Plumber vs HVAC 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
HVAC Tech
$57,300
National Median Salary
Total Jobs422,300
Annual Openings40,100
Training6 mo - 2 yr certificate
Metric
Plumber
HVAC Tech
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $57,300 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000* | 422,300 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600* | 40,100 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 6 mo - 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 HVAC Techs
Alaska$84,670
Hawaii$79,320
Washington$76,540
Connecticut$75,890
Massachusetts$74,210