Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in South Carolina

Median $25.93 an hour for 5,770 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$25.93/hrMedian hourly wageSouth Carolina, May data
$53,940/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.11 – $36.4410th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,770Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Plumber pay in South Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, South CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrSouth Carolina: 10th $18.11 · 25th $22.31 · median $25.93 · 75th $30.77 · 90th $36.44South Carolina$25.93$18.11$36.44United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: South Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

South Carolina ranks 47th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 48th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.67). 5,770 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.11 – $22.31$37,660 – $46,400roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.31 – $30.77$46,400 – $64,000the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$30.77 – $36.44$64,000 – $75,780the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in South Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrCharlotte: $28.22Charlotte$28.22Charleston: $27.58Charleston$27.58Florence: $27.00Florence$27.00Hilton Head: $26.38Hilton Head$26.38Augusta: $26.29Augusta$26.29Spartanburg: $25.31Spartanburg$25.31Columbia: $25.04Columbia$25.04Greenville: $24.46Greenville$24.46Sumter: $24.44Sumter$24.44Myrtle Beach: $23.24Myrtle Beach$23.24
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in South Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Charlotte$20.35$28.22$29.00$36.543,8409% above
Charleston$18.80$27.58$27.31$36.009606% above
Florence$16.70$27.00$31.11$36.581904% above
Hilton Head$18.19$26.38$26.92$36.532102% above
Augusta$17.55$26.29$28.61$37.185401% above
Spartanburg$17.90$25.31$27.78$37.663102% below
Columbia$18.27$25.04$26.72$36.331,0603% below
Greenville$17.64$24.46$26.22$38.419606% below
Sumter$17.77$24.44$27.77$33.48806% below
Myrtle Beach$18.00$23.24$24.83$34.8846010% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Plumber wages in South Carolina over time

South Carolina, 1999-2025South CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$25.93South Carolina
Median hourly wage for plumbers, South Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearSouth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.53$28.08$17.416,330
2000$14.86$27.78$18.196,610
2001$15.31$27.83$18.615,790
2002$15.62$27.95$19.315,720
2003$15.52$27.16$19.695,710
2004$15.24$25.97$19.854,540
2005$15.63$25.77$20.275,980
2006$15.99$25.54$20.566,730
2007$16.67$25.88$21.207,720
2008$17.01$25.44$21.946,470
2009$17.13$25.71$22.275,340
2010$17.51$25.85$22.434,510
2011$17.74$25.39$22.964,310
2012$17.99$25.23$23.624,140
2013$18.45$25.50$24.133,790
2014$19.17$26.07$24.364,740
2015$20.34$27.63$24.344,200
2016$20.31$27.24$24.744,000
2017$21.56$28.32$25.284,430
2018$21.31$27.32$25.925,580
2019$22.23$27.99$26.525,540
2020$21.84$27.17$27.085,300
2021$23.08$27.42$28.794,210
2022$23.08$25.39$28.894,610
2023$24.35$25.73$29.594,010
2024$26.37$27.06$30.275,480
2025$25.93$25.93$30.675,770

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in South Carolina changed by -6.1% over the last ten years of data and by -7.4% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in South Carolina?

+4.2%Jobs since 20195,540 then, 5,770 in 2025
+37.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 46th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in South Carolina has changed by -8.8%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +4.2%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in South Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100South CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages406080100120140200020052010201520202025113United States91South Carolina
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, South Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearSouth Carolina jobsSouth Carolina indexUS index
19996,330100100
20006,610104106
20015,79092106
20025,72090106
20035,71090105
20044,54072103
20055,98094102
20066,730106106
20077,720122105
20086,470102106
20095,3408497
20104,5107187
20114,3106884
20124,1406582
20133,7906085
20144,7407590
20154,2006695
20164,00063100
20174,43070104
20185,58088106
20195,54088107
20205,30084101
20214,21066101
20224,61073104
20234,01063106
20245,48087110
20255,77091113

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for plumbers in South Carolina

+5.7%Projected growth in South Carolina2024–2034, state agency
570Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,370Jobs in 20246,730 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +5.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,370 to 6,730, with about 570 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,770 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in South Carolina

On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 46 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $19.16). 46 of the 46 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Abbeville County at $19.16). The market median for the state is $25.93.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, SCAbbeville: $19.16 (survey)Aiken: $17.81 (survey)Allendale: $19.16 (survey)Anderson: $23.77 (survey)Bamberg: $19.16 (survey)Barnwell: $19.16 (survey)Beaufort: $19.85 (survey)Berkeley: $24.30 (survey)Calhoun: $17.81 (survey)Charleston: $24.30 (survey)Cherokee: $19.16 (survey)Chester: $19.16 (survey)Chesterfield: $19.16 (survey)Clarendon: $19.16 (survey)Colleton: $19.85 (survey)Darlington: $17.81 (survey)Dillon: $19.16 (survey)Dorchester: $24.30 (survey)Edgefield: $17.81 (survey)Fairfield: $17.81 (survey)Florence: $17.81 (survey)Georgetown: $19.85 (survey)Greenville: $23.77 (survey)Greenwood: $19.16 (survey)Hampton: $19.85 (survey)Horry: $24.42 (survey)Jasper: $19.85 (survey)Kershaw: $17.81 (survey)Lancaster: $19.16 (survey)Laurens: $23.77 (survey)Lee: $19.16 (survey)Lexington: $17.81 (survey)McCormick: $19.16 (survey)Marion: $19.16 (survey)Marlboro: $19.16 (survey)Newberry: $19.16 (survey)Oconee: $19.16 (survey)Orangeburg: $19.16 (survey)Pickens: $23.77 (survey)Richland: $17.88 (survey)Saluda: $17.81 (survey)Spartanburg: $23.77 (survey)Sumter: $17.81 (survey)Union: $19.16 (survey)Williamsburg: $19.85 (survey)York: $23.77 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$19.16$23.77survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for plumbers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (survey)$15$20$25$30/hrHorry (Myrtle Beach): market median $23.24, prevailing (survey) $24.42, gap +$1.18Horry (Myrtle Beach)+$1.18Anderson (Greenville): market median $24.46, prevailing (survey) $23.77, gap −$0.69Anderson (Greenville)−$0.69Spartanburg (Spartanburg): market median $25.31, prevailing (survey) $23.77, gap −$1.54Spartanburg (Spartanburg)−$1.54Berkeley (Charleston): market median $27.58, prevailing (survey) $24.30, gap −$3.28Berkeley (Charleston)−$3.28York (Charlotte): market median $28.22, prevailing (survey) $23.77, gap −$4.45York (Charlotte)−$4.45Beaufort (Hilton Head): market median $26.38, prevailing (survey) $19.85, gap −$6.53Beaufort (Hilton Head)−$6.53Sumter (Sumter): market median $24.44, prevailing (survey) $17.81, gap −$6.63Sumter (Sumter)−$6.63Richland (Columbia): market median $25.04, prevailing (survey) $17.88, gap −$7.16Richland (Columbia)−$7.16Aiken (Augusta): market median $26.29, prevailing (survey) $17.81, gap −$8.48Aiken (Augusta)−$8.48Darlington (Florence): market median $27.00, prevailing (survey) $17.81, gap −$9.19Darlington (Florence)−$9.19
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in South Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
HorrySurvey SUSC2011-022 2011-08-31$18.87$5.55$24.42SC20260026
BerkeleySurvey SUSC2011-018 2011-08-31$18.95$5.35$24.30SC20260022
CharlestonSurvey SUSC2011-019 2011-08-31$18.95$5.35$24.30SC20260023
DorchesterSurvey SUSC2011-020 2011-08-31$18.95$5.35$24.30SC20260024
AndersonSurvey SUSC2011-017 2011-08-31$19.21$4.56$23.77SC20260021
GreenvilleSurvey SUSC2011-021 2011-08-31$19.21$4.56$23.77SC20260025
LaurensSurvey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31$19.21$4.56$23.77SC20260006
PickensSurvey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31$19.21$4.56$23.77SC20260006
SpartanburgSurvey SUSC2011-025 2011-08-31$19.21$4.56$23.77SC20260029
YorkSurvey SUSC2011-027 2011-08-31$19.21$4.56$23.77SC20260031
BeaufortSurvey SUSC2011-004 2011-08-31$17.20$2.65$19.85SC20260008
ColletonSurvey SUSC2011-007 2011-08-31$17.20$2.65$19.85SC20260011
GeorgetownSurvey SUSC2011-016 2011-08-31$17.20$2.65$19.85SC20260020
HamptonSurvey SUSC2011-009 2011-08-31$17.20$2.65$19.85SC20260013
JasperSurvey SUSC2011-016 2011-08-31$17.20$2.65$19.85SC20260020

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the South Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in South Carolina?

130.0kConstruction jobsSouth Carolina, 2026-09
+4.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202660k80k100k120k140k19901995200020052010201520202025130kSep 2026
Construction employment in South Carolina (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just plumbers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 41 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 49,293 in 2015 to 69,005 in 2025, +40.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Florence County35506$95,391$1,834
Cherokee County15134$87,472$1,682
Berkeley County70655$82,750$1,591
Charleston County1552,659$79,004$1,519
Greenville County1962,304$75,165$1,445
Jasper County20163$74,756$1,438
Beaufort County83887$72,504$1,394
York County105847$72,363$1,392
Spartanburg County931,043$71,055$1,366
Richland County971,263$70,971$1,365
Laurens County12137$70,231$1,351
Dorchester County50277$69,526$1,337

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in South Carolina

More on South Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in South Carolina?

The median plumber in South Carolina earned $25.93 an hour ($53,940 a year) in May 2025, 15% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $22.31–$30.77; the top 10% earn more than $36.44.

Where does South Carolina rank for plumber pay?

South Carolina ranks 47th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $25.93 an hour, and 48th after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in South Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a plumber classification for most South Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many plumbers work in South Carolina?

BLS counted 5,770 plumbers in South Carolina in May 2025, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in South Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in South Carolina went from 4,200 in 2015 to 5,770 in 2025, +37.4%, and +4.2% since 2019. South Carolina's labor market agency projects +5.7% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 6,370 to 6,730 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in South Carolina?

South Carolina projects about 570 openings a year for plumbers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 42,000 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2152. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.