Insurance Agent 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

Insurance Agent

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Insurance Agent	Plumber
Category	Insurance	Trades
Median Salary	$59,400	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$149	$151
Difficulty	Low-Medium	Medium-High
Education	Pre-licensing course (20-40 hours)	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	State Insurance Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	1-3 months	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 3 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	16 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	37 of 53

Salary Comparison

Insurance Agent

Median Salary$59,400

Avg Salary$59,400

Avg License Fee$149

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Plumber earns $4,130 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $41,300 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Insurance AgentView 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: Insurance Agent or Plumber?

Plumber has a higher median salary at $63,530 per year, compared to $59,400 for Insurance Agent — a difference of $4,130 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Insurance Agent or a Plumber?

Insurance Agent licensing is rated Low-Medium difficulty, while Plumber is rated Medium-High. Insurance Agent requires Pre-licensing course (20-40 hours) and typically takes 1-3 months, compared to 4-5 year apprenticeship and 4-5 years for Plumber.

Which license costs more: Insurance Agent or Plumber?

Plumber has a higher average initial fee of $151, while Insurance Agent averages $149 — a difference of $2.

Do all states require a license for Insurance Agent and Plumber?

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

Which career is faster to enter: Insurance Agent or Plumber?

Insurance Agent typically takes 1-3 months from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.