National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Plumbers earn a national median of $61,550/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Plumbers earn 6% more nationally. The gap is $3,930 per year — or $328 per month.
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Plumber
$61,550
national median/year
$5,129/mo • $30/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$3,930
Plumbers earn 6% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $44,548.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Plumbers
Virginia+$4,300
North Carolina+$2,300
South Carolina+$2,300
Arizona+$300
Idaho+$300
Best states for Plumbers
vs HVAC Technicians
North Dakota+$11,700
Alaska+$9,700
Hawaii+$7,700
Illinois+$7,700
Missouri+$7,700
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Plumbers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Plumbers is $61,550 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $3,930 per year or $328 per month.
The national median salary gap between Plumbers and HVAC Technicians is $3,930 per year. Plumbers earn 6% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $44,548.
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, Hawaii pays HVAC Technicians the highest median salary at $74,620 per year.
Salary is one factor — Plumbers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers 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 HVAC Technicians earn approximately $28 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.
