Physical Therapist 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

Physical Therapist

Easier to Obtain

Plumber

Lower Fee

Plumber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Physical Therapist	Plumber
Category	Healthcare	Trades
Median Salary	$99,710	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$313	$151
Difficulty	High	Medium-High
Education	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	NPTE	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	7 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

Physical Therapist

Median Salary$99,710

Avg Salary$99,710

Avg License Fee$313

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Physical Therapist earns $36,180 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $361,800 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Physical TherapistView 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: Physical Therapist or Plumber?

Physical Therapist has a higher median salary at $99,710 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $36,180 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Physical Therapist or a Plumber?

Physical Therapist licensing is rated High difficulty, while Plumber is rated Medium-High. Physical Therapist requires DPT (3 years post-bachelor) and typically takes 7 years, compared to 4-5 year apprenticeship and 4-5 years for Plumber.

Which license costs more: Physical Therapist or Plumber?

Physical Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $313, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $162.

Do all states require a license for Physical Therapist and Plumber?

Physical Therapist 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: Physical Therapist or Plumber?

Physical Therapist typically takes 7 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	Physical Therapist	Plumber
Category	Healthcare	Trades
Median Salary	$99,710	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$313	$151
Difficulty	High	Medium-High
Education	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	NPTE	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	7 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: Physical Therapist or Plumber?

Physical Therapist has a higher median salary at $99,710 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $36,180 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Physical Therapist or a Plumber?

Which license costs more: Physical Therapist or Plumber?

Physical Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $313, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $162.

Do all states require a license for Physical Therapist and Plumber?

Physical Therapist 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: Physical Therapist or Plumber?

Physical Therapist typically takes 7 years from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.