Plumber in South Carolina
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for SC
How to Become a Plumber in South Carolina
To become a licensed plumber in South Carolina, individuals must obtain either a Residential Specialty Plumbing Contractor license through the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission for residential projects exceeding $200, or a Commercial Mechanical Contractor license with a plumbing classification through the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board for commercial work over $5,000. Both require passing a trade-specific exam and a Business Management and Law exam, along with documented experience (one year for residential, two for commercial). South Carolina offers reciprocity for the trade exam with North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi, but applicants must still pass the state's Business Management and Law exam.
Plumber Requirements in South Carolina
| Detail | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (for commercial work over $5,000) and South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (for residential work over $200) |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | None |
| Experience Required | 4,160.0 hours |
| Exam | South Carolina Commercial Plumbing Contractor Exam & Business Management and Law Exam (for commercial) OR South Carolina Residential Plumbing Exam & Business Management and Law Exam (for residential) ($150) |
| Application Fee | $350 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Notes | South Carolina has two main state-level plumbing licenses: Residential Specialty Plumbing Contractor (for residential work exceeding $200) and Commercial Mechanical Contractor with a plumbing classification (for commercial work exceeding $5,000). Journeyman and Master Plumber certifications are also available through the Municipal Association of South Carolina, but generally do not fulfill statewide licensing requirements for independent contracting. Applicants for a Residential Specialty Plumbing Contractor license need at least one year of experience within the last five years. Commercial Mechanical Contractor applicants need at least two years of experience within the last five years. A Master Plumber certification can waive the exam portion for some applications. A background check is required for residential licenses. |
License Tiers
South Carolina offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor | 4,000 |
Plumber Salary in South Carolina
The median plumber salary in South Carolina is $54,840 per year, which is 12.9% below the national median of $62,970.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $35,460 |
| 25th | $43,060 |
| 50th (median) | $54,840 |
| 75th | $65,210 |
| 90th (experienced) | $77,660 |
South Carolina employs approximately 5,480 plumbers.
Plumber Job Outlook
AI Impact on Plumbers
Low AI Exposure (Score: -1.12/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming a Plumber in South Carolina Worth It?
With an estimated total investment of $600 and a median salary of $54,840 in South Carolina, the rough payback period is approximately 0 months.
Factors to consider: South Carolina's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, moderate job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.