HVAC Technician vs Plumber

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Plumber

Easier to Obtain

Tie

Lower Fee

Plumber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	HVAC Technician	Plumber
Category	Trades	Trades
Median Salary	$57,790	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$208	$151
Difficulty	Medium	Medium-High
Education	Certificate/Apprenticeship + EPA 608	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	EPA 608 + State (varies)	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	2-4 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 3 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	16 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	37 of 53

Salary Comparison

HVAC Technician

Median Salary$57,790

Avg Salary$57,790

Avg License Fee$208

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Plumber earns $5,740 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $57,400 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

HVAC TechnicianView all 53 state requirements PlumberView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: HVAC Technician or Plumber?

Plumber has a higher median salary at $63,530 per year, compared to $57,790 for HVAC Technician — a difference of $5,740 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a HVAC Technician or a Plumber?

HVAC Technician licensing is rated Medium difficulty, while Plumber is rated Medium-High. HVAC Technician requires Certificate/Apprenticeship + EPA 608 and typically takes 2-4 years, compared to 4-5 year apprenticeship and 4-5 years for Plumber.

Which license costs more: HVAC Technician or Plumber?

HVAC Technician has a higher average initial fee of $208, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $57.

Do all states require a license for HVAC Technician and Plumber?

HVAC Technician requires licensing in 37 of 53 jurisdictions, while Plumber requires it in 37 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: HVAC Technician or Plumber?

HVAC Technician typically takes 2-4 years from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	HVAC Technician	Plumber
Category	Trades	Trades
Median Salary	$57,790	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$208	$151
Difficulty	Medium	Medium-High
Education	Certificate/Apprenticeship + EPA 608	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	EPA 608 + State (varies)	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	2-4 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 3 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	16 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	37 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: HVAC Technician or Plumber?

Plumber has a higher median salary at $63,530 per year, compared to $57,790 for HVAC Technician — a difference of $5,740 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a HVAC Technician or a Plumber?

Which license costs more: HVAC Technician or Plumber?

HVAC Technician has a higher average initial fee of $208, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $57.

Do all states require a license for HVAC Technician and Plumber?

HVAC Technician requires licensing in 37 of 53 jurisdictions, while Plumber requires it in 37 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: HVAC Technician or Plumber?

HVAC Technician typically takes 2-4 years from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.