Plumber Pay + Compensation Cookeville

Crest Plumbing Cookeville TN

Pay is the first thing most candidates want to know — and the last thing most employers answer clearly. Crest publishes compensation openly because candidates deserve that information before investing time in an application. Below are the full numbers for every position, how the commission structure actually works, what the benefits package includes, and how pay progresses from apprentice through licensed plumber. No vague ranges. No surprises at the offer stage.

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What do plumbers make at Crest Plumbing in Cookeville, TN?

Lead Service Plumbers at Crest Plumbing in Cookeville, Tennessee start at $30 per hour with a 10% commission structure on service revenue above a weekly baseline. Strong weeks — consistent schedule, efficient execution, high-ticket work — produce total weekly earnings of $1,500 to $1,900 or more. Plumbing apprentices start at an hourly rate discussed at offer, with structured increases tied to documented skill milestones on the path toward Tennessee LLP licensure. Full benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401k with company match, and paid time off are included for all full-time positions. Phone: (931) 239-4345.

Lead Service Plumber · TN LLP License Required

$30/hr + 10% commission above weekly service baseline

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

Commission activates on every dollar of service revenue above the weekly baseline.

No cap on commission earnings. No clawbacks.

Realistic Weekly Earnings

Standard week

Baseline met · moderate volume above · 40hrs

$1,200 – $1,400

~$62K – $73K / yr

Strong week

Baseline met comfortably · higher volume · efficient routing

$1,500 – $1,800

~$78K – $94K / yr

Exceptional week

Full schedule · high-ticket jobs · top execution

$1,900+

$99K+ annualized

How the commission baseline works

The weekly service baseline covers fixed weekly costs — truck, materials, overhead — before commission begins. Every dollar of service revenue above that threshold earns 10% directly.

The baseline is discussed explicitly during the interview. The structure rewards efficient, high-quality service at consistent volume — not upselling or pressure tactics.

Flat-rate customer pricing means the technician’s job is to do good work at full schedule, not to persuade customers into larger invoices.

Plumbing Apprentice

Pay increases tie directly to documented skill milestones — not just time served. Every milestone and its corresponding increase are committed to in writing at time of hire. No ambiguity, no manager’s discretion.

Start · Ride-along and assist

$18/hr

↓

Phase 1 complete · Foundation benchmarks met

Increase 1 to $21/hr

↓

Phase 2 complete · Supervised tasks proficient

Increase 2 to $24/hr

↓

Phase 3 · Expanded scope · Exam prep

Increase 3 to $27/hr

↓

TN LLP license achieved → Lead Service Plumber

$30/hr + commission

Specific starting rate and each milestone increase are discussed and committed to in writing during the offer conversation. Jeff does not make vague promises about raises “as you grow.” Both sides know the numbers from day one.

Customer Service Representative

Competitive hourly rate discussed at offer based on prior experience. Crest provides the range during the interview — never hidden behind “competitive DOE.” Increases as the role grows and performance demonstrates readiness.

Starting range

$18-20/hr

Commission

$5 per dispatch

After-hours coverage

Additional comp discussed at offer

Every full-time position — what’s included

Benefits apply to all full-time positions at Crest. Details — plan options, match percentage, accrual rates — are provided during the offer conversation. These are real and current, not aspirational items for a future hire date.

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Medical insurance

Employee coverage included · Dependent options available · Crest contributes to premiums

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Dental insurance

Included with health coverage · Plan details at offer

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Vision insurance

Included with health coverage · Plan details at offer

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401k with company match

Company matches contributions up to a defined percentage · Match details at offer · Vesting schedule discussed

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Paid time off (PTO)

Accrues from day one — no waiting period · Accrual rate discussed at offer

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Company truck (technicians)

Fully equipped service vehicle provided · No personal vehicle required for field work

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Tools and uniforms (technicians)

Job tools and professional uniforms provided by Crest · Personal hand tools brought by technician

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LLP exam support (apprentices)

Hours documented from day one · Exam preparation support during Phase 3 · Licensing path treated as part of the job

What Crest Plumbing is as a Plumber in Cookeville TN

Every employer page highlights the positives. Crest does too — but the trade-offs matter as much as the benefits. A candidate who joins Crest with accurate expectations stays. One who joins based on an incomplete picture leaves quickly, and that hurts both sides.

Tennessee licensed plumber average — statewide

Licensed residential plumbers in Tennessee earn a median hourly rate in the $22–$30 range depending on market, experience level, and employer type. Nashville and Memphis metropolitan markets sit at the upper end. Smaller markets like Cookeville historically pay toward the middle of that range for salaried positions — which makes Crest’s $30/hr base with commission upside competitive within the Upper Cumberland context rather than merely meeting the floor.

Commission upside — what makes Crest's total comp meaningful

The 10% commission above the weekly baseline adds meaningful earning potential on top of a competitive base rate. A Lead Service Plumber hitting the strong-week scenario consistently — $1,500 to $1,800 per week — earns $78K to $94K annually. That figure exceeds median household income for Putnam County by a significant margin and compares favorably with licensed residential plumbers at franchise shops in this region who trade earning upside for the certainty of a flat hourly rate without commission.

Apprentice-to-licensed trajectory — earnings across the arc

A plumbing apprentice who joins Crest with no prior experience, completes the training program, earns a Tennessee LLP license within 12–18 months, and transitions into the Lead Service Plumber role enters the commission structure at the licensed rate. The total compensation trajectory from apprentice start to two years as a licensed Lead Service Plumber at Crest is one of the stronger outcomes available to a tradesperson entering the residential plumbing market in Cookeville without a prior license.

Compensation FAQ — Crest Plumbing

What do plumbers make at Crest Plumbing in Cookeville?

Lead Service Plumbers start at $30 per hour with a 10% commission on service revenue above the weekly baseline. Standard weeks produce $1,200–$1,400 in total weekly earnings. Strong, consistent performance produces $1,500–$1,800 or more. Exceptional weeks exceed $1,900. Apprentices earn a starting hourly rate discussed at offer, with structured increases at each documented skill milestone, reaching the Lead Service Plumber rate upon Tennessee LLP licensure.

When does commission start — does it apply from the first job of the week?

Commission activates on service revenue above the weekly baseline — not from the first dollar of the first job. The baseline threshold covers fixed weekly costs before commission begins. Every dollar above that threshold earns 10% to the technician. The specific baseline figure is discussed directly during the interview — not withheld until after an offer is made.

Is there a cap on commission earnings?

No. Commission earns at 10% on all service revenue above the weekly baseline — no ceiling, no reduced rate above a threshold, no quarterly target that resets the calculation. A technician who consistently runs a full, efficient schedule of legitimate residential service earns commission on all of it. The structure rewards performance without placing an artificial limit on what strong performance can produce.

Do I need to upsell customers to earn meaningful commission?

No — and Crest specifically designed the structure to avoid that dynamic. Commission calculates on total weekly service volume at flat-rate pricing — not on per-job upselling. A technician who runs a full schedule of correctly diagnosed, honestly priced residential work earns well above base. Recommending the right repair, even when it is smaller than what the customer feared, is exactly what Crest expects — and the commission structure supports that without penalizing honest diagnosis.

What are the benefits and when do they start?

Full-time employees at Crest receive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k with company matching, and paid time off that accrues from day one. Field technicians also receive a fully equipped company truck, job tools, and uniforms. Apprentices receive LLP exam preparation support as part of their employment. Specific plan details, match percentages, and accrual rates are provided during the offer conversation — not papered over with “great benefits” language that turns out to mean something different in practice.