Plumber vs Diesel 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
Diesel Tech
$54,690
National Median Salary
Total Jobs300,000
Annual Openings28,100
Training1-2 yr certificate
Metric
Plumber
Diesel Tech
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $54,690 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000* | 300,000 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600* | 28,100 |
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 Diesel Techs
Alaska$79,870
Washington$74,320
Connecticut$71,450
Wyoming$70,120
California$68,790