Commercial plumbing recruiters serving Memphis.
FedEx's $400M Hercules project and ~$1B World Hub overhaul have reshaped electrical wages sharply. Plumbing hasn't followed the same path - the metro overview is explicit that plumbing tracks close to national average, with no comparable specialty layer. We'll tell you honestly what that means for your budget.
National parity - and nothing more exotic than that.
Commercial plumbers in Memphis earn close to the national average - one of the more cost-efficient markets we cover for conventional plumbing specifically.
Unlike materials-handling electricians serving FedEx's $400M Hercules project and ~$1B World Hub overhaul - who run about 9% above national - the metro overview is explicit that plumbing does not carry that same differentiated layer here.
We recruit across the full org chart for commercial plumbing contractors in Memphis, and we screen for Tennessee BLC licensing on every role.
What you'll actually pay - by plumbing role.
Hourly wage ranges based on BLS OEWS data for the Memphis MSA. The conventional-plumber row matches the metro overview's own published figure directly - near national parity, applied consistently across every role below. National benchmarks by role are in the 2026 Commercial Plumbing Salary Guide.
| Role | Memphis range | Typical experience | Market notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial plumber (journeyman) | $26 – $33/hr | 3-7 yrs | Matches the commercial plumber figure already published on the Memphis metro overview (+1% over national, near parity) |
| Apprentice plumber | $18 – $23/hr | 0-3 yrs | Tracks close to the national apprentice range, consistent with the metro's overall near-parity pricing |
| Plumbing foreman | $32 – $41/hr | 7+ yrs | Tennessee BLC licensing fluency is a real differentiator for any supervisory or qualifying role |
| Plumbing project manager | $39 – $50/hr | 5-10 yrs | Logistics or commercial portfolio experience adds a modest premium |
| Plumbing superintendent | $42 – $54/hr | 10+ yrs | Matches the broader Memphis commercial superintendent range already published on the metro overview |
| Plumbing estimator (5+ yrs) | $42 – $54/hr | 5+ yrs | Matches the Memphis commercial estimator figure already published on the metro overview |
Source: BLS OEWS (Memphis MSA), plumbing occupational codes, projected to 2026. Actual offer rates depend on certifications (Tennessee BLC licensing) and years of experience.
What candidates expect. What credentials matter. What kills offers.
We don't tell prospective clients who their competitors are hiring - that's a discipline our clients value, and we'll honor it on a call. What we will share publicly: how the Memphis commercial plumbing hiring game actually plays out in 2026. The five things below are what we tell every Memphis plumbing client at intake.
Why plumbing didn't get the FedEx premium
FedEx's $400M "Hercules" project and ~$1B World Hub overhaul have created a real, materials-handling-specific premium for logistics electricians (+9%). The metro overview is explicit that plumbing doesn't carry that same differentiated layer - this market prices plumbing close to national average across the board.
Where Memphis commercial plumbing talent comes from
We recruit across the full org chart for commercial plumbing contractors in Memphis. This is a national-average market for plumbing specifically, even though FedEx has reshaped electrical wages.
Credentials worth filtering for
Tennessee licenses plumbing contractors through the Board for Licensing Contractors (BLC), using a two-tier system: a Limited License for work under $25,000 and a full Contractor license above it.
What candidates expect from a Memphis plumbing offer in 2026
Comp close to national parity - one of the more cost-efficient markets we cover for conventional plumbing specifically.
Realistic timelines, by role
Field roles: 3-5 weeks intake to signed offer, close to the national average. First slate of vetted candidates within 48 hours regardless.
The plumbing positions we fill, most often.
Across all Memphis commercial plumbing clients, these are the highest-volume roles we've recruited for in the last 24 months.
- Commercial plumber (journeyman)
- Apprentice plumber
- Plumbing foreman
- Plumbing project manager
- Plumbing superintendent
- Plumbing estimator
For the broader picture across every commercial trade in Memphis, see the Memphis metro overview. To learn more about the commercial plumbing vertical generally (across all 100+ markets we serve), see our Commercial Plumbing industry page.
How we recruit commercial plumbing in Memphis, plainly.
Same approach we use in every market - but tuned for what works in Memphis's commercial plumbing segment specifically:
- Same-day intake call. We get the role, the project context, the budget, your dealbreakers.
- Candidate sourcing within 48 hours. We pull from our existing Memphis plumbing candidate network for the specific scope you need.
- Vetted short list (week one). Three to five candidates. We verify current Tennessee BLC licensing status before presenting anyone.
- Offer and close. Field roles close in 3-5 weeks, close to the national average. We help with offer math against Memphis's own wage table.
Memphis runs 5% more commercial plumbing workers per job than the country as a whole — above the national concentration.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 , Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. Metro-wide figures for the base occupation; the wage table above is role-specific and commercial.
How Memphis's commercial plumbing market compares
In 2023 the Memphis metro had 133 nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors (counted by business location), with about 2,872 people on their payrolls. Average pay at those firms was $77,699, 9.4% below the national average of $85,782 for the same kind of employer. Headcount fell 4.5% over the year even as it grew 3.8% nationally, which usually means people leaving the trade or moving to other markets rather than a lack of work. That works out to 9.9 per 100,000 residents, close to the 8.8 national rate.
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Memphis ranks 52nd for headcount, 75th for median pay and 50th for concentration for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 2,760 | $60,100 | 0.84 | 185 |
| Memphis | 1,920 | $58,690 | 1.05 | 133 |
| Knoxville | 1,700 | $59,860 | 1.33 | 85 |
| Chattanooga | 860 | $58,720 | 1.07 | 64 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For commercial plumbing employers in Memphis, the pool is about the national norm for its size, and local employers have trimmed headcount. That usually means experienced people are available but cautious, so the stability of the job matters as much as the rate.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Memphis metro. Employers are counted by business location.
How Memphis's commercial plumbing market has changed since 2018.
The number of nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors in Memphis rose from 124 in 2018 to 133 in 2023, up 7%, ahead of the 2% national rise. Headcount at those firms went down 2%, to about 2,872 people, so more firms are sharing fewer workers. Average annual pay there went from $59,739 to $77,699 (+30%), faster than the 22% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors: business locations | 124 | 133 | +7% |
| Nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors: employment | 2,945 | 2,872 | −2% |
| Nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors: average annual pay | $59,739 | $77,699 | +30% |
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers, annual averages. A dash means BLS did not publish the figure.
Frequently asked — commercial plumbing hiring in Memphis.
What is a commercial plumber paid in Memphis in 2026?
Commercial plumbers (journeyman) in Memphis typically earn $26–$33/hr, about 1% above the national average - near national parity.
Does FedEx's Memphis hub construction drive a plumbing specialty, like it does for electrical?
No. The metro overview is explicit that plumbing tracks right at national average with no strong differentiated specialty layer, unlike materials-handling/logistics electricians serving FedEx's $400M Hercules project and ~$1B World Hub overhaul, who run about 9% above national.
Does Tennessee require a specific license for commercial plumbers in Memphis?
Yes. Tennessee licenses plumbing contractors through the Board for Licensing Contractors (BLC), using a two-tier system: a Limited License for work under $25,000 and a full Contractor license above it.
Why is Memphis plumbing priced so close to national average?
Most Memphis commercial trades price within a couple points of BLS national averages either direction. The one clear exception is materials-handling electrical work tied to FedEx's World Hub - plumbing hasn't seen a comparable specialty premium emerge.
What do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn in Memphis?
BLS puts the Memphis median for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters at $58,690 a year, 8% below the $63,800 national median. That ranks 83rd of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Experience carries a clear premium, $37,530 at the 10th percentile against $82,020 at the 90th - a 2.2x gap - so an offer at the median mostly reaches newer workers. No other Tennessee metro we cover pays more for this work.
Is it hard to hire plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Memphis?
It is about average. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are as common in Memphis as they are nationally (location quotient 1.05), with about 1,920 in the metro. The 133 nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors here average about 22 employees per location.
Which commercial plumbing roles pay the most in Memphis?
Of the roles we recruit for, Project Manager pays the most in Memphis, a $107,710 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Commercial Plumber / Pipefitter at $58,690, 46% below it. Plumbing Helper / Apprentice is the lowest-paid field role at $41,510. Commercial Plumber / Pipefitter trails national pay the most (8% below).
How many nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors operate in Memphis?
BLS counted 133 nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors in Memphis in 2023, employing about 2,872 people between them. Up from 124 in 2018, a 7% increase against 2% growth nationally. That averages 22 people per location. They pay an average of $77,699, 9% below the $85,782 national average for the same kind of employer.
Which nearby metros compete with Memphis for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Little Rock (130 miles, about 890, $49,190 median), Nashville (196 miles, about 2,760, $60,100 median) and Huntsville (198 miles, about 790, $57,020 median). Memphis out-pays Little Rock, an advantage when recruiting from there.
One commercial plumbing seat is open in Memphis right now.
The wage figures above are what the market pays. These are the actual openings behind them - live searches we are running here today.
- Senior HVAC/Plumbing EstimatorApply →
Every open role we are running →
Board last synced September 28, 2026. Roles move fast; /jobs/ is always the current list.
Hiring commercial plumbing in Memphis?
Tell us the role. We'll tell you wages, timeline, and where we'd source the candidate - in under 30 minutes.