Plumber Salary in Greenville, SC: $52,172 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time plumber in Greenville, SC earns a median $52,172/year (≈ $25.08/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Once you factor in Greenville's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.3), that paycheck buys what $55,943 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Plumbers in Greenville, South Carolina, can expect a median salary of $52,172 in 2026, which reflects a noticeable gap when compared to the national median of $65,408. This salary range spans from $37,615 at the 10th percentile to $81,903 at the 90th percentile, illustrating the diversity of compensation based on skill levels and job types. The data, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys, highlights the tradeoff for plumbers between employed positions with consistent paychecks and the potentially higher earnings available for self-employed contractors. As the city continues to grow, the demand for skilled plumbers is expected to remain robust, showcasing a significant opportunity for those entering the field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,615 | $18.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,867 | $23.02 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $52,172 | $25.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,274 | $31.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81,903 | $39.38 |
Median Salary Position
20.24% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Greenville
In Greenville, SC, the plumber salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,288 (2026 est.). At $52,172, the local median is 20.24% below the national median of $65,408.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Greenville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Greenville Plumber Pay Compares
Greenville median: $52,172/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Greenville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $53,675 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $65,408 | -20.24% less |
Plumbers in Greenville, SC earn a median of $52,172 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.24% lower than the national median of $65,408 and 2.80% below the South Carolina state average of $53,675.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Greenville has a cost of living 6.74% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Greenville, SC has a cost-of-living index of 93.26 (below the national average of 100). A plumber earning $52,172 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $55,943 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.23% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$47,810
2025 BLS Actual
$50,890
2026 Current Est.
$52,172
2019–2027 Growth
+11.9%
Salary Trajectory for Plumbers in Greenville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $47,810 | Actual |
| 2020 | $46,060 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,240 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,200 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $55,810 | Actual |
| 2025 | $50,890 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52,172 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53,487 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Greenville metropolitan area, the median plumber salary grew 6.4% from $47,810 (2019) to $50,890 (2025). At a 2.52% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $53,487 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,677 (11.87%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Greenville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.52% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $37,615 – $47,867 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,867 – $52,172 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $52,172 – $65,274 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,274 – $81,903 |
Plumber salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual plumber compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Plumber Job Market in Greenville
In Greenville, approximately 960 plumbers contribute to a local labor market characterized by competitive salaries relative to the cost of living index, which stands at 93.26. This index helps illustrate how much purchasing power plumbers can expect; a lower index indicates that the cost of living is below the national average, allowing for a more favorable standard of living despite the relatively lower wages. Among various employers in the area, union plumbing contractors typically offer the highest pay, often due to the premium associated with union membership and the added specialization for medical gas or industrial pipefitting. The disparity between lower and higher pay can be attributed to factors such as required credentials, commission structures in service companies, and the prevailing dynamics between residential versus industrial opportunities. Plumbers interested in maximizing their income should consider obtaining additional certifications, seeking roles with established union contractors, and gaining experience in high-demand specialties that command higher rates.
More salary data for Greenville, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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Written by Samuel Torres, CWP
Career Analyst
Samuel Torres has 10 years of experience in plumbing. He specializes in residential plumbing systems. He has worked with several home improvement companies.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $50,890 for plumbersin the Greenville metropolitan area. A 2.52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.52%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for plumbers (SOC 47-2152).
Compiled and verified by Samuel Torres, CWP, a licensed plumber with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov