Pharmacist 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

Pharmacist

Easier to Obtain

Plumber

Lower Fee

Plumber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Pharmacist	Plumber
Category	Healthcare	Trades
Median Salary	$136,030	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$402	$151
Difficulty	Very High	Medium-High
Education	PharmD (6 years)	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	NAPLEX + MPJE	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	6-8 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 3 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	16 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	37 of 53

Salary Comparison

Pharmacist

Median Salary$136,030

Avg Salary$136,030

Avg License Fee$402

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Pharmacist earns $72,500 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $725,000 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

PharmacistView 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: Pharmacist or Plumber?

Pharmacist has a higher median salary at $136,030 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $72,500 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Pharmacist or a Plumber?

Pharmacist licensing is rated Very High difficulty, while Plumber is rated Medium-High. Pharmacist requires PharmD (6 years) and typically takes 6-8 years, compared to 4-5 year apprenticeship and 4-5 years for Plumber.

Which license costs more: Pharmacist or Plumber?

Pharmacist has a higher average initial fee of $402, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $251.

Do all states require a license for Pharmacist and Plumber?

Pharmacist 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: Pharmacist or Plumber?

Pharmacist typically takes 6-8 years from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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Detailed Comparison

Metric	Pharmacist	Plumber
Category	Healthcare	Trades
Median Salary	$136,030	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$402	$151
Difficulty	Very High	Medium-High
Education	PharmD (6 years)	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	NAPLEX + MPJE	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	6-8 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 3 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	16 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	37 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Pharmacist or Plumber?

Pharmacist has a higher median salary at $136,030 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $72,500 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Pharmacist or a Plumber?

Which license costs more: Pharmacist or Plumber?

Pharmacist has a higher average initial fee of $402, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $251.

Do all states require a license for Pharmacist and Plumber?

Pharmacist 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: Pharmacist or Plumber?

Pharmacist typically takes 6-8 years from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.