Plumber vs Security Guard

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

Security Guard

Lower Fee

Security Guard

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Plumber	Security Guard
Category	Trades	Public Safety
Median Salary	$63,530	$36,970
Avg Initial Fee	$151	$74
Difficulty	Medium-High	Low
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship	Guard Training (8-40 hours)
Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam	State Guard Card Exam
Time to License	4-5 years	1-2 weeks
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	8 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	35 of 53

Salary Comparison

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Security Guard

Median Salary$36,970

Avg Salary$36,970

Avg License Fee$74

Plumber earns $26,560 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $265,600 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

PlumberView all 53 state requirements Security GuardView 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: Plumber or Security Guard?

Plumber has a higher median salary at $63,530 per year, compared to $36,970 for Security Guard — a difference of $26,560 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Plumber or a Security Guard?

Plumber licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Security Guard is rated Low. Plumber requires 4-5 year apprenticeship and typically takes 4-5 years, compared to Guard Training (8-40 hours) and 1-2 weeks for Security Guard.

Which license costs more: Plumber or Security Guard?

Plumber has a higher average initial fee of $151, while Security Guard averages $74 — a difference of $77.

Do all states require a license for Plumber and Security Guard?

Plumber requires licensing in 37 of 53 jurisdictions, while Security Guard requires it in 35 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Plumber or Security Guard?

Plumber typically takes 4-5 years from start to licensure, while Security Guard takes 1-2 weeks. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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Detailed Comparison

Metric	Plumber	Security Guard
Category	Trades	Public Safety
Median Salary	$63,530	$36,970
Avg Initial Fee	$151	$74
Difficulty	Medium-High	Low
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship	Guard Training (8-40 hours)
Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam	State Guard Card Exam
Time to License	4-5 years	1-2 weeks
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	8 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	35 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Plumber or Security Guard?

Plumber has a higher median salary at $63,530 per year, compared to $36,970 for Security Guard — a difference of $26,560 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Plumber or a Security Guard?

Which license costs more: Plumber or Security Guard?

Plumber has a higher average initial fee of $151, while Security Guard averages $74 — a difference of $77.

Do all states require a license for Plumber and Security Guard?

Plumber requires licensing in 37 of 53 jurisdictions, while Security Guard requires it in 35 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Plumber or Security Guard?

Plumber typically takes 4-5 years from start to licensure, while Security Guard takes 1-2 weeks. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.