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Plumbers and pipefitters in California: what they earn
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in California earned a median $72,830 a year in May 2025, $35.01 an hour. 47,660 people held the job, 2.6 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 14% above the national figure of $63,800, and California ranks 17 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become a plumber in California — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). ↓
The full wage spread in California
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.76 | $47,350 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $28.36 | $58,980 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $35.01 | $72,830 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $48.17 | $100,200 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $63.03 | $131,100 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $39.58 | $82,320 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
California against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Connecticut | $77,280 | 5,410 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $76,470 | 1,820 |
| 16 | Indiana | $76,320 | 11,280 |
| 17 | California | $72,830 | 47,660 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $68,080 | 13,620 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $66,810 | 1,950 |
| 20 | Missouri | $66,790 | 8,310 |
The complete ranking is on the Plumbers and pipefitters page.
Against the national figure
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $72,830 | $63,800 |
| Median hourly | $35.01 | $30.67 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $47,350 | $44,150 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $131,100 | $108,420 |
| Employed | 47,660 | 465,840 |
Other trades in California
Electricians ($76,160) · HVAC technicians ($72,560) · Welders ($58,060) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($60,230)
See all five ranked by pay in California.
How to become a plumber in California
California issues no individual journeyman-plumber license — you may work as a plumber for a licensed contractor without one — but anyone who contracts for plumbing work needing a permit, using workers, or costing $1,000 or more must hold the CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor license. The licensing authority is California Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-36 Plumbing Contractor (CSLB) | Four full years of journey-level (or foreman/supervisor/contractor) plumbing experience within the last ten years, and passing both the Law & Business exam and the C-36 trade exam. Application fee $450 plus an initial license fee ($200 sole owner / $350 otherwise). Renews every two years. | — | Law & Business exam + C-36 trade exam | $450 |
Reciprocity. CSLB has reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and North Carolina; reciprocity can waive the trade exam, but the Law & Business exam is still required.
Renewal. Every two years (active licenses).
Licensing sources: CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification (retrieved 2026-09-16) · CSLB before applying (experience requirement) (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) before you act.
Compare the time and cost to get licensed across trades and states →
Common questions
Do you need a license to work as a plumber in California?
California issues no individual journeyman-plumber license — you may work as a plumber for a licensed contractor without one — but anyone who contracts for plumbing work needing a permit, using workers, or costing $1,000 or more must hold the CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor license.
What does it cost to get licensed as a plumber in California?
The main application or license fee is $450; separate exam or endorsement fees can apply, as noted in the table above.
How long does it take to become a plumber in California?
It depends on which credential you need and the training and testing each step takes — the full path is in the table above.
The pay and employment figures above are the May 2025 BLS estimates; the licensing detail is sourced separately from the state authority and dated inline. See how the numbers are built.