Plumber vs Auto Tech
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Plumber
$61,550
National Median Salary
Total Jobs513,000
Annual Openings48,600
Training4-5 yr apprenticeship
Auto Tech
$47,770
National Median Salary
Total Jobs794,600
Annual Openings69,000
Training1-2 yr certificate
Metric
Plumber
Auto Tech
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $47,770 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000 | 794,600* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600 | 69,000* |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 1-2 yr certificate |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Plumbers
Illinois$101,780
New York$98,430
New Jersey$91,650
Alaska$90,120
Massachusetts$87,340
Top States for Auto Techs
Alaska$68,430
Washington$62,180
Connecticut$61,340
Hawaii$60,780
California$59,230