BLS wage data says plumbers in California earn $43.76/hr. That's 35.9% above the national average. Here's what that means for your bids.
BLS Hourly Wage
$43.76
Customer Rate
$112–$151/hr
Markup Factor
3.0x
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2023. Customer rate = wage × markup.
California
National Avg
California runs noticeably above the national average. Higher cost of living pushes wages up, and your bids should reflect that. Underbidding here means underpaying yourself.
| Service | California Price Range |
|---|---|
| Drain unclogging (snake) | $204–$408 |
| Toilet repair or replacement | $272–$679 |
| Faucet replacement | $204–$476 |
| Garbage disposal install | $272–$611 |
| Water heater install (tank) | $1087–$2718 |
| Tankless water heater install | $2038–$4756 |
| Pipe repair or replacement | $408–$2038 |
| Sewer line repair | $2038–$6794 |
| Bathroom rough-in (new) | $2718–$6794 |
Prices adjusted from national averages using California BLS wage data. Your local market may vary.
Pre-loaded with California rates. Enter your job's square footage and type to get a starting price.
Estimated per-job price for California (—–—/hr effective rate)
Based on BLS wage data for California (CA). Rates reflect state-level labor costs.
Based on BLS wage data, plumbers in California typically charge between $112 and $151 per hour. The actual rate depends on the job type, scope, and whether materials are included.
Plumbing labor costs in California are 35.9% above the national average. The BLS-reported hourly wage in California is $43.76, compared to $32.20 nationally.
Start with your labor cost ($43.76/hr in California), apply a 3.0x markup to cover overhead, supplies, insurance, and profit. That puts your customer-facing rate around $112–$151/hr. Then adjust for job scope: complex jobs command higher rates.
The biggest factors are metro vs. rural (cities within California can vary 30–40%), job complexity, and recurring vs. one-time work. Recurring contracts cost less per visit because there's no re-quoting or onboarding.
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Looking for national averages? Plumbing Pricing Guide (National) →