Plumber Salary in California
$35/hr
California employee wage ranges for plumbing careers, with national sector benchmarks and questions about hours, benefits and service schedules.
Change trade or state
Pick a trade and state to see real hourly rates.
Salary Guides / California
Plumber Salary in California
California employee wage ranges for plumbing careers, with national sector benchmarks and questions about hours, benefits and service schedules.
What Plumbers Earn in California
California employee wages span $22.76–$63.03/hr, with published annual earnings of $47,350–$131,100 a year. These figures cover plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters together. For plumbing offers, match the range to installation, service or repair duties and the hours offered. Premium pay and benefits sit outside these wages. A customer's invoice also covers business expenses beyond an employee's earnings. Compare the written offer with the plumbing tasks assigned daily.
Hourly rates by level in California
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Find Plumber jobs in California.
Browse open jobsWhere do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other plumbers in California.
What are you making?
Type your hourly rate. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere — it stays in your browser.
Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.
You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in California
These national sector benchmarks describe three plumbing work settings. For California offers, ask about the actual systems, work locations and service responsibilities.
Nonresidential Building Construction
School and office construction puts plumbers alongside other trades. Ask California building employers about rough-in sequences, inspection deadlines and shutdown work.
Building Equipment Contractors
Plumbing service firms handle fixtures, water heaters and piping repairs. Discuss dispatch territory and emergency rotations when comparing California contractor vacancies.
Utility System Construction
Water and sewer construction brings buried piping and pumping facilities. Ask utility contractors about excavation assignments, travel and outdoor working conditions.
Which states pay plumbers the most
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA Local 342 Plumbing Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$6.65 | $13,832 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$1.39 | $2,891 | $159 | 3 weeks |
| ASSE/IAPMO 6010 Medical Gas Installer Certification | +$1.48 | $3,078 | $190 | 4 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.46 | $957 | $59 | 4 weeks |
| CSLB Contractor License (C-36) - Plumbing | +$1.29 | $2,683 | $729 | 15 weeks |
| AWWA Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester | +$1.85 | $3,848 | $1,850 | 25 weeks |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $35.01/hr.
Questions workers ask
Does Local 342 pay apprentices for classroom time?▾
How does overtime affect a plumbing offer?▾
What should I compare besides the hourly range?▾
See Open Plumber Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-2152; the BLS occupation combines plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters. Employee wages exclude premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 23, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.