Plumber vs Roofer
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
Roofer
$52,290
National Median Salary
Total Jobs168,500
Annual Openings16,700
Training3 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Plumber
Roofer
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $52,290 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000* | 168,500 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600* | 16,700 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 3 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 Roofers
Illinois$82,430
New York$78,560
Alaska$74,320
Hawaii$71,890
Massachusetts$70,120