National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Electricians earn a national median of $61,590/year vs Plumbers at $61,550/year. Electricians earn 0% more nationally. The gap is $40 per year — or $3 per month.
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Electrician
$61,590
national median/year
$5,133/mo • $30/hr
VS
Plumber
$61,550
national median/year
$5,129/mo • $30/hr
Annual salary gap
$40
Electricians earn 0% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $453.
Best states for Plumbers
vs Electricians
Alabama+$-2,000
Alaska+$-2,000
Arizona+$-2,000
Arkansas+$-2,000
Colorado+$-2,000
Best states for Electricians
vs Plumbers
California+$4,000
Alabama+$2,000
Alaska+$2,000
Arizona+$2,000
Arkansas+$2,000
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Electricians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Electricians is $61,590 versus $61,550 for Plumbers — a difference of $40 per year or $3 per month.
The national median salary gap between Electricians and Plumbers is $40 per year. Electricians earn 0% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $453.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Electricians the highest median salary at $84,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Plumbers the highest median salary at $82,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Electricians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Electricians and Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Electricians earn approximately $30 per hour nationally and Plumbers earn approximately $30 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
