National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Plumbers earn a national median of $61,550/year vs Human Resources Managers at $136,350/year. Human Resources Managers earn 122% more nationally. The gap is $74,800 per year — or $6,233 per month.
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Plumber
$61,550
national median/year
$5,129/mo • $30/hr
VS
Human Resources Manager
$136,350
national median/year
$11,363/mo • $66/hr
Annual salary gap
$74,800
Human Resources Managers earn 122% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $847,880.
Best states for Human Resources Managers
vs Plumbers
Virginia+$100,030
California+$94,030
Maryland+$90,030
Massachusetts+$86,030
New York+$86,030
Best states for Plumbers
vs Human Resources Managers
Alaska+$-36,030
North Dakota+$-36,030
Wyoming+$-40,030
West Virginia+$-42,030
Mississippi+$-44,030
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Human Resources Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Plumbers is $61,550 versus $136,350 for Human Resources Managers — a difference of $74,800 per year or $6,233 per month.
The national median salary gap between Plumbers and Human Resources Managers is $74,800 per year. Human Resources Managers earn 122% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $847,880.
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 Human Resources Managers the highest median salary at $172,350 per year.
Salary is one factor — Human Resources Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Human Resources 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 Human Resources Managers earn approximately $66 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.
