Plumber in Tennessee
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for TN
How to Become a Plumber in Tennessee
To become a licensed plumber in Tennessee, individuals can pursue either a Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) license for projects under $25,000 or a CMC-A (Plumbing and Gas Piping Contractor) license for projects $25,000 or more, both issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. The LLP license requires at least one year of plumbing experience and passing the LLP exam, while the CMC-A requires three years of verifiable plumbing experience (or an engineering degree) and passing both the CMC-A trade exam and a Business and Law exam. While Tennessee offers trade exam waivers for the CMC-A license with several states, it's important to note that these are not full reciprocity agreements, and the Tennessee Business and Law exam is still required.
Plumber Requirements in Tennessee
| Detail | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | High school diploma or GED (for state-level licenses). Classroom instruction (576-900 hours) often required for local journeyman licenses. |
| Experience Required | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) Exam or CMC-A Commercial Plumbing Exam & Business and Law Exam ($57) |
| Application Fee | $75 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Notes | Tennessee issues both state-level and local plumbing licenses. State-level licenses include the Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) for projects under $25,000 and the CMC-A (Plumbing and Gas Piping Contractor) for projects $25,000 or more. Journeyman licenses are handled at the local municipal level and often require 8,000 hours (4 years) of experience and 576-900 hours of classroom instruction. The minimum age for state licenses is 18. Some counties do not accept the LLP license, and local licenses may be required even with a state license for permits and inspections. The LLP exam does not require pre-approval, but the CMC-A exam does, requiring 3 years of verifiable plumbing experience or an engineering degree in the plumbing/mechanical field. Financial statements and insurance are required for the CMC-A license. |
License Tiers
Tennessee offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Contractor (CMC-A) | N/A |
Plumber Salary in Tennessee
The median plumber salary in Tennessee is $57,730 per year, which is 8.3% below the national median of $62,970.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $38,080 |
| 25th | $45,610 |
| 50th (median) | $57,730 |
| 75th | $72,200 |
| 90th (experienced) | $81,570 |
Tennessee employs approximately 8,810 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 Tennessee Worth It?
With an estimated total investment of $400 and a median salary of $57,730 in Tennessee, the rough payback period is approximately 0 months.
Factors to consider: Tennessee's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, moderate job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.