SalaryByCity

Education Administrators, Postsecondary vs Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

$103,960

Median annual salary

176,420 employed nationally

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

$62,970

Median annual salary

455,940 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Education Administrators, Postsecondary professionals earn $40,990 more per year than Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters professionals — that's 65.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Education Administrators, Postsecondary earns $212,420 compared to $105,150 for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.

Salary Range Comparison

Education Administrators, Postsecondary$63,820 – $212,420
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$40,670 – $105,150
$40,670$212,420

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileEducation Administrators, PostsecondaryPlumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersDifference
10th Percentile$63,820$40,670+$23,150
25th Percentile$79,880$48,860+$31,020
Median (50th)$103,960$62,970+$40,990
75th Percentile$140,940$81,900+$59,040
90th Percentile$212,420$105,150+$107,270
Mean (Average)$124,450$69,940+$54,510

Employment Numbers

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

176,420

employed nationwide

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

455,940

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Education Administrators, Postsecondary

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$137,490
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$136,880
Rochester, NY$132,150
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$131,910
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$129,330

Best Cities for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

CityMedian
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$100,110
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI$98,890
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$97,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$90,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$87,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Education Administrators, Postsecondary or Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
Education Administrators, Postsecondary professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $40,990 (65.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Education Administrators, Postsecondary?
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salaries range from $63,820 (10th percentile) to $212,420 (90th percentile), with a median of $103,960.
What is the salary range for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries range from $40,670 (10th percentile) to $105,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,970.
How many Education Administrators, Postsecondary and Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters jobs are there?
There are approximately 176,420 Education Administrators, Postsecondary positions and 455,940 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters to Education Administrators, Postsecondary?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Education Administrators, Postsecondary has a median salary of $103,960 while Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earns $62,970. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS