How to Become a Plumber in Georgia (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Georgia employs about 8,930 plumbers earning a median $57,200 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in Georgia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
154.3$3,516 in-state / $6,084 out-of-state$47,00958%Yes*35 mi
251.7$5,131 in-state / $9,001 out-of-state$45,54639%Yes*200 mi
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351.0$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state$43,83535%Yes*46 mi
447.9$3,382 in-state / $5,950 out-of-state$40,96449%Yes*3 mi
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546.8$3,364 in-state / $5,932 out-of-state$37,10442%Yes*152 mi
646.6$2,602 in-state / $8,746 out-of-state$41,98532%Yes*196 mi
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746.5$3,448 in-state / $6,016 out-of-state$42,97947%Yes*93 mi
844.5$3,386 in-state / $5,954 out-of-state$46,60144%Yes*9 mi
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938.3$5,040 in-state / $8,910 out-of-state$44,50627%Yes*145 mi
109.3$6,084Not reported21%—141 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Georgia employs approximately 8,930 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,200 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 44,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Plumber in Georgia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Georgia

How to become a Plumber in Georgia? Georgia requires credentials such as Master Plumber - Restricted, Master Plumber - Non-Restricted. The licensing authority is the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths into the plumber field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Georgia? Yes. Georgia has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in Georgia? The median annual wage for plumbers in Georgia is $57,200 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,680 and experienced professionals can earn $80,740 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Georgia

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Georgia training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Georgia that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in Georgia.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the apprenticeship sponsor or state apprenticeship office.

Plumber License Requirements in Georgia

The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board oversees plumber licensing in Georgia 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Master Plumber - RestrictedSee the state licensing board for current requirements.
Master Plumber - Non-RestrictedSee the state licensing board for current requirements.

Additional Requirements

  • Exam: No exam required
  • Experience: Affidavit or referral required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in Georgia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Chatham Apprentice Program - StepUp Savannah
  • Address: 428 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
  • Phone: (912) 232-6747

Federal Prevailing Wage in Georgia

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in Georgia earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Georgia general wage determinations show approximately $30.00 per hour in base pay plus $16.66 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $46.66 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 5.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within plumber work.

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Georgia

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in Georgia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters wages in Georgia vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell5,470$58,380$60,020$37,900$81,580
Chattanooga860$58,720$59,950$37,670$78,880
Augusta-Richmond County540$54,690$56,220$36,490$77,330
Savannah380$60,530$59,510$37,580$78,840
Athens-Clarke County210$57,750$57,640$38,790$75,520
Gainesville210$51,170$55,150$36,400$76,430
Columbus200$47,410$52,590$35,360$75,860
Macon-Bibb County170$48,110$52,610$35,930$70,480
Albany140$47,700$53,850$34,560$76,960
Warner Robins130$58,500$56,010$38,490$70,790
Dalton90$47,370$52,410$37,670$72,530
Valdosta80$46,070$50,240$37,410$62,040
Brunswick-St. Simons70$59,630$65,770$45,560$101,530
Hinesville50$47,520$51,390$35,940$66,880
Rome40$48,400$52,010$39,470$59,800

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for plumbers in Georgia? Georgia currently employs approximately 8,930 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a plumber in Georgia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Georgia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Georgia.

How much do plumbers earn in Georgia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Georgia is $57,200, which is $5,770 below the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Georgia

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board - Licensing Information: https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

  5. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)