How to Become a Plumber in South Carolina (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina employs about 5,770 plumbers earning a median $53,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a plumber here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the SC Residential Builders Commission credentialing requirements.

Compare Plumber Schools in South Carolina

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
157.9$2,748 in-state / $8,892 out-of-state$48,34634%Yes*152 mi
255.3$2,254 in-state / $6,862 out-of-state$49,03433%Yes*210 mi
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352.9$2,276 in-state / $6,884 out-of-state$48,62534%Yes*228 mi
446.6$2,602 in-state / $8,746 out-of-state$41,98532%Yes*195 mi
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546.5$3,448 in-state / $6,016 out-of-state$42,97947%Yes*218 mi
645.5$2,628 in-state / $8,772 out-of-state$48,13824%Yes*168 mi
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735.7Contact school for pricing$34,39375%—200 mi
835.2$2,320 in-state / $7,696 out-of-state$44,92431%Yes*223 mi
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931.5Contact school for pricing$34,39378%—172 mi
1027.4$6,156 in-state / $11,916 out-of-state$47,36118%Yes*51 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.

South Carolina employs approximately 5,770 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $53,940 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 South Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in South Carolina

How to become a Plumber in South Carolina? South Carolina requires credentials such as Plumbing, Plumbing Inspector. The licensing authority is the SC Residential Builders Commission 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 South Carolina? Yes. South Carolina has licensing or registration requirements for plumbers. The SC Residential Builders Commission oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do plumbers earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for plumbers in South Carolina is $53,940 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,660 and experienced professionals can earn $75,780 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in South Carolina

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 SC Residential Builders Commission, pass the required examination, and obtain the plumber credential before working unsupervised in South Carolina.

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

Plumber License Requirements in South Carolina

The SC Residential Builders Commission oversees plumber licensing in South Carolina 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
PlumbingContact licensing agency for more information.
Plumbing InspectorContact licensing agency for more information.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Plumber Apprenticeship Information in South Carolina

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. South Carolina’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Apprenticeship South Carolina 5.

Contact Information:

  • Office: SC Technical College System - Apprenticeship Carolina
  • Address: 111 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC 29201-2496
  • Phone: (803) 765-5548

Federal Prevailing Wage in South Carolina

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, plumbers working on federally funded construction projects in South Carolina earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent South Carolina general wage determinations show approximately $16.99 per hour in base pay plus $2.17 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $19.16 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 6.

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 South Carolina

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia3,840$58,690$58,140$42,320$76,010
Columbia1,060$52,070$55,130$38,010$75,570
Charleston-North Charleston960$57,360$58,210$39,100$74,880
Greenville-Anderson-Greer960$50,890$56,130$36,690$79,890
Augusta-Richmond County540$54,690$56,220$36,490$77,330
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach460$48,340$52,860$37,430$72,560
Spartanburg310$52,640$56,020$37,220$78,330
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal210$54,870$56,940$37,840$75,990
Florence190$56,160$54,620$34,730$76,090
Sumter80$50,840$52,620$36,950$69,640

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 South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 5,770 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a plumber in South Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the SC Residential Builders Commission for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in South Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in South Carolina. You can also contact the Apprenticeship South Carolina for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do plumbers earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in South Carolina is $53,940, which is $9,030 below the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In South Carolina

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

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. SC Residential Builders Commission - Licensing Information: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/ResidentialBuilders/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

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

  5. Apprenticeship South Carolina: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

  6. 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)