Choosing a career path isn’t always simple.
Choosing the proper career requires considering your personality, interests, and aspirations.
If you want to work in the trades, you have a lot of possibilities. Plumbers and electricians are popular choices.
When it comes to choosing a trade, the good news is that they provide employment security, high earnings, and several potential career options.
However, there are some significant differences in the trades.
Two of the most common trades are a plumber or electrician.
So, Plumber or an Electrician, which one is better?
Neither job is better than the other. Learning to be an Electrician is more difficult than learning to be a Plumber. A Plumber job, on the other hand, is more physically demanding. A Plumber earns less than an Electrician. An Electrician makes more money than a Plumber.
Having said all this, it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.
They are both great jobs and they are similar in many ways.
So now we have answered the main question let’s uncover if it is better to be a plumber or an electrician?
But before we do, let’s discuss what a plumber does and what an electrician does.
What Does A Plumber Do? (Explained)
Plumbers install, maintain, and repair pipes, drains, guttering, and metal roofing, mechanical services, and related equipment for water supply, gas, drainage, sewerage, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
In terms of everyday tasks,
- studying blueprints, drawings, and specifications to determine the layout of plumbing systems and materials required
- setting out and installing hot and cold water systems and associated equipment
- installing water-based fire protection systems, including fire hydrants, hose reels, and sprinkler systems
- designing and installing sanitary plumbing and water supply systems, discharge pipes, and sanitary fixtures
- fabricating and installing soil and waste stacks
- assembling and installing mechanical services plant, air handling, and conditioning equipment, and small bore heating systems
- installing sewerage and effluent pumping equipment and disposal systems
- installing below-ground drainage systems and associated ground support systems
- installing gas appliances, flues, and pressure regulating devices
- fabricating and installing metal roofing, rainwater goods, and flashings
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What Does An Electrician Do?
Electricians design, assemble, install, test, commission, diagnose, maintain and repair electrical networks, systems, circuits, equipment, components, appliances, and facilities for industrial, commercial, and domestic purposes, and service and repair lifts, escalators, and related equipment.
In terms of everyday tasks,
- examining blueprints, wiring diagrams, and specifications to determine sequences and methods of operation
- measuring and laying out installation reference points
- selecting, cutting, and connecting wire and cable to terminals and connectors
- using electrical and electronic test instruments to trace and diagnose faults
- repairing and replacing faulty wiring and defective parts
- positioning and installing electrical switchboards
- connecting electrical systems to the power supply
- testing continuity of circuit
- installing, testing, and adjusting electric and mechanical parts of lifts
A Plumber Or An Electrician, Which Job Is Harder?
Plumbers have a more difficult job than electricians because they must carry heavy fixtures and cast iron, dig trenches in bad weather, get dirty, and deal with human waste.
Electricians don’t have this concern.
An electrician spends most of the day is spent inside, wiring commercial or residential properties.
Compared to plumbers, electricians keep themselves clean and free from dirt and human waste.
For those not wanting to perform hard physical work getting dirty, being an electrician is a better option than being a plumber.
A Plumber Or An Electrician, Which Job Is More Dangerous?
An electrician’s job is frequently more dangerous than that of a plumber. If an electrician wires poorly, they are immediately aware of the risk of being electrocuted. In contrast to plumbers, if they make a mistake, they may not realise there is an issue until mould, blockages, or leaks appear weeks later.
Both professions have their risks. Electricians can electrocute themselves or burn down a building.
A plumber can flood a property, can kill people with carbon monoxide or other dangerous gases.
So both trades have their dangers.
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A Plumber Or An Electrician, Who Earns More?
When it comes to wages, electricians come out on top, but not by much.
Plumbers earn slightly more than electricians, with a median annual income of $55,160 for plumbers in May 2019 compared to $56,180 for electricians, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
The employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is projected to grow 4 per cent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Building construction, maintenance, and repair should drive demand for these workers, and overall job opportunities are expected to be good.
Conversely, the employment of electricians is projected to grow 8 per cent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
The reason is, demand from homes and businesses continues to require wiring, and electricians will be needed to install the necessary components.
Plumber, Or An Electrician, Which Is Easier To Learn?
Learning to become an electrician tends to be more difficult, having to understand what you need to do and not do to electrocute yourself.
To become a plumber or electrician you will need to complete certification and on-the-job training (apprenticeship) that take 3-4 years to complete.
You can never work as an electrician or plumber unless you have undergone the necessary education and training
A high school diploma is a basic requirement for both careers.
Plumbers perform more classroom training than electricians. Plumbers should have at least 246 hours of technical education 1,700 hours of training.
This training involved the hands-on application of theories and apprenticeship. An electrician will need 144 hours of technical education and 2,000 hours of training.
As an apprentice, your ability to learn will also be determined by the plumber teaching you.
Most apprentices find the first year the toughest, but it does get easier the further you go, due to the more knowledge you have.
The good news, is you do get paid whilst being an apprentice. Get paid to learn, how good is that!
Final Thoughts
It is more difficult to learn to be an electrician than it is to learn to be a plumber. Being a plumber, on the other hand, requires more physical exertion. In terms of pay, a Plumber earns slightly less than an Electrician. It all comes down to personal choice.
At the end of the day, the decision to become an electrician or plumber depends on your preferences.
If you are the kind of person who likes to keep relatively clean and not do the hard physical work day in day out, then becoming an electrician might be a more suitable option.
If you’re more interested in performing manual labor you might want to be a plumber.
Hope you have enjoyed this article if you would like to know about being a plumber or electrician check out these articles
- What is it like being an Electrician?
- What is it like being a Plumber?
- Hard to Drive a Forklift? (Solved and Explained)
- Mechanic: Things You Need to Know (Explained and Solved)
- What is it like being a Landscape Gardener (Job)?
