National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Plumbers earn a national median of $61,550/year vs Construction Managers at $104,900/year. Construction Managers earn 70% more nationally. The gap is $43,350 per year — or $3,613 per month.
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Plumber
$61,550
national median/year
$5,129/mo • $30/hr
VS
Construction Manager
$104,900
national median/year
$8,742/mo • $50/hr
Annual salary gap
$43,350
Construction Managers earn 70% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $491,385.
Best states for Construction Managers
vs Plumbers
Virginia+$58,580
California+$56,580
Maryland+$54,580
Massachusetts+$52,580
New York+$52,580
Best states for Plumbers
vs Construction Managers
North Dakota+$-24,580
West Virginia+$-26,580
Mississippi+$-28,580
Iowa+$-30,580
Louisiana+$-30,580
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Construction Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Plumbers is $61,550 versus $104,900 for Construction Managers — a difference of $43,350 per year or $3,613 per month.
The national median salary gap between Plumbers and Construction Managers is $43,350 per year. Construction Managers earn 70% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $491,385.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Plumbers the highest median salary at $82,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Construction Managers the highest median salary at $134,900 per year.
Salary is one factor — Construction Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Construction Managers 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, Plumbers earn approximately $30 per hour nationally and Construction Managers earn approximately $50 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.
