationally recognized credential. Registration is what makes the completion credential portable between employers and states.
- **Exam: State or local electrician licensing examination:** Taken after the apprenticeship to work unsupervised at journey level. Questions cover the National Electrical Code plus the state and local electrical codes that govern safe installation of wiring and equipment. The exam and the qualifying requirements are set by each jurisdiction, not nationally.
- **Governing body: electrical training ALLIANCE:** Joint training program of the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (previously called the NJATC) that developed the uniform apprenticeship standards and curriculum used by hundreds of local IBEW/NECA programs nationwide.
- **Governing body: IBEW:** Co-sponsors, with the National Electrical Contractors Association, the local joint apprenticeship programs delivered through the electrical training ALLIANCE.
- **Governing body: NECA:** The contractor side of the IBEW/NECA joint apprenticeship partnership that funds and sponsors local training programs.
- **Governing body: U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship (Apprenticeship.gov):** Registers apprenticeship programs, which pair a paid job and mentored on-the-job learning with classroom instruction and end in a portable, nationally recognized credential.
- **Licensed state by state:** Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed, and requirements vary by state; apprenticeship requirements also vary by state and locality. Many places license at city or county level in addition to the state, and the electrical training ALLIANCE notes that each state's certification exam is unique and that the qualifications for an electrician's license vary. Journey workers may perform work on their own only subject to local or state licensing rules.
- **Keeping the credential:** Electricians may be required to take continuing education to maintain a license, usually covering safety practices, changes to the electrical code, and manufacturer training on specific products. Whether it is required, and how much, is set by the licensing state or locality.

**The path, step by step:**

1. **Finish high school or an equivalent** — A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Some people first attend a technical school for circuitry, safety practices and basic electrical coursework; graduates usually receive credit toward their apprenticeship.
2. **Get accepted into an apprenticeship** (Application and selection vary by local program) — Apply to a local IBEW/NECA program run through the electrical training ALLIANCE, or to another apprenticeship registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Unions and contractor associations sponsor most programs; some contractors run their own training that is not a recognized apprenticeship.
3. **Complete the apprenticeship** (4-5 years) — Work as a paid apprentice while taking technical instruction in electrical theory, blueprint reading, mathematics, code requirements, and safety and first aid. Expect about 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year.
4. **Pass your state or local licensing exam** — After the apprenticeship you are considered a journey worker and may work on your own, subject to the license your state or locality requires. The exam covers the National Electrical Code plus state and local codes.
5. **Work toward master electrician** — After meeting additional requirements and working as a qualified electrician, journey workers may advance to master electrician; the added experience and exam requirements are set by the licensing jurisdiction.

**Sources checked for Electrician:**

- [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Electricians, How to Become One](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm) — checked 2026-08-23
- [electrical training ALLIANCE — About Us](https://www.electricaltrainingalliance.org/AboutUs) — checked 2026-08-23
- [Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) — Career Seekers: What is Registered Apprenticeship?](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/career-seekers) — checked 2026-08-23

### How you become a Plumber

Credential detail below is hand-verified against the issuing bodies, last checked 2026-08-23.

Plumbing is licensed by the states and, in many places, by localities as well; there is no national plumbing license. The standard route is a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship followed by the licensing exam that makes you a journey-level plumber, with master plumber status earned later through more experience and a further exam.

- **Typical entry education (BLS):** High school diploma or equivalent
- **On-the-job training (BLS):** Apprenticeship
- **Typical program length:** 4-5 years
- **Realistic range:** Apprentices typically receive 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus technical instruction each year. UA apprenticeships typically last five years.
- **Accreditation: Registered Apprenticeship:** Registration with the U.S. Department of Labor is what makes an apprenticeship's completion credential nationally recognized and portable. UA plumbing apprenticeships are registered programs; applicants typically must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED.
- **Exam: State or local plumber licensing examination:** Passed at the end of the apprenticeship to work independently at journey level. States and localities commonly require 2 to 5 years of experience plus an exam demonstrating knowledge of the trade before allowing a plumber to work unsupervised.
- **Exam: Master plumber examination:** A separate, later exam taken after several years of experience as a licensed plumber. Some states require master plumber status before you can hold a plumbing contractor's license.
- **Governing body: UA:** Union that runs apprenticeship programs registered with the U.S. Department of Labor in hundreds of locations, combining paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction at its training centers and leading to journeyman status.
- **Governing body: U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship (Apprenticeship.gov):** Registers apprenticeship programs, which pair paid work experience and mentoring with classroom instruction and end in a portable, nationally recognized credential.
- **Licensed state by state:** Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed, and the requirements differ: states and localities often require 2 to 5 years of experience and an exam before you can work independently. Some states also license pipefitters and steamfitters and may require a separate license to work on gas lines. Starting your own contracting business may require additional licensing, and some states require master plumber status to get a plumbing contractor's license.

**The path, step by step:**

1. **Finish high school or an equivalent** — A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required. Vocational-technical courses in pipe system design, safety and tool use help, and welding courses are required by some pipefitter and steamfitter apprenticeship programs.
2. **Get into an apprenticeship** — Apply to a UA local or another apprenticeship registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Programs are sponsored by unions, trade associations and businesses; some people start as helpers or through a pre-apprenticeship first.
3. **Complete the apprenticeship** (4-5 years) — Paid on-the-job work alongside journeymen, plus technical instruction in safety, local plumbing codes and regulations, blueprint reading, mathematics, applied physics and chemistry.
4. **Pass the licensing exam to become journey-level** — Completing the apprenticeship and passing the required licensing exam is what makes you a journey-level plumber, qualified to perform tasks independently.
5. **Earn master plumber status** — After several more years of experience, pass another exam to earn master status. In some states this is the prerequisite for a plumbing contractor's license.

**Sources checked for Plumber:**

- [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, How to Become One](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm) — checked 2026-08-23
- [United Association — UA Apprenticeship](https://ua.org/apprenticeship/) — checked 2026-08-23
- [Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) — Career Seekers: What is Registered Apprenticeship?](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/career-seekers) — checked 2026-08-23

## Which should you choose?

There is no answer to this that is true for everybody, and any page that gives you one is usually selling a program. What we can do is state the trade in the terms the federal data actually supports, and leave the decision where it belongs.

**Pay should not decide this one**

The two medians are $610 apart — $63,190 for Electrician and $63,800 for Plumber (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is smaller than the spread between two neighbouring states for either occupation, so where you live will move your pay more than which of these two you pick. Decide on the work.

**Look at the openings and the growth instead**

BLS projects +9.5% employment change and 81,000 openings a year for Electrician, against +4.5% and 44,000 for Plumber (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Openings matter more than growth rate for someone entering now: a large occupation growing slowly still hires far more people each year than a small one growing fast.

**Choose neither if the day-to-day work does not fit**

The task lists and the O\*NET work-context readings above differ more between these two than the wage figures do, and work context is what you experience every shift: how much time pressure, how much contact with the public, how much of the day on your feet, how bad a mistake is. Electrician and Plumber are not the only two options — they are just the two you searched for. If neither task list reads like a description of a day you want, that is useful information, not a failed comparison.

We are not going to name a winner, and on this pair we could not defend one if we tried: the pay is level and the two jobs are genuinely different work. Both figures above are BLS OEWS May 2025 and both projections are BLS EP 2024–2034; nothing on this page is an estimate of ours.

## Electrician vs Plumber: FAQ

**What is the difference between an Electrician and a Plumber?**

Both are entered through a four-to-five-year paid apprenticeship rather than a degree, both are licensed at state or local level, both are physically demanding for a whole career, and their federal medians sit close enough together that pay is not the deciding variable. This is one of the few pairs on this site where the honest answer is that the money is a tie and the work is the whole question: conduit, panels and code on one side, pipe, drainage and water on the other. In federal terms they are two separate occupations: Electrician is SOC 47-2111 and Plumber is SOC 47-2152, which is why they carry separate wage and projection figures rather than a shared one.

**Does an Electrician or a Plumber make more money?**

Neither, to any degree that should decide it. The BLS OEWS May 2025 median is $63,190 for electricians and $63,800 for plumbers — $610 apart. The bottom 10% of Electricians earn under $42,640 and the top 10% over $108,510; for Plumber those figures are $44,150 and $108,420. Where you work will move your pay more than which of the two you choose.

**Is it harder to become an Electrician or a Plumber?**

BLS records the typical entry requirement as high school diploma or equivalent for electricians and high school diploma or equivalent for plumbers (BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034). In practice that means 4-5 years for Electrician and 4-5 years for Plumber. The licensing bodies, accreditation requirements and named exams for both are set out in full further down this page, each checked against the issuing body’s own site.

**Which has better job security, an Electrician or a Plumber?**

BLS projects +9.5% employment change for electricians and +4.5% for plumbers over 2024–2034, with 81,000 and 44,000 openings a year respectively (BLS Employment Projections). For anyone entering now the openings figure matters more than the growth rate, because it includes people leaving the occupation as well as new posts. Our own AI-resilience score — a NueCareer analysis of O\*NET task composition, not a federal statistic — puts Electrician at 72 and Plumber at 64 out of 100.

**Should I become an Electrician or a Plumber?**

We will not tell you, and you should be wary of a page that does — most of the sites ranking for this question are schools that teach one of the two. We are not going to name a winner, and on this pair we could not defend one if we tried: the pay is level and the two jobs are genuinely different work. Both figures above are BLS OEWS May 2025 and both projections are BLS EP 2024–2034; nothing on this page is an estimate of ours.

Full profiles including wage percentiles and state-level pay: https://nuecareer.com/careers/electrician and https://nuecareer.com/careers/plumber. Machine-readable: https://nuecareer.com/api/v1/careers/electrician and https://nuecareer.com/api/v1/careers/plumber.

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This bank includes information from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. NueCareer has transformed the data by joining it to BLS wage and projection data and deriving facet, personality-fit and AI-resilience scores. BLS and BEA data are public domain (17 U.S.C. §105).

O\*NET content is used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). How these figures are sourced and derived: https://nuecareer.com/careers/methodology