Electrician vs Plumber: Which Career Fits You
Both trades pay within a few hundred dollars of each other, so the choice comes down to heights and fault-finding versus heavy pipe, weather and call-outs.
Electricians and plumbers follow almost the same route in: a high school diploma or equivalent, then a 4- or 5-year paid apprenticeship, then a state licensing exam. Pay sits close together too — the median annual wage was $63,190 for electricians in May 2025 and $63,800 for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025).
The real decision is about the work itself: electricians spend more time on diagnostic work, blueprints and heights, while plumbers lift heavy pipe, work outdoors in all weather and get called out for emergencies at night. Licensing rules differ by state and sometimes by city, so check your own state board before you commit.
Side-by-Side Comparison
The two trades line up closely on pay, schooling and growth, and separate on physical risk and call-out expectations.
| Dimension | Electrician | Plumber, pipefitter, steamfitter |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual pay | $63,190 in May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025) | $63,800 in 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025) |
| Typical schedule | Almost all work full time; schedules may include evenings and weekends, and overtime is common (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | Most work full time including nights and weekends, and are often on call to handle emergencies (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
| Education and training | High school diploma or equivalent, then a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship with about 2,000 paid on-the-job hours plus technical instruction each year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | High school diploma or equivalent, then a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship with about 2,000 paid on-the-job hours plus technical instruction each year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
| Licensing | Most states require passing a test and holding a license; requirements vary by state, and state licensing board requirements are listed by CareerOneStop (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | Most states and some localities require a license, often after 2 to 5 years of experience plus an exam before working independently (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
| Physical demands | Cramped spaces, long periods of standing and kneeling, exposure to dirt, dust, debris or fumes, and work at great heights; common injuries are electrical shocks, falls and burns (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | Lifting heavy materials, climbing ladders, tight spaces and outdoor work in all types of weather; common injuries are cuts from sharp tools, burns from hot pipes and soldering equipment, and falls from ladders (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
| Job growth, 2025–2035 | 9 percent, about 72,700 openings projected each year on average (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025) | 7 percent, about 42,000 openings projected each year on average (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025) |
| Typical work setting | About 821,000 jobs in 2025; 66% with electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors, 7% self-employed (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025) | About 510,600 jobs in 2025; 65% with plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors, 8% self-employed (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025) |
| Top of the ladder | Journey worker after apprenticeship, then master electrician after meeting additional requirements (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | Journey level after apprenticeship and a licensing exam, then master plumber after another exam — required in some states for a plumbing contractor's license (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
A Day in Each Role
An electrician on a commercial fit-out starts by reading the blueprints and technical diagrams for the floor, marking out device boxes, then bending and running conduit for a new lighting circuit. Mid-shift might mean pulling wire with fish tape, terminating conductors in a panel and landing breakers, then inspecting components such as transformers and circuit breakers on an older section of the building. A service call later in the day is diagnostic: using a multimeter and other testing devices to trace a dead circuit, then repairing or replacing the faulty wiring or fixture with hand and power tools. Expect long periods of standing and kneeling, and sometimes a lift or ladder at considerable height.
A plumber on a residential remodel starts by determining the materials and equipment the job needs, then cutting and setting drain lines and running supply pipe — PEX with a crimp tool, or copper sweated with a propane torch. Next comes setting fixtures: a water heater, a toilet flange, a tub valve, each one checked by pressure-testing the installed system before the walls close. An afternoon service call is troubleshooting: running a drain auger or camera down a blocked main, locating the break, then repairing or replacing the worn parts. Expect heavy lifting, ladder work, tight crawl spaces and sometimes a trench in the rain.
Choose Electrician If...
- You like diagnostic puzzles more than demolition — identifying electrical problems with testing devices and reading blueprints is a core daily task, not an occasional one.
- You would rather accept height and shock risk than weather and heavy lifting; electricians face work at great heights, falls, shocks and burns, while plumbers carry the heavy-materials and all-weather outdoor work (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- You want the widest pool of openings: about 72,700 electrician openings are projected each year on average from 2025 to 2035, against about 42,000 for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025).
- You prefer scheduled overtime to emergency call-outs. Overtime is common for electricians, but it is plumbers who are often on call to handle emergencies (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- You want to work for a large contractor rather than yourself, at least at first — 66% of electricians work for electrical and wiring installation contractors and only 7% are self-employed (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025).
Choose Plumber If...
- You do not mind being on call. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters often work nights and weekends and are called out for emergencies such as burst pipes (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- You are comfortable with sustained heavy physical work: lifting heavy materials, climbing ladders, squeezing into tight spaces and working outdoors in all types of weather (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- You want a clear route to running your own shop. Master plumber status comes after journey level and another exam, and some states require it before you can get a plumbing contractor's license (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- You like hands-on fabrication over fault-finding — cutting and joining pipe, soldering with a torch, setting fixtures and then pressure-testing the installed system.
- You like the idea of self-employment: 8% of plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters are self-employed, and self-employed plumbers may be able to set their own schedules (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025).
Getting Started in Either Path
Both trades start the same way — you get paid from day one of the apprenticeship, and the licensing exam comes at the end, not the beginning.
| Step | Electrician | Plumber, pipefitter, steamfitter |
|---|---|---|
| Typical entry credential | High school diploma or equivalent, plus acceptance into a 4- or 5-year electrician apprenticeship (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | High school diploma or equivalent, plus acceptance into a 4- or 5-year plumbing, pipefitting or steamfitting apprenticeship (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
| Typical time to entry | Weeks to a few months to be placed as an apprentice; 4 to 5 years of about 2,000 paid on-the-job hours a year plus technical instruction to reach journey worker (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | Weeks to a few months to be placed as an apprentice; 4 to 5 years of about 2,000 paid on-the-job hours a year plus technical instruction, with licensing often requiring 2 to 5 years of experience (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
| First job title | Apprentice electrician, working under a licensed electrician | Apprentice plumber or apprentice pipefitter, working under a licensed plumber |
| Next credential after entry | State electrician licensing exam for journey worker status, then master electrician after additional requirements; check your state board through CareerOneStop (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | Journey-level plumber licensing exam, then master plumber after a further exam; most states and some localities license plumbers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Practical steps either way:
- Confirm what your state requires — licensing rules vary by state, and some plumbing rules are set at city level.
- Apply to apprenticeship programs run by contractors, unions and trade associations in your area, and ask when the next intake opens.
- Shore up the math and blueprint-reading you will be tested on; both apprenticeships include classroom instruction alongside the 2,000 paid hours a year.
- Sit the journey-level exam as soon as you are eligible, since independent work and the master credential both depend on it.
Frequently asked questions
Which pays more, electrician or plumber?
The medians are close. Electricians had a median annual wage of $63,190 in May 2025, and plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters $63,800 in 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). A gap of that size is smaller than the difference between states, employers and overtime hours, so pay should not be the deciding factor between electrician and plumber — check current local rates for both before you choose.
Is one trade harder on the body than the other?
They are hard in different ways. Electricians occasionally work in cramped spaces, stand and kneel for long periods, meet dirt, dust, debris or fumes, and may work at great heights, with electrical shocks, falls and burns the common injuries. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters lift heavy materials, climb ladders, work in tight spaces and sometimes outdoors in all weather, with cuts, burns from hot pipes and soldering equipment, and falls from ladders (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Which has better job security and advancement?
Electrician employment is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035 with about 72,700 openings a year, while plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters are projected to grow 7 percent with about 42,000 openings a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). Both advance from apprentice to journey worker to master. On the plumbing side, master plumber status is required in some states to hold a plumbing contractor's license, which makes the ladder to business ownership clearer than it is for electricians in those states (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Which gives more control over my schedule?
Neither is a predictable nine-to-five early on. Almost all electricians work full time with evenings, weekends and common overtime, while plumbers also work full time including nights and weekends and are often on call for emergencies (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Self-employment is where flexibility appears in both trades: 7 percent of electricians and 8 percent of plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters are self-employed, and self-employed workers in either trade may be able to set their own schedules (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025).
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Electricians : Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters : Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025)
Written by
Felix writes a column on the inner life of work — burnout, ambition, the quiet math people do about whether a job is worth it. He prefers plain language to management jargon and says so often.
