Plumber vs Veterinarian

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Veterinarian

Easier to Obtain

Plumber

Lower Fee

Plumber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Plumber	Veterinarian
Category	Trades	Healthcare
Median Salary	$63,530	$119,100
Avg Initial Fee	$151	$400
Difficulty	Medium-High	Very High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship	DVM (4 years post-bachelor)
Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam	NAVLE
Time to License	4-5 years	8 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Veterinarian

Median Salary$119,100

Avg Salary$119,100

Avg License Fee$400

Veterinarian earns $55,570 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $555,700 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

PlumberView all 53 state requirements VeterinarianView 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 Veterinarian?

Veterinarian has a higher median salary at $119,100 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $55,570 annually.

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

Plumber licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Veterinarian is rated Very High. Plumber requires 4-5 year apprenticeship and typically takes 4-5 years, compared to DVM (4 years post-bachelor) and 8 years for Veterinarian.

Which license costs more: Plumber or Veterinarian?

Veterinarian has a higher average initial fee of $400, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $249.

Do all states require a license for Plumber and Veterinarian?

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

Which career is faster to enter: Plumber or Veterinarian?

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

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Plumber	Veterinarian
Category	Trades	Healthcare
Median Salary	$63,530	$119,100
Avg Initial Fee	$151	$400
Difficulty	Medium-High	Very High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship	DVM (4 years post-bachelor)
Exam	Journeyman Plumber Exam	NAVLE
Time to License	4-5 years	8 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	16 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	37 of 53	53 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Plumber or Veterinarian?

Veterinarian has a higher median salary at $119,100 per year, compared to $63,530 for Plumber — a difference of $55,570 annually.

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

Which license costs more: Plumber or Veterinarian?

Veterinarian has a higher average initial fee of $400, while Plumber averages $151 — a difference of $249.

Do all states require a license for Plumber and Veterinarian?

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

Which career is faster to enter: Plumber or Veterinarian?

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