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Plumbers and pipefitters in Georgia: what they earn
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Georgia earned a median $57,200 a year in May 2025, $27.50 an hour. 8,930 people held the job, 1.8 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 10% below the national figure of $63,800, and Georgia ranks 43 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become a plumber in Georgia — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers. ↓
The full wage spread in Georgia
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.12 | $37,680 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $21.70 | $45,130 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $27.50 | $57,200 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $33.00 | $68,640 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $38.82 | $80,740 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $27.99 | $58,220 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Georgia against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | Alabama | $58,670 | 6,950 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $58,600 | 9,270 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $57,970 | 6,050 |
| 43 | Georgia | $57,200 | 8,930 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $57,080 | 14,510 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $56,980 | 1,830 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $55,480 | 3,360 |
The complete ranking is on the Plumbers and pipefitters page.
Against the national figure
| Georgia | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $57,200 | $63,800 |
| Median hourly | $27.50 | $30.67 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $37,680 | $44,150 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $80,740 | $108,420 |
| Employed | 8,930 | 465,840 |
Other trades in Georgia
Electricians ($58,320) · HVAC technicians ($56,390) · Welders ($48,430) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($57,050)
See all five ranked by pay in Georgia.
How to become a plumber in Georgia
Georgia licenses plumbers statewide in three tiers — Journeyman, Class I Master (restricted), and Class II Master (unrestricted) — each requiring documented experience and a PSI exam. The licensing authority is Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers.
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | At least three years' qualifying plumbing experience, three notarized references, a background check, and a passing PSI exam. | — | Georgia Journeyman Plumber exam (PSI) | $40 |
| Class I Master Plumber (restricted) | Single/two-family dwellings and commercial up to 10,000 square feet. Five years' experience (at least two as a journeyman) and a passing PSI Master exam. | — | Georgia Master Plumber exam (PSI) | $40 |
| Class II Master Plumber (unrestricted) | No scope restriction. Five years' experience (at least two as a journeyman) including commercial or industrial plumbing, and a passing PSI Master exam. | — | Georgia Master Plumber exam (PSI) | $40 |
Reciprocity. Georgia has no plumber reciprocity with other states.
Renewal. Biennial (renew by November 30 of even-numbered years), with 8 hours of continuing education.
Licensing sources: Georgia Master & Journeyman Plumbers FAQ (retrieved 2026-09-16) · Georgia Plumbers exam application (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers before you act.
Compare the time and cost to get licensed across trades and states →
Common questions
Do you need a license to work as a plumber in Georgia?
Georgia licenses plumbers statewide in three tiers — Journeyman, Class I Master (restricted), and Class II Master (unrestricted) — each requiring documented experience and a PSI exam.
What does it cost to get licensed as a plumber in Georgia?
The main application or license fee is $40; separate exam or endorsement fees can apply, as noted in the table above.
How long does it take to become a plumber in Georgia?
It depends on which credential you need and the training and testing each step takes — the full path is in the table above.
The pay and employment figures above are the May 2025 BLS estimates; the licensing detail is sourced separately from the state authority and dated inline. See how the numbers are built.