Plumber vs Teacher (K-12)

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Teacher (K-12)

Easier to Obtain

Plumber

Lower Fee

Plumber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Plumber	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Trades	Education
Median Salary	$63,530	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$151	$199
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	4-5 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	60 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Teacher (K-12)

Median Salary$65,090

Avg Salary$65,090

Avg License Fee$199

Teacher (K-12) earns $1,560 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $15,600 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

PlumberView all 53 state requirements Teacher (K-12)View 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 Teacher (K-12)?

Teacher (K-12) has a higher median salary at $65,090 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $1,560 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Plumber or a Teacher (K-12)?

Plumber licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Teacher (K-12) is rated High. Plumber requires 4-5 year apprenticeship and typically takes 4-5 years, compared to Bachelor's + Student Teaching and 4-5 years for Teacher (K-12).

Which license costs more: Plumber or Teacher (K-12)?

Teacher (K-12) has a higher average initial fee of $199, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $48.

Do all states require a license for Plumber and Teacher (K-12)?

Plumber requires licensing in 37 of 53 jurisdictions, while Teacher (K-12) requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Plumber or Teacher (K-12)?

Plumber typically takes 4-5 years from start to licensure, while Teacher (K-12) takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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Detailed Comparison

Metric	Plumber	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Trades	Education
Median Salary	$63,530	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$151	$199
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	4-5 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	60 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	53 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Plumber or Teacher (K-12)?

Teacher (K-12) has a higher median salary at $65,090 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $1,560 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Plumber or a Teacher (K-12)?

Which license costs more: Plumber or Teacher (K-12)?

Teacher (K-12) has a higher average initial fee of $199, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $48.

Do all states require a license for Plumber and Teacher (K-12)?

Plumber requires licensing in 37 of 53 jurisdictions, while Teacher (K-12) requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Plumber or Teacher (K-12)?

Plumber typically takes 4-5 years from start to licensure, while Teacher (K-12) takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.