Plumber vs Welder
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
Welder
$51,000
National Median Salary
Total Jobs457,300
Annual Openings47,600
Training7 mo - 2 yr certificate
Metric
Plumber
Welder
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $61,550* | $51,000 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 513,000* | 457,300 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 48,600* | 47,600 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 7 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 Welders
Alaska$76,890
Wyoming$67,430
Washington$65,780
North Dakota$64,320
Louisiana$63,450