verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Plumber Salary in California

Median Annual in California
$72,830/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$35.01/hr
▲ 14% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in California

groups Employed in CA
47,660
public U.S. Median
$63,800
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$65,779 #31 of 51

Plumber pay in California, explained

Plumbers in California earn a median of $72,830 per year ($35.01 per hour), which is 14% above the national median of $63,800. Entry-level workers earn around $47,350, while the most experienced plumbers reach about $131,100. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within California.

Is $72,830 good pay in California?

Adjusted for California's cost of living (which runs 111% of the U.S. average), that $72,830 is worth about $65,779 in national buying power — ranking California #31 for real pay (vs #17 on the sticker number).

See the full Plumber Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Plumber pay by experience in California

Entry level (10th pct)
$47,350
$22.76/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$72,830
$35.01/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$131,100
$63.03/hr

Plumber pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs CA
California (here) $72,830 $65,779
Oregon $97,050 $93,894 −$24,220
Arizona $62,070 $61,653 +$10,760
Nevada $61,610 $61,623 +$11,220

Plumber in California: FAQ

How much do plumbers make in California?

Plumbers in California earn a median of $72,830 per year ($35.01 per hour), compared with $63,800 nationally.

Does California pay plumbers well?

At $72,830, California pays 14% above the national median for plumbers. An estimated 47,660 work in the state.

Plumber salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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