Plumber vs Industrial Mechanic
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
Industrial Mechanic
$60,750
National Median Salary
Total Jobs574,500
Annual Openings54,000
Training4 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Plumber
Industrial Mechanic
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $60,750 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000 | 574,500* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600 | 54,000* |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 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 Industrial Mechanics
Alaska$87,230
Washington$83,450
Connecticut$80,120
Oregon$78,340
Michigan$76,890