Plumber in South Carolina
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for SC. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, South Carolina.
Jobs (SC)
10-yr job growth
Est. total cost
Time to complete
route 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.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for South Carolina. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist South Carolina requirements
| 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 |
| Education | None |
| Experience | 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. |
workspace_premium South Carolina license tiers
South Carolina offers multiple tiers of plumber licensing:
| Tier | Hours required |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor | 4,000 |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleSouth Carolina license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk