Electrician vs Plumber
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Electrician
$62,350
National Median Salary
Total Jobs818,700
Annual Openings79,900
Training4-5 yr apprenticeship
Plumber
$61,550
National Median Salary
Total Jobs513,000
Annual Openings48,600
Training4-5 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Electrician
Plumber
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $62,350* | $61,550 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 818,700* | 513,000 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 79,900* | 48,600 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 4-5 yr apprenticeship |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Electricians
Illinois$95,340
New York$91,870
Hawaii$87,530
Oregon$84,210
Alaska$82,990
Top States for Plumbers
Illinois$101,780
New York$98,430
New Jersey$91,650
Alaska$90,120
Massachusetts$87,340