Plumber vs HVAC Technician
Which trade pays more? Side-by-side salary comparison using 2025 BLS data.
Higher Pay
Plumber
Plumbing · 4yr apprenticeship
Median Salary$64,109
Salary Range$54,720 – $86,700
5yr Growth+14%
Trade Pay ScoreB (71/100)
Total Employment183,601
Cities Tracked30
HVAC Technician
HVAC · 4yr apprenticeship
Median Salary$61,278
Salary Range$50,658 – $78,788
5yr Growth+15%
Trade Pay ScoreB (76/100)
Total Employment226,695
Cities Tracked30
City-by-City Comparison
| City | Plumber | HVAC Technician | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $86,700 | $78,788 | +$7,912 |
| Seattle, WA | $79,599 | $75,078 | +$4,521 |
| New York, NY | $76,532 | $77,543 | -$1,011 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $74,555 | $66,967 | +$7,588 |
| Boston, MA | $74,304 | $68,062 | +$6,242 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,748 | $67,089 | +$6,659 |
| Portland, OR | $73,251 | $65,882 | +$7,369 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $66,391 | $66,145 | +$246 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $66,029 | $59,999 | +$6,030 |
| Chicago, IL | $65,606 | $67,865 | -$2,259 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $63,229 | $58,965 | +$4,264 |
| Kansas City, MO | $62,955 | $53,435 | +$9,520 |
| Atlanta, GA | $62,710 | $58,880 | +$3,830 |
| Denver, CO | $62,081 | $65,185 | -$3,104 |
| Miami, FL | $62,048 | $58,107 | +$3,941 |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,956 | $57,424 | +$4,532 |
| Detroit, MI | $61,084 | $60,268 | +$816 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $60,533 | $51,420 | +$9,113 |
| Houston, TX | $60,498 | $63,547 | -$3,049 |
| Tampa, FL | $60,056 | $51,036 | +$9,020 |
| Columbus, OH | $59,380 | $58,962 | +$418 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $59,307 | $57,122 | +$2,185 |
| Dallas, TX | $59,192 | $59,170 | +$22 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $59,172 | $55,582 | +$3,590 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $56,077 | $59,348 | -$3,271 |
| Raleigh, NC | $56,029 | $59,335 | -$3,306 |
| Nashville, TN | $55,467 | $56,859 | -$1,392 |
| San Antonio, TX | $55,107 | $55,218 | -$111 |
| New Orleans, LA | $54,966 | $54,404 | +$562 |
| Charlotte, NC | $54,720 | $50,658 | +$4,062 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Plumbers or HVAC Technicians make more money?
Plumbers earn more on average, with a national median salary of $64,109 compared to $61,278 — a difference of $2,831 per year.
Which trade has better job growth — Plumber or HVAC Technician?
HVAC Technician has stronger 5-year wage growth at 15% vs 14%.
How long is the apprenticeship for each trade?
Plumber requires 4 years of apprenticeship, while HVAC Technician requires 4 years.
Plumber salary by city →
HVAC Technician salary by city →
All trades ranked by pay →
Fastest growing trades →