Electrician vs Plumber: Which Trade Fits You?

Electricians install, maintain and repair the wiring, power, lighting and control systems in buildings and equipment. Plumbers install and repair the pipes that carry water in and waste out, along with fixtures, water heaters and often gas lines. Both trades are usually learned through a paid apprenticeship lasting several years, both are licensed in many states, and both offer a path to running your own business.

Comparing the two trades

What you do all day

Electrician: reads blueprints, runs conduit and wire, installs panels, outlets and fixtures, and troubleshoots circuits with meters. The work leans on electrical theory and code, and some electricians specialize in industrial controls, solar or low-voltage systems.
Plumber: lays out and installs supply and drain lines, sets fixtures, repairs leaks and clogs, and replaces water heaters. Service plumbers spend much of the day diagnosing problems in people’s homes and businesses.

Training route and length

Electrician: most people complete an apprenticeship of roughly four to five years, combining thousands of paid on-the-job hours with classroom instruction. Pre-apprenticeship programs and trade school courses can help you get accepted.
Plumber: a similar structure: an apprenticeship of several years, often four to five, with paid work under a licensed plumber plus classroom hours on code, math and system design.

Apprenticeships are sponsored by employers, contractor associations and trade unions. Our guide on how to get an apprenticeship covers applications, and first year apprenticeship tips covers what comes after.

Licensing in general terms

Electrician: many states and cities require a journeyman license after the apprenticeship and a master or contractor license to pull permits or run a business. Exams are usually based on the electrical code adopted locally.
Plumber: a similar ladder from apprentice to journeyman to master, with exams on the locally adopted plumbing code. Gas work may need a separate license in some places.

Some states license at the state level and others leave it to cities or counties, so check the licensing board where you plan to work.

Work settings and schedule

Electrician: new construction, commercial buildings, factories, utilities and service work. Construction days often start early. Expect ladders, lifts, attics and occasional work at height.
Plumber: residential service, remodels, new construction and commercial buildings. Emergencies like burst pipes and backed-up drains mean service plumbers may take on-call shifts, nights or weekends. Expect crawl spaces and some unpleasant messes.

Who tends to prefer which

Electrician: people who enjoy math and theory, like tracing an invisible problem through a circuit, and are interested in where technology is headed. Some electrical apprenticeships check color vision because wiring is color coded.
Plumber: people who like concrete, visible problem solving, enjoy talking with customers and want a trade needed in every building, in every economy.

How to decide

Think about the problems you like. Abstract and logical, or physical and visible? Both trades have both, in different proportions.
Picture the conditions. Heights and tight attics, or crawl spaces and wet work? Neither is clean, but the discomforts differ.
Consider the schedule you want. Construction tends to be steady daytime hours; service work in either trade pays off for people who can handle calls.
Look at local demand. Talk to contractors in your area about which apprenticeships are taking applications.

Test both before you commit

Take an intro electrical and an intro plumbing class at a community college or trade school. One term of each tells you a lot.
Work a summer as a helper for a contractor. Many will let you try both sides on a job site.
Do informational interviews with a journeyman in each trade and ask about their body, their schedule and their first two years.
Use high school career and technical education classes if they are available.

Still deciding on a trade at all? Read how to choose a trade, trade school vs college and our guide to becoming an HVAC technician, a close cousin of both. For current pay and outlook, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Where a mentor helps

A mentor helps a teen or young adult compare trades, prepare apprenticeship applications, practice for aptitude tests and interviews, and keep showing up through the early years when the work is hardest. Mentors are not credentialed career counselors, admissions counselors or licensing experts; they help you do the research and the work yourself. See career and education mentoring, young adult mentoring and the career paths hub.

Common questions

Is it harder to become an electrician or a plumber?

The apprenticeships are similar in length. Electrical work usually involves more math and theory; plumbing tends to be more physically demanding in tight, wet spaces.

Do you need college to be an electrician or plumber?

No. Both are typically learned through apprenticeships. Some people take trade school courses first to improve their chances of being accepted.

Can you get paid while training?

Yes. Apprentices in both trades are paid employees who earn while they learn, with raises as they progress.

Can I start my own business in either trade?

Yes. In many places that requires a master or contractor license, plus business and insurance requirements that vary by state.

Get started

Deciding between trades and want a plan to land an apprenticeship? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.