Electrician vs Plumber / Pipefitter: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Electrician vs Plumber / Pipefitter: what changes?

Consider Electrician if you want to install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Consider Plumber / Pipefitter if you would rather assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Electrician and Plumber / Pipefitter. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Electrician

National median pay (2025): $63,190
Route into the job: Most enter through a four- or five-year apprenticeship with paid work and classroom instruction. Apprentice pay starts below qualified-worker pay; check local licensing requirements.
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: A four- or five-year apprenticeship usually combines paid work with classroom instruction. Licensing requirements vary by location.
Physical work: Standing, kneeling, cramped spaces, and sometimes heights. Electrical hazards require safe working procedures.
Schedule and hours: Overtime, evenings, and weekends can occur; ask about the apprenticeship's combined work and class schedule.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 72,700

Know before you choose

Compare apprentice wages and progression, not just qualified-worker medians. Check who pays for tools and classes.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 6, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

See the full Electrician brief

Plumber / Pipefitter

National median pay (2025): $63,800
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 42,000

Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Plumber / Pipefitter brief

How the national numbers differ

Electrician has the edge on annual openings

Electrician is at 72,700 annual openings, compared with 42,000 annual openings for Plumber / Pipefitter.

Electrician has the edge on projected growth

Electrician is at 9.2% projected growth, compared with 6.8% projected growth for Plumber / Pipefitter.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

73.9/ 100

Electrician

70.4/ 100

Plumber / Pipefitter

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence