National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Plumbers at $61,550/year. Teachers earn 3% more nationally. The gap is $2,130 per year — or $178 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Plumber
$61,550
national median/year
$5,129/mo • $30/hr
Annual salary gap
$2,130
Teachers earn 3% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $24,144.
Best states for Plumbers
vs Teachers
Hawaii+$20,140
Alaska+$13,420
Missouri+$8,180
North Dakota+$6,110
Nevada+$4,140
Best states for Teachers
vs Plumbers
Connecticut+$9,800
Maryland+$8,020
Massachusetts+$7,890
California+$7,670
Rhode Island+$7,000
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Teachers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $61,550 for Plumbers — a difference of $2,130 per year or $178 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Plumbers is $2,130 per year. Teachers earn 3% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $24,144.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 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 — Teachers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Elementary and Middle School Teachers 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, Teachers earn approximately $31 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.
