Georgia is not the first state people think of when they picture a hot plumbing market, but it probably should be. Atlanta has been one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country for years, and the rest of the state has been quietly catching up. If you are a plumber in Georgia or thinking about making a move, here is what the work looks like right now.
What Plumbers Earn in Georgia
Pay for plumbers in Georgia varies quite a bit depending on where you work and what you specialize in.
Entry-level plumbers and apprentices in Georgia are typically starting between $18 and $24 an hour. That is solid money for someone learning the trade, especially given that Georgia’s cost of living runs lower than coastal states. You can actually build some savings at that wage here.
Journeyman plumbers with three to five years of experience are averaging $28 to $38 an hour across the state. In Atlanta and the northern suburbs, the range pushes higher, particularly for plumbers working commercial construction or service and repair. Experienced service plumbers with their own van routes can clear $65,000 to $80,000 a year without breaking a sweat.
Plumbing foremen and project leads on commercial jobs are regularly hitting $75,000 to $90,000. Master plumbers who run their own shop in a growing suburb like Alpharetta, Cumming, or Woodstock have real upside, especially as new residential developments keep pushing outward from the metro.
Where the Work Is
Atlanta and the surrounding metro is the obvious answer but it deserves breaking down a bit. Fulton, Gwinnett, Cherokee, and Hall counties are all seeing significant residential and commercial construction. The combination of population growth, corporate relocations, and data center construction in the outer suburbs has created a sustained pipeline of plumbing work that shows no signs of slowing.
Savannah has become a serious industrial hub. The Port of Savannah is one of the largest and fastest-growing ports in the country, and the surrounding area has attracted a wave of logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing facilities that all need commercial plumbing. Hyundai’s EV plant in Bryan County and the construction around it brought a massive surge of trades work to coastal Georgia.
Augusta and Columbus are smaller but stable markets. Military bases in both cities create consistent government and commercial construction work, which tends to be steady and well-paying.
Residential vs Commercial
Georgia gives plumbers a real choice between two strong markets.
Residential new construction has been the backbone of the Georgia plumbing market for years. Subdivisions across the Atlanta suburbs are constantly going up and need rough-in plumbers. The work is repetitive but fast-paced, and production plumbers who can rough in houses quickly are always in demand.
Commercial plumbing in Georgia pays better and offers more variety. Healthcare construction has been particularly strong, with hospital expansions and medical office buildings going up in nearly every major metro. Data centers require serious mechanical and plumbing infrastructure. Industrial work tied to the manufacturing corridor along I-85 keeps commercial crews busy year-round.
Most experienced Georgia plumbers who want to maximize earnings find a way to split their time or transition toward commercial as their career progresses.
Licensing in Georgia
Georgia has a structured licensing system that you need to know if you are working toward running your own jobs or your own business.
Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber licenses are issued at the state level through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board. The master plumber exam requires four years of journeyman experience in Georgia and covers code, system design, and installation standards. If you are coming from another state, Georgia has reciprocity agreements with several states but you will need to verify your specific situation.
Most employers want to see a journeyman card before they put you on jobs independently. Getting licensed is worth the effort because it opens doors that stay closed for unlicensed tradespeople, including better-paying commercial work.
Union vs Non-Union
Georgia is a right-to-work state, so union membership is not required. That said, the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters has locals in Atlanta and Savannah that do strong work, particularly on industrial and commercial projects.
Non-union shops dominate the residential market and much of the suburban commercial work. Wages on the non-union side have been rising as labor demand stays ahead of supply, so the gap between union and non-union pay has narrowed in Georgia compared to some other states.
Finding Work in Georgia
Georgia’s plumbing market is strong enough that experienced plumbers rarely stay unemployed for long. The challenge is finding the right opportunity, not finding any opportunity.
Create a free profile on FindLaborJobs.com with your trade, certifications, and preferred work location. Georgia plumbing contractors use the site to find available workers directly. No recruiter, no staffing agency markup, just you and the employer.
Browse current plumbing jobs in Georgia on FindLaborJobs.com and apply in minutes.