Plumber Salary in California: $74,093 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median plumber pay sits at $74,093/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 47-2152. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $65,511 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($110,086), Santa Clara ($109,363), San Jose ($107,560).

Plumber Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California plumber salary overview (2026)

$74,093

Avg Median Salary

$35.62

Avg Hourly Rate

49,409

Metro Employed

158

Cities

The projected average median salary for plumbers in California in 2026 is $74,093, significantly higher than the national median of $65,408, representing a 13.3% increase over the national average. Salaries vary widely across the state, with Sunnyvale being the highest-paying city at $112,860 and Merced at the lowest with $61,748, resulting in a salary gap of $51,112. This disparity is driven by factors such as cost of living, demand for skilled labor in urban areas, and local economic conditions. California has specific requirements for plumbers, including state licensing and adherence to scope of practice laws, which add to the profession's credibility and influence salary levels. Demand drivers include ongoing infrastructure projects and a growing population, particularly in metropolitan areas. The job market for plumbers is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.52%, indicating a steady demand for skilled professionals in the field. Cities projected to have the highest salaries in 2026 include Santa Clara at $112,119 and San Jose at $110,271, while Oakland and Fremont offer salaries of $81,660 and $79,859 respectively. This indicates a strong market for plumbers, particularly in technology hubs and urban centers, where the need for plumbing services continues to rise.

California Plumber Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$49,401

avg across 158 cities

Median

$74,093

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$130,902

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $41,094 (lowest entry-level) to $174,933 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$74,093

National Median

$65,408

California plumbers earn 13.28% more than the national median (+$8,685/year difference).

California Plumber Salary Distribution (2026)

Plumber salaries in California range from $49,401 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $130,902 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $74,093. The California median is $8,685 above the US national median of $65,408. The average hourly rate is $35.62/hr. Approximately 49,409 plumbers are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$59,026

2025 BLS Actual

$72,272

2026 Current Est.

$74,093

2019–2027 Growth

+28.7%

Salary Trajectory for Plumbers in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$59,026	Actual
2020	$65,315	Actual
2021	$66,051	Actual
2022	$64,676	Actual
2023	$65,061	Actual
2024	$68,691	Actual
2025	$72,272	Actual
2026(current)	$74,093	Estimated
2027	$75,960	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median plumber salary grew 22.4% from $59,026 (2019) to $72,272 (2025). At a 2.52% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $75,960 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,934 (28.69%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.52% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $54.26/hr

$112,860

+52.32% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $53.91/hr

$112,119

+51.32% vs avg

San Jose

3,830 employed · $53.01/hr

$110,271

+48.83% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $39.25/hr

$81,660

+10.21% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $38.39/hr

$79,859

+7.78% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Merced	$61,748	-16.66%	$29.69
Brea	$62,174	-16.09%	$29.89
Visalia	$62,250	-15.98%	$29.93
Chico	$62,260	-15.97%	$29.94
Santa Maria	$62,537	-15.60%	$30.07

Best Value Cities for Plumbers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for plumbers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$110,271	110.423	$99,862
Sunnyvale	$112,860	113.1	$99,788
Santa Clara	$112,119	113.1	$99,133
Oakland	$81,660	113.1	$72,202
Fremont	$79,859	113.1	$70,609

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$49,401	$23.75	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$74,093	$35.62	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$130,902	$62.93	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$112,860	$54.26	$76,703	$174,933	26
2	Santa Clara	$112,119	$53.91	$75,018	$173,785	32
3	San Jose	$110,271	$53.01	$64,864	$159,521	3,830
4	Oakland	$81,660	$39.25	$53,823	$126,573	78
5	Fremont	$79,859	$38.39	$49,891	$123,782	43
6	San Francisco	$79,843	$38.38	$49,763	$159,244	5,660
7	Chula Vista	$74,423	$35.78	$46,313	$115,357	51
8	San Diego	$74,337	$35.74	$47,190	$131,010	5,100
9	Anaheim	$74,200	$35.68	$48,273	$115,010	51
10	Carlsbad	$73,716	$35.44	$51,904	$114,260	23
11	Vallejo	$73,363	$35.28	$51,024	$123,742	370
12	Long Beach	$73,144	$35.16	$46,044	$113,373	89
13	Los Angeles	$72,902	$35.05	$47,251	$128,232	15,690
14	Santa Cruz	$69,847	$33.58	$48,974	$127,801	350
15	Santa Ana	$69,432	$33.38	$44,249	$107,619	69
16	Fontana	$68,147	$32.77	$43,488	$105,628	32
17	Bakersfield	$68,125	$32.76	$46,821	$120,810	960
18	Irvine	$68,072	$32.72	$46,320	$105,512	72
19	Pomona	$67,740	$32.57	$45,766	$104,997	36
20	Simi Valley	$67,703	$32.55	$45,886	$104,939	23
21	Escondido	$67,687	$32.54	$45,917	$104,915	31
22	Fairfield	$67,566	$32.49	$45,572	$104,727	25
23	Fullerton	$67,317	$32.37	$44,804	$104,341	25
24	Folsom	$67,305	$32.36	$44,582	$104,323	17
25	Daly City	$67,258	$32.33	$44,672	$104,251	20
26	El Monte	$67,237	$32.32	$44,895	$104,217	20
27	Vista	$67,200	$32.30	$44,810	$104,159	24
28	Concord	$67,184	$32.30	$44,776	$104,136	29
29	Clovis	$67,084	$32.25	$44,548	$103,980	19
30	Napa	$67,069	$32.24	$49,281	$120,348	150
31	Garden Grove	$67,014	$32.22	$44,124	$103,872	37
32	Temecula	$66,999	$32.21	$44,357	$103,849	25
33	Santa Clarita	$66,954	$32.19	$45,827	$103,778	41
34	Lancaster	$66,867	$32.15	$44,060	$103,644	40
35	Inglewood	$66,867	$32.15	$44,060	$103,644	21
36	Sacramento	$66,853	$32.14	$47,795	$134,404	3,120
37	Corona	$66,782	$32.11	$43,803	$103,511	24
38	Richmond	$66,771	$32.10	$43,578	$103,496	25
39	Rialto	$66,739	$32.09	$43,775	$103,446	17
40	Torrance	$66,654	$32.05	$43,318	$103,315	26
41	Roseville	$66,578	$32.01	$47,520	$103,196	35
42	Elk Grove	$66,527	$31.99	$43,236	$103,118	25
43	Oceanside	$66,512	$31.98	$43,200	$103,093	28
44	Whittier	$66,492	$31.97	$46,247	$103,063	22
45	San Rafael	$66,487	$31.97	$46,167	$103,055	11
46	Rancho Cucamonga	$66,427	$31.93	$43,011	$102,962	46
47	Ontario	$66,415	$31.93	$44,096	$102,942	42
48	Hayward	$66,390	$31.91	$42,929	$102,904	23
49	Woodland	$66,372	$31.91	$45,900	$102,878	15
50	Buena Park	$66,362	$31.90	$45,944	$102,861	20
51	Encinitas	$66,357	$31.90	$45,932	$102,853	16
52	Downey	$66,353	$31.90	$42,647	$102,847	22
53	Santa Rosa	$66,330	$31.89	$50,676	$136,475	560
54	Dublin	$66,316	$31.88	$45,836	$102,790	14
55	Redlands	$66,295	$31.87	$45,787	$102,757	16
56	Chino	$66,259	$31.85	$45,635	$102,701	17
57	Westminster	$66,238	$31.84	$45,384	$102,670	21
58	Santa Monica	$66,233	$31.84	$45,575	$102,661	20
59	San Mateo	$66,226	$31.84	$42,565	$102,650	21
60	Tulare	$66,206	$31.83	$45,515	$102,619	17
61	San Buenaventura	$66,184	$31.82	$47,464	$102,585	19
62	Mission Viejo	$66,140	$31.80	$45,427	$102,517	23
63	Moreno Valley	$66,139	$31.80	$44,310	$102,515	53
64	Pleasanton	$66,128	$31.79	$45,402	$102,499	16
65	Salinas	$66,064	$31.76	$48,461	$103,955	320
66	Pasadena	$66,035	$31.75	$45,501	$102,355	35
67	Fresno	$66,023	$31.74	$47,764	$127,412	970
68	Santee	$65,989	$31.73	$45,078	$102,283	9
69	Glendale	$65,930	$31.70	$46,884	$102,191	36
70	Mountain View	$65,896	$31.68	$44,863	$102,139	13
71	Pittsburg	$65,891	$31.68	$44,581	$102,130	19
72	Novato	$65,869	$31.67	$44,735	$102,098	11
73	Costa Mesa	$65,844	$31.66	$45,072	$102,059	23
74	Berkeley	$65,776	$31.63	$46,536	$101,952	23
75	Huntington Beach	$65,759	$31.62	$46,697	$101,927	50
76	Jurupa Valley	$65,702	$31.59	$46,566	$101,838	24
77	Petaluma	$65,696	$31.59	$47,324	$101,829	12
78	Hemet	$65,683	$31.58	$44,373	$101,807	14
79	Union City	$65,677	$31.58	$44,360	$101,800	11
80	West Covina	$65,670	$31.58	$46,494	$101,789	25
81	Chino Hills	$65,652	$31.57	$44,234	$101,760	21
82	San Bernardino	$65,612	$31.55	$41,094	$101,698	33
83	Gilroy	$65,558	$31.51	$44,087	$101,616	10
84	Riverside	$65,531	$31.50	$50,143	$118,247	4,510
85	San Marcos	$65,522	$31.50	$43,735	$101,558	17
86	Tustin	$65,464	$31.47	$43,605	$101,469	18
87	San Ramon	$65,459	$31.47	$43,861	$101,462	19
88	Eastvale	$65,398	$31.44	$43,720	$101,367	10
89	Murrieta	$65,394	$31.44	$45,937	$101,362	25
90	Vacaville	$65,394	$31.44	$45,937	$101,362	15
91	Brentwood	$65,366	$31.42	$43,648	$101,316	13
92	Hesperia	$65,335	$31.41	$43,577	$101,269	14
93	Lake Elsinore	$65,330	$31.41	$43,566	$101,261	18
94	Citrus Heights	$65,247	$31.37	$43,376	$101,133	19
95	El Cajon	$65,188	$31.34	$43,346	$101,042	18
96	San Clemente	$65,169	$31.33	$43,133	$101,012	10
97	Bellflower	$65,143	$31.32	$43,140	$100,972	11
98	Palmdale	$65,114	$31.31	$45,242	$100,926	29
99	La Mirada	$65,114	$31.31	$46,559	$100,926	10
100	Apple Valley	$65,101	$31.30	$43,046	$100,907	19
101	Menifee	$65,082	$31.29	$45,236	$100,877	20
102	Yucaipa	$65,054	$31.28	$42,941	$100,834	14
103	Norwalk	$65,050	$31.28	$45,100	$100,827	22
104	Rancho Cordova	$64,993	$31.25	$42,800	$100,738	20
105	Montebello	$64,930	$31.22	$42,659	$100,642	16
106	Compton	$64,904	$31.21	$42,535	$100,602	25
107	Modesto	$64,875	$31.19	$48,451	$117,396	470
108	Porterville	$64,857	$31.18	$42,495	$100,529	11
109	Lompoc	$64,849	$31.18	$45,995	$100,516	8
110	Hawthorne	$64,749	$31.13	$42,250	$100,360	13
111	Antioch	$64,727	$31.11	$44,380	$100,327	17
112	Burbank	$64,722	$31.11	$42,322	$100,319	22
113	San Luis Obispo	$64,680	$31.09	$49,589	$116,750	320
114	Alhambra	$64,572	$31.04	$47,020	$100,087	13
115	Livermore	$64,572	$31.04	$44,870	$100,087	21
116	Orange	$64,553	$31.03	$44,058	$100,056	21
117	South Gate	$64,551	$31.03	$46,706	$100,053	25
118	Victorville	$64,536	$31.02	$44,023	$100,032	30
119	West Sacramento	$64,515	$31.01	$46,622	$99,998	9
120	Poway	$64,498	$31.01	$45,158	$99,972	8
121	Stockton	$64,485	$31.00	$47,815	$101,413	690
122	Hanford	$64,444	$30.98	$47,826	$94,431	110
123	San Leandro	$64,411	$30.97	$46,581	$99,837	23
124	Indio	$64,338	$30.93	$46,215	$99,724	23
125	Lake Forest	$64,338	$30.93	$46,215	$99,724	14
126	Carson	$64,224	$30.88	$46,215	$99,547	21
127	Rocklin	$64,213	$30.87	$46,191	$99,531	10
128	Newport Beach	$64,105	$30.82	$45,940	$99,362	12
129	Redwood City	$64,100	$30.82	$45,863	$99,354	13
130	Turlock	$64,084	$30.81	$45,827	$99,331	17
131	Manteca	$64,064	$30.80	$45,846	$99,299	13
132	Perris	$64,058	$30.80	$45,570	$99,290	12
133	Madera	$64,006	$30.78	$45,715	$99,210	8
134	El Centro	$63,962	$30.76	$48,154	$98,604	150
135	Baldwin Park	$63,891	$30.71	$45,387	$99,032	19
136	Palo Alto	$63,891	$30.71	$45,452	$99,032	15
137	Oxnard	$63,870	$30.70	$49,148	$126,827	1,230
138	Lakewood	$63,866	$30.70	$45,393	$98,992	19
139	Beaumont	$63,679	$30.61	$44,706	$98,703	9
140	Tracy	$63,664	$30.61	$44,931	$98,679	14
141	Alameda	$63,642	$30.60	$44,884	$98,646	12
142	Laguna Niguel	$63,627	$30.59	$44,588	$98,622	16
143	Thousand Oaks	$63,612	$30.58	$45,476	$98,598	32
144	Milpitas	$63,596	$30.57	$44,779	$98,574	16
145	Lodi	$63,595	$30.57	$45,315	$98,573	14
146	Camarillo	$63,461	$30.51	$44,472	$98,365	13
147	Oakley	$63,435	$30.50	$42,665	$98,325	8
148	Davis	$63,420	$30.49	$44,313	$98,301	14
149	Upland	$63,373	$30.47	$44,013	$98,227	18
150	La Habra	$63,279	$30.43	$43,996	$98,083	16
151	Lynwood	$63,254	$30.41	$44,003	$98,043	16
152	Redding	$62,845	$30.21	$47,067	$117,683	200
153	Yuba City	$62,660	$30.12	$45,150	$100,295	100
154	Santa Maria	$62,537	$30.07	$55,443	$113,705	740
155	Chico	$62,260	$29.94	$48,369	$102,038	180
156	Visalia	$62,250	$29.93	$45,857	$119,795	460
157	Brea	$62,174	$29.89	$44,844	$96,370	10
158	Merced	$61,748	$29.69	$46,657	$82,416	160

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore plumber hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new plumbers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced plumbers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do plumbers make in California in 2026?

The average median plumber salary in California is $74,093/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $61,748 in Merced to $112,860 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 13.28% above the national median of $65,408. The state employs approximately 49,409 plumbers.

What is the highest paying city for plumbers in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest plumber salary in California at $112,860/year ($54.26/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($112,860), Santa Clara ($112,119), San Jose ($110,271). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for plumbing services, and competition among employers for licensed plumbers.

How does California plumber pay compare to the national average?

California's average plumber salary of $74,093 is 13.28% above the national median of $65,408 in 2026. The state employs approximately 49,409 plumbers across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level plumber salary in California?

Entry-level plumbers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $49,401/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $41,094 in lower-paying areas to $76,703 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many plumbers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 49,409 plumbers across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of plumbers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the plumbing field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for plumbers?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for plumbers in California, with an adjusted salary of $99,862 (nominal: $110,271, CoL index: 110.423). This means your dollar goes 9% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Samuel Torres, CWP

Career Analyst

Samuel Torres has 10 years of experience in plumbing. He specializes in residential plumbing systems. He has worked with several home improvement companies.

Clinically reviewed by Aisha Patel, CWPData verified by Michael Chen, CWP

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 plumber compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more plumberscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.52%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for plumbers (SOC 47-2152).

Compiled and verified by Samuel Torres, CWP, a licensed plumber with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 9, 2026

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