Plumber vs Pipefitter
Which trade pays more? Side-by-side salary comparison using 2025 BLS data.
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
Higher Pay
Pipefitter
Plumbing · 5yr apprenticeship
Median Salary$67,249
Salary Range$56,372 – $84,056
5yr Growth+11%
Trade Pay ScoreC (68/100)
Total Employment165,255
Cities Tracked30
City-by-City Comparison
| City | Plumber | Pipefitter | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $86,700 | $84,056 | +$2,644 |
| Seattle, WA | $79,599 | $73,553 | +$6,046 |
| New York, NY | $76,532 | $83,369 | -$6,837 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $74,555 | $80,739 | -$6,184 |
| Boston, MA | $74,304 | $77,572 | -$3,268 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,748 | $73,346 | +$402 |
| Portland, OR | $73,251 | $73,657 | -$406 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $66,391 | $72,416 | -$6,025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $66,029 | $66,974 | -$945 |
| Chicago, IL | $65,606 | $73,953 | -$8,347 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $63,229 | $69,257 | -$6,028 |
| Kansas City, MO | $62,955 | $66,082 | -$3,127 |
| Atlanta, GA | $62,710 | $60,909 | +$1,801 |
| Denver, CO | $62,081 | $65,691 | -$3,610 |
| Miami, FL | $62,048 | $58,979 | +$3,069 |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,956 | $65,530 | -$3,574 |
| Detroit, MI | $61,084 | $62,517 | -$1,433 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $60,533 | $61,462 | -$929 |
| Houston, TX | $60,498 | $66,737 | -$6,239 |
| Tampa, FL | $60,056 | $56,372 | +$3,684 |
| Columbus, OH | $59,380 | $61,481 | -$2,101 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $59,307 | $69,089 | -$9,782 |
| Dallas, TX | $59,192 | $61,950 | -$2,758 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $59,172 | $69,493 | -$10,321 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $56,077 | $58,134 | -$2,057 |
| Raleigh, NC | $56,029 | $60,805 | -$4,776 |
| Nashville, TN | $55,467 | $59,996 | -$4,529 |
| San Antonio, TX | $55,107 | $63,370 | -$8,263 |
| New Orleans, LA | $54,966 | $60,720 | -$5,754 |
| Charlotte, NC | $54,720 | $59,255 | -$4,535 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Plumbers or Pipefitters make more money?
Pipefitters earn more on average, with a national median salary of $67,249 compared to $64,109 — a difference of $3,140 per year.
Which trade has better job growth — Plumber or Pipefitter?
Plumber has stronger 5-year wage growth at 14% vs 11%.
How long is the apprenticeship for each trade?
Plumber requires 4 years of apprenticeship, while Pipefitter requires 5 years.
Plumber salary by city →
Pipefitter salary by city →
All trades ranked by pay →
Fastest growing trades →