Plumber Career Guide in South Carolina
Explore plumber salary, licensing requirements, training pathways, apprenticeships, job outlook, and career opportunities in South Carolina.
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How to Become a Plumber in South Carolina
Plumbers in South Carolina install, repair, and maintain water distribution, drainage, waste, venting, fixtures, and related piping systems. The statewide median wage is approximately $54,840 per year, which is about $8,130 lower than the national median for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.
Most plumbers in South Carolina complete a four- or five-year apprenticeship sponsored by United Association local unions, mechanical contractors, industry associations, technical colleges, or registered employer sponsors.
Plumbers commonly learn through supervised employment or apprenticeship. Applicants for a South Carolina Residential Plumber license must document qualifying residential plumbing experience and pass the required Business Management and Law and technical examinations unless an approved examination waiver applies.
Training combines paid on-the-job experience with related classroom instruction covering plumbing theory, state-adopted plumbing codes, water distribution, sanitary drainage, venting, fuel-gas systems, blueprint reading, pipe installation, medical gas systems, backflow prevention, welding, and workplace safety.
Registered apprenticeships use an earn-while-you-learn model in which apprentices receive progressively increasing wages while completing structured workplace training and technical education.
Note: Training pathways vary by employer, program sponsor, and licensing category. Classroom education may provide useful technical preparation, but it does not automatically replace supervised work experience unless the applicable licensing authority specifically allows that credit.
Plumber Salary in South Carolina
The salary figure shown on this page represents the South Carolina median wage for plumber workers, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data. A median wage is the point at which half of workers earn more and half earn less. It is not a guaranteed starting salary.
Actual earnings may vary by experience, license level, metropolitan area, employer, industry, overtime, and union agreement.
Compared with the national median of $62,970, the median wage in South Carolina is approximately $8,130 lower. This comparison does not account for differences in cost of living.
Licensing Authority for Plumbers in South Carolina
Note: Licensing rules, fees, examinations, exemptions, and renewal requirements may change. Applicants should verify current requirements directly with the authority listed above before beginning work, applying for an examination, or enrolling in a training program.
CAREER PREPARATIONPlumber Training Requirements in South Carolina
For a Residential Plumber license, document at least one year of residential plumbing experience completed within the preceding five years. After the experience is approved, pass the Business Management and Law examination and the Residential Plumbing technical examination unless eligible for an approved technical-exam waiver.
Applicants intending to contract for commercial plumbing projects exceeding $10,000 should verify the experience, examination, financial, and licensing requirements for the Mechanical Contractor Plumbing classification with the Contractor’s Licensing Board.
Plumbing Codes & System Design
Apprentices study state-adopted plumbing codes, fixture requirements, water-distribution design, sanitary drainage, venting, stormwater systems, permits, inspections, and code-compliant plumbing practices.
Water Supply & Drainage Systems
Training covers potable-water piping, sanitary drainage, vent systems, water heaters, pumps, pressure regulation, sewage systems, storm drainage, and plumbing-system troubleshooting.
Pipe Installation & Blueprint Reading
Students learn blueprint interpretation, plumbing layout, pipe sizing, copper soldering and brazing, threaded piping, cast-iron installation, plastic piping, supports, valves, and fixture connections.
Commercial & Industrial Plumbing
Advanced training may include commercial plumbing, process piping, hydronic systems, compressed air, steam piping, medical gas installations, mechanical rooms, and backflow prevention.
Plumbing Safety & OSHA Practices
Programs emphasize trench safety, confined-space procedures, lockout/tagout, fall protection, personal protective equipment, material handling, heat-stress prevention, and safe use of plumbing tools and machinery.
Plumber Training Providers in South Carolina
| Provider | City | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | View Program |
| Greenville Technical College | Greenville | View Program |
| Trident Technical College | Charleston | View Program |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | View Program |
| Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | View Program |
Note: Program availability, admission requirements, tuition, and credit toward licensing requirements may change. Verify current details directly with the provider and the applicable state licensing authority before enrolling. Listings are informational and do not constitute rankings or endorsements.
PAID TRAINING OPPORTUNITIESPlumber Apprenticeship Programs in South Carolina
Pipe Trades Registered Apprenticeship
Organization: United Association Training Partners
Plumber Licensing Requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina does not issue one statewide Journeyman Plumber License for every plumbing employee. Licensing requirements depend primarily on the type and monetary value of the work being contracted.
Residential plumbing work exceeding $500 requires a Residential Plumber License issued through the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission. Commercial plumbing work exceeding $10,000 generally requires the appropriate Mechanical Contractor license and Plumbing classification through the South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board.
Apprentices and employed plumbers commonly work under licensed plumbing contractors while completing supervised training. Cities and counties may also impose local permits, registrations, trade cards, examinations, or competency requirements.
EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONSPlumber Job Outlook in South Carolina
South Carolina provides steady demand for plumbers because of population growth, residential development, commercial construction, automotive manufacturing, aerospace production, healthcare expansion, port activity, tourism, utilities, and public infrastructure investment.
Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry support plumbers working in hotels, hospitals, apartment developments, shipyards, port facilities, aerospace plants, and commercial buildings. Greenville and Spartanburg provide additional opportunities connected to automotive manufacturing, industrial facilities, healthcare, and rapid residential growth.
Columbia, Rock Hill, Myrtle Beach, and other growing communities also create demand for plumbers in schools, universities, hospitals, resorts, municipal facilities, new housing, and infrastructure replacement.
South Carolina projects employment for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters to grow by approximately 5% from 2022 to 2032, with about 470 openings per year. Projections include both new positions and openings created when workers leave the occupation.
Note: State employment projections may use a different base period from national BLS projections. Projected growth is an estimate rather than a guarantee of employment, and local demand may vary by metropolitan area, industry, construction activity, and employer investment.
CAREER QUESTIONSFrequently Asked Questions
What is the plumber salary in South Carolina?
The statewide median wage for plumbers in South Carolina is approximately $54,840 per year, or $26.37 per hour, based on May 2024 occupational wage data. Actual earnings vary by experience, license level, location, employer, overtime, and industry.
Does South Carolina require plumber licensing?
Licensing requirements for plumber workers in South Carolina vary by work scope, license category, and jurisdiction. Applicants should verify current requirements with South Carolina Residential Builders Commission before beginning work or applying for an examination.
How long does it take to become a plumber in South Carolina?
The time required depends on the license pathway and training program. A typical training pathway takes approximately 4–5 Years Apprenticeship, although licensing, apprenticeship, and employer requirements may differ.
Are plumbers in demand in South Carolina?
South Carolina projects plumber employment to grow by approximately 5% from 2022 to 2032, with about 470 openings per year. Projections include both new positions and openings created when workers leave the occupation.
Career Data Sources
State wage, employment outlook, and licensing information is reviewed using government and official regulatory sources. Data and requirements may change after publication.
- May 2024 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2024 State OEWS
- South Carolina Wages for Plumber (SOC 47-2152) — O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor. South Carolina Plumber Wages
- South Carolina Plumber Employment Trends — O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor. South Carolina Plumber Employment Trends
- South Carolina Residential Builders Commission — Licensing authority. South Carolina Residential Builders Commission