Plumber vs Carpenter
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
Carpenter
$59,310
National Median Salary
Total Jobs959,000
Annual Openings89,000
Training3-4 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Plumber
Carpenter
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $59,310 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000 | 959,000* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600 | 89,000* |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 3-4 yr apprenticeship |
* 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 Carpenters
Illinois$89,560
New York$87,320
Hawaii$85,430
Alaska$82,110
Massachusetts$77,650