Plumber or Electrician - Which one do I choose?

Both electricians and plumbers play an important role in maintaining the condition of a home, office or business and all its fixtures. Electricians are the professionals who will take care of the electrical needs – from installing electrical wiring to adding equipment which can control electricity flows. Plumbers, on the other hand, are in charge of installing and maintaining systems necessary for producing potable water and drainage in an establishment’s plumbing systems.

Although they have different specializations, one thing is common among them: they’re both in-demand. This is the reason why a career in either of these professions can be an excellent choice. Both careers allow you to earn a steady income, learn important life skills and interact with different kinds of people. You may be wondering, what should I choose to be? Michigan Construction hopes to provide answers and insight to this question.

Because every property owner needs the services of an electrician and plumber, it’s no question that both of these trades will continue to soar in the coming years. As more and more people are buying and building properties, the demand for an electrician and plumber also increases. Choosing between the two trades might be personal but if you’re still having a hard time deciding, consider the points below:

1. Education and training requirements: You can never work as an electrician or plumber unless you have undergone the necessary education and training. In this aspect, plumbers need more classroom training than electricians. Plumbers should have at least 246 hours of technical education 1,700 hours of training. This training involved hands-on application of theories and apprenticeship. An electrician will need 144 hours of technical education and 2,000 hours of training. The duration of the apprenticeship for both careers are in the same length. A high school diploma is a basic requirement for both careers.
   
   

2. Working conditions: Electricians and plumbers work full-time. They may be required to work during the evening, holidays and weekends. Overtime is a dominating factor between the two jobs, but plumbers are more prone to this kind of working setup, especially if they’re offering with 24/7 plumbing services. Both of these jobs also have specific safety hazards. Plumbers are more likely to be exposed to burns whenever they are soldering pipes and other plumbing fixtures, while electricians can face electric shocks. Depending on the area which needs replacement or repairs, both electricians and plumbers may work on ladders or scaffolding, experience extreme weather conditions or work in a cramped environment. 
   
   

3. Nature of work: What an electrician or plumber does can be an important deciding factor. When plumbers are assigned to work in a construction project, for example, they will be responsible for installing all the pipes and fixtures that are required for the establishment’s plumbing system. This includes installing new drainage systems, showers, and sinks. They are also in charge of repairing and maintaining the conditions of these fixtures which includes water heater repair. Electricians basically do the same tasks, but unlike plumbers, they’re doing it in an establishment’s electrical system. They will assess and read an establishment’s blueprint, ensure that the wires are cut to the right length, properly install outlet boxes and components in different areas of an establishment. Electricians will also have to climb up different towers to install and repair outdoor electrical wires.
   
   
4. Compensation and benefits: The money you’ll make when you work will always be an important deciding factor. But as to what to extent, varies from person to person. If you want to earn more once you start working, work as an electrician. Electricians begin earning $53,820 every year while plumbers start around $53,560. Although electricians earn a slightly higher income compared to plumbers, keep in mind that rates may vary from one state to another and that service charges are fluctuating every now and then, and the more experienced you are, the more you make.

Also, just because electricians usually earn more than plumbers, doesn’t necessarily follow that electricians can become financially stable faster and easier than plumbers. Regardless of the job you choose, as long as you’re providing excellent services to your customers, you can guarantee to earn a huge amount of money. In fact, you could be earning more compared to other electricians and plumbers.

It’s Up To You

At the end of the day, the decision to work as an electrician or plumber solely depends on your strengths and preferences. If you’re someone who’s always up-to-date with the latest innovations and fond of learning new things about technology, working as an electrician might be a more suitable option. If you’re more interested in doing manual labor and keeping life's necessities (you know what we mean) functioning, you might want to be a plumber. Assess which among the two which will be a better training ground and avenue towards your growth. Once you’ve determined these, for sure, you’ll be able to choose carefully!

Make sure to check out all of the training and education resources that Michigan Construction has to offer on our Plumbing Career Details Page and our Electrician Career Details Page.

Thank you to Luisa Nacpil for this guest article!  Luisa is a Freelance Medical and Content Copywriter, she's also an SEO Specialist at barkitloud Agency. Die-hard lover of chocolates, novels, and adventures, and when she has free time she rides the waves of the ocean and loves to dive into the deep blue sea. "