How much do plumbers make in California in 2026?

The median plumber salary in California is $72,830 per year, or about $35.01 per hour, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. That's the midpoint — half of all plumbers in the state earn more, half earn less. Where you land depends heavily on your experience level, whether you're union or non-union, your employer type, and the region of the state you work in.

At the 25th percentile, California plumbers earn $58,980 per year, which works out to roughly $28.36 per hour. This is typically where you'll find workers in the earlier stages of their careers — apprentices who have rolled into journeyman status recently, workers in lower-cost inland markets, or those employed by smaller residential contractors where job volume and rates tend to run lower.

The 75th percentile sits at $100,200 per year, or about $48.17 per hour. Breaking six figures puts you in the top quarter of earners in the state. Workers at this level usually have a decade or more of experience, hold a California C-36 plumbing contractor license or a general journeyman license, or work in high-demand commercial and industrial sectors — think hospitals, data centers, or large-scale ground-up construction projects.

The most significant pay jump in California plumbing comes from union membership. A union journeyman plumber earns $131,040 per year, or $63.00 per hour. That figure reflects straight-time wages under collective bargaining agreements and does not include benefits like employer-paid health insurance, pension contributions, or paid time off — all of which add meaningful value on top of the base wage. UA Local 78, Local 230, Local 342, Local 460, and other California affiliates of the United Association negotiate these rates market by market, so exact wages vary by county and agreement cycle.

Geography inside California matters more than many workers expect. The San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles metro consistently report wages well above the state median. Plumbers in Sacramento, the Inland Empire, and the Central Valley tend to earn closer to or below that median line. If you're weighing a move or a commute to a different market, the pay difference can easily amount to $10,000–$20,000 per year at the same experience level.

Specialty work also shifts the numbers. Plumbers who focus on pipefitting, steamfitting, or medical gas installation often command premium rates above standard residential and light commercial work. Those who carry a C-36 license and run their own shop can charge flat-rate prices that push effective hourly earnings well above what any single percentile captures.

California's plumber licensing structure requires passing both a trade and law-and-business exam for the contractor license, but journeyman plumbers working under a licensed contractor do not need an individual state license — instead, local jurisdictions sometimes have their own requirements, so check your county before you assume you're covered.

Hours matter too. Many union and large commercial plumbers work scheduled overtime on major projects, which at time-and-a-half can push annual take-home meaningfully above the straight-time figures quoted here. The BLS OEWS data reflects base wages paid, not total compensation with overtime factored in.

The bottom line: a journeyman plumber in California who goes union can earn $131,040 in straight-time wages alone, more than double the entry-level range and well above the state median. Non-union workers at the 75th percentile still reach $100,200 — a strong income that reflects real skill and market demand. If you're apprenticing now, the path from $28.36 an hour to $63.00 an hour is a straight line through time, certifications, and the right employer or union hall.