Plumber vs CDL Driver
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
CDL Driver
$54,320
National Median Salary
Total Jobs2,100,000
Annual Openings231,100
Training3-6 wk CDL program
Metric
Plumber
CDL Driver
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $54,320 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000 | 2,100,000* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600 | 231,100* |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 3-6 wk CDL program |
* 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 CDL Drivers
Alaska$77,890
Wyoming$67,430
Washington$64,120
North Dakota$63,450
California$62,780