HVAC Technician vs Plumber / Pipefitter: $61K vs $64K Median Pay

HVAC Technician vs Plumber / Pipefitter: what changes?

Consider HVAC Technician if you want to install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves. 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. Entry credentials differ: HVAC Technician, postsecondary nondegree award; Plumber / Pipefitter, high school diploma or equivalent.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for HVAC Technician 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

HVAC Technician

National median pay (2025): $61,010
Route into the job: Common school programs last six months to two years, followed by substantial workplace training. Some employers hire high-school graduates; ask about paid entry routes and required certifications.
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Physical work: Awkward spaces, equipment handling, outdoor temperatures, and buildings without working heating or cooling.
Schedule and hours: Emergency calls and seasonal heating or cooling peaks can bring irregular hours and overtime.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 40,600

Know before you choose

Course completion does not mean full workplace competency. Compare a school's advertised duration with an employer's training expectations.

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

See the full HVAC Technician 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

HVAC Technician has the edge on projected growth

HVAC Technician is at 10.9% projected growth, compared with 6.8% projected growth for Plumber / Pipefitter.

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on median pay

Plumber / Pipefitter is at $63,800, compared with $61,010 for HVAC Technician.

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on annual openings

Plumber / Pipefitter is at 42,000 annual openings, compared with 40,600 annual openings for HVAC Technician.

71.2/ 100

HVAC Technician

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