Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in South Carolina

Wages, programs & career outlook

Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair the piping systems that carry water, gas, steam, and waste. Residential plumbers work on homes; pipefitters and steamfitters handle industrial and commercial systems with higher pressures and tighter tolerances.

SC Median Salary
$54,840/yr
-13% vs. national
National Median
$62,970/yr
SC Employment
5,480
Plumber & Pipefitters employed
SC Sponsors
18
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.5%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
44,000
Nationally, per yr

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in South Carolina: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship in South Carolina combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

South Carolina pay vs. national

Median plumber & pipefitter wages in South Carolina are $54,840/year, -13% below the national median of $62,970. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

South Carolina has 18 registered apprenticeship sponsors for plumber & pipefitter listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% job growth for plumber & pipefitters nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 44,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — South Carolina-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

South Carolina Wage Spread

Annual wages for Plumber & Pipefitters in South Carolina across all experience levels.

10th pct
$35,460
Median
$54,840
90th pct
$77,660
Middle 50% of workers earn $43,060$65,210

Current Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Openings in South Carolina

No plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for South Carolina. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship Sponsors in South Carolina

18 plumber & pipefitter-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for South Carolina. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current plumber & pipefitter apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Top Choice Plumbing LLC Charleston
VSC Fire & Security, Inc. Charleston Berkeley County
Aalberts integrated piping systems Americas, Inc Conway Horry County
First Choice Plumbing Services, LLC Conway Horry County
Four Star Plumbing and Air Conditioning Services Inc. Conway Horry County
Precision Plumbing Greer Spartanburg County
Anderson Plumbing and Industrial Inc Hartsville Darlington County
MEETZE PLUMBING CO., INC Irmo Richland County
RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY Liberity Pickens County
Beach Plumbing, LLC Myrtle Beach Horry County
Stark Plumbing LLC North Augusta Aiken County
American Plumbing Association North Charleston Charleston County
Cowart Plumbing Company North Charleston Charleston County
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, LLC North Charleston Charleston County
Dependable Service Plumbing and Air Pawleys Island Georgetown County
Precision Plumbing, Inc. Swansea Calhoun County
Peevey Inc., dba Roto-Rooter West Columbia Lexington County
Porter Gas Service Winnsboro Fairfield County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Plumber & Pipefitter openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2152 and state SC for the most relevant results.

Plumber & Pipefitter Apprenticeship in South Carolina

Apprenticeship seekers in South Carolina can contact any of 18 trade-specific sponsors our directory surfaces. Coverage is reasonable in urban centers, thinner in rural regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Plumber & Pipefitters make in South Carolina?
The BLS reports a median wage of $54,840/yr for Plumber & Pipefitters in South Carolina (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How many years does it take to become a Plumber & Pipefitter through apprenticeship?
A typical Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Should I do a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship or go to trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Plumber & Pipefitters combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
Where can I apply for a Plumber & Pipefitter apprenticeship in South Carolina?
Our directory surfaces 18 Plumber & Pipefitter-related registered sponsors in South Carolina. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do Plumber & Pipefitter apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $27,420/yr in South Carolina). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Plumber & Pipefitters also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 19 Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services programs nationwide →
Too few South Carolina-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Plumber & Pipefitter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in South Carolina

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.