Lead Service Plumber in Cookeville TN

Crest Plumbing Is Hiring

This is the senior field role — the plumber who runs service calls independently, diagnoses accurately, communicates honestly with homeowners, and does the work right. Starting pay is $30 per hour with a 10% commission structure that kicks in after a weekly service baseline — meaning the better you perform, the more you take home. No cap. Residential only. Local routes. Company truck provided. Tennessee Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) license required. If this is what you’ve been looking for, apply below — Jeff reads every application himself.

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Starting at $30/hr

+ 10% commission above baseline

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TN LLP License

Limited Licensed Plumber — required

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Company Truck + Tools

Fully equipped — you bring your skills

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Real Career Path

We help you become excellent

What this position pays and how the commission structure works

Crest publishes pay because candidates deserve this information before investing time in an application. Below is the full compensation structure — base rate, commission mechanics, and realistic weekly earning examples.

$30.00 / hour

Base rate for all hours worked — guaranteed regardless of service volume.

Commission on top of base after weekly service baseline is met.

Base rate – $30.00/hr

Commission – 10% of service revenue above baseline

No cap on commission

Schedule – 40 hrs/week standard

How the commission structure works

The weekly service baseline is the revenue threshold above which the 10% commission begins. Hitting the baseline covers fixed costs — truck, materials, overhead — and ensures the business is running profitably before commission activates. Every dollar of service revenue above that baseline earns 10% directly to the technician. A strong week with efficient, high-quality service translates directly into higher take-home pay. No ceiling. We don’t give vague bonus that requires hitting quarterly targets most employees never fully understand.

Realistic weekly earnings — three scenarios

Standard week — baseline met, moderate service volume above

40 hrs base + commission on revenue above baseline

$1,200 – $1,400

Strong week — baseline met comfortably, higher service volume

40 hrs base + stronger commission on higher revenue above baseline

$1,600 – $1,800

Exceptional week — full schedule, efficient execution, high-ticket jobs

40 hrs base + commission on significantly above-baseline revenue

$1,900 – $2,200

Note: These figures represent realistic ranges based on typical Cookeville residential service volume. The specific weekly baseline dollar amount and exact commission mechanics are discussed during the interview — ask Jeff directly. These examples show earning potential for a technician performing well in a full week of service.

What the Lead Service Plumber does at Crest Plumbing

This position carries the senior field responsibility at Crest. The Lead Service Plumber runs residential service calls independently — diagnosing the problem, communicating the finding and flat-rate price to the homeowner, performing the repair correctly, and closing the job in Housecall Pro. No supervisor on the call. No second-guessing required. Jeff trusts the right person in this role to represent Crest the way he would himself.

What you'll handle in the field

Water heater repair, replacement, and maintenance — tank and tankless — including Rinnai and Navien error code diagnosis

Drain cleaning — snaking, root cutting, camera inspection, and hydro jetting assessment

Leak detection — in-wall, under-floor, slab, and underground pressure testing and acoustic detection

Fixture repair and replacement — toilets, faucets, garbage disposals, supply lines, shutoff valves

Gas line repair and appliance connections — within LLP license scope, permitted and pressure tested

Sewer line assessment — camera inspection, root intrusion evaluation, repair recommendation

Water quality — softener installation, filtration system service, on-site hardness testing

Pre-purchase plumbing inspections — written findings for buyers and real estate agents

Flat-rate pricing conversation with homeowners — presenting the price before starting every job

Tennessee LLP License — what it covers

The Tennessee Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) license authorizes residential plumbing service and repair — the full scope of what Crest performs.

LLP is a state-issued license issued through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, requiring documented field experience and a written examination.

Residential plumbing service and repair
Water heater installation and replacement
Fixture installation and replacement
Drain and sewer line service and repair
Gas line work within residential scope

Questions about whether your current license or experience qualifies? Call Jeff directly — (931) 239-4345.

Requirements and what actually matters for this role

The hard requirements are real — the license is non-negotiable. Everything else below reflects what actually determines whether a technician thrives in this specific environment.

Tennessee Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) — required, non-negotiable

The Tennessee LLP license authorizes the full scope of residential plumbing service that Crest performs. Every permit Crest pulls requires a licensed plumber of record. Candidates without a current, active Tennessee LLP license cannot be considered for this position — but candidates with experience working toward licensure or holding an out-of-state equivalent should call Jeff to discuss their specific situation before assuming they don’t qualify.

Residential service experience — at least 3 years preferred

This position runs service calls independently. Candidates need practical experience across the core residential service categories — water heaters, drains, fixture repair, leak detection, basic gas line work — without needing step-by-step direction on each. Commercial or new construction experience counts toward overall plumbing knowledge but does not substitute for residential diagnostic experience. Homeowners expect clear communication and confident diagnosis — both require genuine residential service background.

Strong customer communication — the job is half technical, half interpersonal

Crest’s reputation rests on every customer interaction the technician has in someone’s home. Explaining a diagnosis in plain language, presenting a flat-rate price confidently without flinching, and leaving a customer with complete confidence in the work — these require genuine communication skill. Technically excellent plumbers who struggle with customer-facing communication produce bad reviews regardless of the quality of the repair. Crest needs both in the same person.

Clean driving record — company vehicle requires it

The company truck is the most visible representation of Crest in the Cookeville community — it carries the company name and the technician’s work every day. A clean driving record is a standard requirement for operating a company vehicle. Candidates with significant moving violations or at-fault accidents in the past three years should disclose this during the application process rather than at the background check stage.

Alignment with how Crest operates — honest, flat-rate, no-pressure

Crest runs on honest diagnosis, flat-rate pricing, and customer trust — not high-pressure upsell tactics. Technicians who thrive in commission environments built on pushing additional services to hit targets will not find that culture here — and that is intentional. The commission structure at Crest rewards volume of legitimate service, not persuasion ability. The right candidate for this role finds that genuinely appealing rather than limiting.

A day as Lead Service Plumber at Crest Plumbing in Cookeville TN

No two days run identically in residential service. This is a representative day — not a script. The diagnostic variety is one of the reasons experienced residential plumbers choose service work over commercial production.

7:30 AM - Route review — schedule loaded the night before

Jobs appear in Housecall Pro the evening before with customer name, address, reported issue, and any notes from the previous call or customer history. The day starts with a clear picture — not a scramble to figure out where to go first. Truck stocked, route planned, first job confirmed.

8:00 AM - First call: water heater diagnosis, east Cookeville

Customer reported no hot water, 2018 Rinnai tankless, error code 11. Arrive, confirm the code, assess the igniter and gas supply. Diagnose igniter failure. Present the flat-rate repair price to the homeowner, confirm approval, complete the repair, test all outputs before leaving. Close the job in Housecall Pro with notes. On to the next call in 90 minutes.

10:00 AM - Second call: multiple slow drains, Algood

They are reporting slow drains in the bathroom and the kitchen — not a single fixture issue. Assess whether main line involvement is likely given the symptom pattern. Snake the main line, clear a root mass at 40 feet, run the camera afterward to confirm root intrusion and check pipe condition. Review camera footage with the homeowner, explain what is visible, discuss the lining option for the two entry points. Quote the lining separately, leave them time to decide.

12:00 PM - Third call: toilet replacement, Baxter

Customer-supplied toilet, asking for installation. Assess the rough-in, confirm the supplied toilet fits, remove the old unit, set the wax ring and flange, install the new toilet, test for leaks and confirm proper flush operation. Check the supply line and shutoff valve condition while there — note the valve is original and aging, inform the customer, let them decide whether to replace it while the supply is already off. Close the job.

2:00 PM - Fourth call: water bill spike investigation

Customer reporting a 60% water bill increase, no visible leak. Run the meter isolation test, confirm the meter moves with the interior main shut off — underground loss confirmed. Acoustic detection along the service line path, locate the leak 22 feet from the meter. Present the flat-rate excavation and repair price. Customer approves — complete the repair, pressure test, backfill, close out. Document thoroughly for the customer’s records.

4:30 PM End of day: home in Cookeville

Jobs closed in Housecall Pro, truck restocked from parts inventory for tomorrow’s calls, notes on any follow-up items. Routes end in the service area. No driving an hour home after a day of driving. Consistent finish time — not “whenever the last job wraps up on the far side of the county.”

What the Lead Service Plumber role at Crest Plumbing actually offers

Pay structure that rewards performance

$30/hr base means every hour is guaranteed — the commission above the weekly baseline rewards strong, efficient service on top of it. A technician who performs well earns meaningfully above the base rate. No hidden targets, no clawbacks, no games about what counts toward the threshold.

Residential diagnostic variety

Water heaters. Slab leaks. Sewer cameras. Filtration installs. Gas line assessments. Residential service covers the full scope of plumbing — diagnostically varied, technically engaging, customer-facing. Technicians who want to keep their skills sharp across the trade find residential service work more interesting than production-pace commercial work over the long run.

Autonomy in the field

Crest trusts the Lead Service Plumber to diagnose correctly, price honestly, and complete the work to standard — without micromanagement on every call. Jeff is available by phone, never invisible, but not hovering. The right technician for this role earns and exercises that trust daily.

Company-provided van and tools

Crest provides a fully equipped service van, professional uniforms, and the tools required for residential service. Technicians bring their personal hand tools and expertise. The expectation is that Crest provides a professional setup — and the technician maintains it to that standard. What the truck looks like in someone’s driveway reflects on everyone.

No upsell pressure — ever

The commission structure triggers on revenue above a baseline — not on total revenue pushed from call one. Recommending the right repair, even when it is smaller than what the customer feared, is exactly what Crest wants. The business grows on that trust, and the technician earns commission on legitimate volume — not persuasion.

Early-stage company — real opportunity

Crest is building deliberately toward a multi-technician residential operation in Cookeville. The Lead Service Plumber who joins now — demonstrates the values, performs at a high level, builds customer relationships — grows with the company in ways a franchise position cannot match. Seniority at Crest means something real as the company scales.

Call Jeff

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Lead Service Plumber at Crest Plumbing FAQ — Cookeville, TN

What license does Crest require for the Lead Service Plumber position?

Crest requires a current, active Tennessee Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) license for the Lead Service Plumber position. The LLP license authorizes residential plumbing service and repair — the full scope of what Crest performs. Candidates with experience toward licensure or holding equivalent out-of-state credentials should call Jeff directly at (931) 239-4345 to discuss their specific situation before assuming they don’t qualify.

How does the commission structure work exactly?

The base rate is $30 per hour — guaranteed for all hours worked regardless of service volume. Commission of 10% activates on service revenue above a weekly baseline threshold. The specific baseline dollar amount is discussed directly with Jeff during the interview — it is designed to cover fixed weekly costs before commission begins, ensuring the structure is sustainable rather than a marketing number that disappears in practice. Every dollar of service revenue above the baseline earns 10% to the technician. No cap. Ask Jeff for the specific current baseline figure when you call or apply.

Does Crest use flat-rate pricing, and how does that interact with commission?

Yes — Crest quotes customers a flat rate before starting every job. Commission calculates on the total service revenue generated in the week — not on individual job markups or upsells. This means the technician earns commission by running an efficient, full schedule of legitimate residential service — not by persuading customers to add services they don’t need. The flat-rate model and the commission structure are intentionally designed together so that honest, efficient service is what produces the best earnings outcome for the technician.

What does a realistic first year look like financially?

A full-time Lead Service Plumber running a consistent residential schedule in Cookeville — hitting or exceeding the weekly baseline most weeks — earns meaningfully above the $30/hr base rate through commission. New technicians typically need a ramp period of four to eight weeks to build route efficiency and customer familiarity before commission income reaches its full potential. Jeff discusses realistic first-year expectations honestly during the interview — including what the ramp period typically looks like and how Crest supports the technician through it.

Do I have to handle my own customer pricing conversations?

Yes — presenting the flat-rate price to the homeowner before starting the job is part of the Lead Service Plumber’s responsibility. Crest uses Housecall Pro, which provides the flat-rate price list for every service category. The technician diagnoses the issue, selects the appropriate flat-rate line item, and presents the price to the customer for approval before starting work. Training on Crest’s pricing conversation approach is part of the onboarding process — but candidates who find customer-facing pricing conversations genuinely uncomfortable should consider whether this role is the right fit.

What is the on-call rotation and how much after-hours work is typical?

Crest carries an on-call rotation for genuine plumbing emergencies — sewage backups, active slab leaks, significant water damage situations. The on-call rotation distributes this responsibility among the team rather than falling on one person continuously. Day-to-day scheduling runs Monday through Friday within normal working hours by design. After-hours emergency calls happen but are not the norm — Crest is building a residential service business, not a 24-hour emergency call center. The specific on-call schedule and compensation for after-hours response are discussed during the interview.