Plumber Prevailing Wage Rates in California (2026)
Plumbers on prevailing wage projects in California are paid $34.87 to $99.04 per hour, with a median total of $70.95 across the 50 determination records listed below. That total is base rate plus fringe benefits; the median base rate is $44.75, and among the 50 records listing a fringe separately the median fringe is $24.16. Rates differ by county, construction type and funding source, so use the row that matches your project.
Lowest listed$34.87per hour, total
Median listed$70.95 median base $44.75 · median fringe $24.16
Highest listed$99.04per hour, total
Records shown50 across 23 counties
Figures above are computed over the 50 hourly records in the table below, which is the first page of a larger set. They are not a statewide average of all plumbers in California. Most recent determination in this set: May 18, 2026.
How much do plumbers earn on prevailing wage jobs in California?
Every row below is one wage determination line: a plumber classification, in one county, for one construction type, under one funding source. The rate that applies to your project is the row whose county, construction type and funding source all match it — a Highway rate does not apply to a Building project in the same county, and a state determination does not substitute for a federal one.
| Classification | County | Construction type | Funding | Base | Fringe | Total |
|---|
| Plumber | Del-Norte | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Lake | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Mendocino | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Colusa | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Glenn | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Lassen | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Modoc | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Nevada | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Plumas | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Sierra | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Siskiyou | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Tehama | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Trinity | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber | Alpine | Residential | #federal | $23.06 | $11.81 | $34.87 |
| Plumber | Amador | Residential | #federal | $23.06 | $11.81 | $34.87 |
| Plumber | Calaveras | Residential | #federal | $23.06 | $11.81 | $34.87 |
| Plumber | Inyo | Residential | #federal | $23.06 | $11.81 | $34.87 |
| Plumber | Mariposa | Residential | #federal | $23.06 | $11.81 | $34.87 |
| Plumber | Mono | Residential | #federal | $23.06 | $11.81 | $34.87 |
| Plumber | Tuolumne | Residential | #federal | $23.06 | $11.81 | $34.87 |
| Plumber | Humboldt | Residential | #federal | $21.45 | $14.05 | $35.50 |
| Plumber (Landscape/Irrigation Fitter) | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $44.75 | $26.20 | $70.95 |
| Plumber (Landscape/Irrigation Fitter) | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $44.75 | $26.20 | $70.95 |
| Plumber (Landscape/Irrigation Fitter) | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $44.75 | $26.20 | $70.95 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter : All Other Work Except Work on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurant, Stores and Commercial Buildings Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space and Work on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $61.73 | $26.81 | $88.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter : All Other Work Except Work on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurant, Stores and Commercial Buildings Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space and Work on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $61.73 | $26.81 | $88.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter : All Other Work Except Work on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurant, Stores and Commercial Buildings Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space and Work on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $61.73 | $26.81 | $88.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Edwards Afb) | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $68.73 | $26.81 | $95.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Edwards Afb) | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $68.73 | $26.81 | $95.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Edwards Afb) | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $68.73 | $26.81 | $95.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Fort Irwin Army Base) | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $72.23 | $26.81 | $99.04 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Fort Irwin Army Base) | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $72.23 | $26.81 | $99.04 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Fort Irwin Army Base) | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $72.23 | $26.81 | $99.04 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Marine Corps Logistic Base at Nebo, Marine Corps Logistic Base at Yermo and Twenty-nine Palms Marine Base) | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $68.73 | $26.81 | $95.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Marine Corps Logistic Base at Nebo, Marine Corps Logistic Base at Yermo and Twenty-nine Palms Marine Base) | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $68.73 | $26.81 | $95.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work at Marine Corps Logistic Base at Nebo, Marine Corps Logistic Base at Yermo and Twenty-nine Palms Marine Base) | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $68.73 | $26.81 | $95.54 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work Only on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurants, Stores and Commercial Buildings, Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space) | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $59.85 | $25.83 | $85.68 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work Only on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurants, Stores and Commercial Buildings, Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space) | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $59.85 | $25.83 | $85.68 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter (Work Only on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurants, Stores and Commercial Buildings, Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space) | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $59.85 | $25.83 | $85.68 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter: Work Only on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $44.29 | $24.16 | $68.45 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter: Work Only on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $44.29 | $24.16 | $68.45 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter: Work Only on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $44.29 | $24.16 | $68.45 |
| Plumber (Sewer & Storm Drain Work) | San-Bernardino | Building | #federal | $48.84 | $23.58 | $72.42 |
| Plumber (Sewer & Storm Drain Work) | San-Bernardino | Heavy | #federal | $48.84 | $23.58 | $72.42 |
| Plumber (Sewer & Storm Drain Work) | San-Bernardino | Highway | #federal | $48.84 | $23.58 | $72.42 |
| Plumber (Landscape/Irrigation Fitter) | Riverside | Highway | #federal | $44.75 | $26.20 | $70.95 |
| Plumber (Landscape/Irrigation Fitter) | Riverside | Heavy | #federal | $44.75 | $26.20 | $70.95 |
| Plumber (Landscape/Irrigation Fitter) | Riverside | Building | #federal | $44.75 | $26.20 | $70.95 |
| Plumber/Pipefitter (All Other Work Except Work on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurant, Stores and Commercial Buildings Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space and Work on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work) | Riverside | Building | #federal | $61.73 | $26.81 | $88.54 |
| Plumber/Pipefitter (All Other Work Except Work on New Additions and Remodeling of Bars, Restaurant, Stores and Commercial Buildings Not to Exceed 5,000 Sq. Ft. of Floor Space and Work on Strip Malls, Light Commercial, Tenant Improvement and Remodel Work) | Riverside | Highway | #federal | $61.73 | $26.81 | $88.54 |
WageFinder holds more plumber records for California than fit on this page. Open a county below, or search all California plumbers.
What does the plumber classification cover?
Plumbers install and repair potable water, sanitary waste, vent and storm systems, plus the fixtures they serve. Determinations often list plumbers and pipefitters as one combined classification and sometimes as two — check which one your determination uses before you price the work, because the rates are rarely identical.
Work typically covered
- Water supply and distribution
- Sanitary waste and vent
- Storm drainage
- Fixture setting
- Backflow and water heaters
Also listed as
- Plumber/Pipefitter
- Plumber and Steamfitter
In this California result set the work appears under 10 distinct classification names.
Plumber rates by county in California
Prevailing wage is set county by county. These are the California counties with plumber records in the set above — open one to see every classification on that county's determination, not just this trade.
See all California counties →
Other trades in California
Plumber prevailing wage questions
What is the prevailing wage for a plumber in California?
Across the 50 federal-funded determination records WageFinder lists for plumbers in California, total prevailing wage runs from $34.87 to $99.04 per hour, median $70.95. There is no single statewide figure: each county's determination sets its own rate, and the same county can carry different rates for Building, Highway, Heavy and Residential work.
Does the plumber rate include benefits?
The total prevailing wage shown is the base hourly rate plus the fringe benefit rate. Of the 50 California records on this page, 50 list a fringe amount separately, with a median of $24.16 per hour — roughly 34% of the median total. The rest list no separate fringe, meaning the base rate is the whole obligation. Fringe can be paid as bona fide benefit plan contributions, as cash added to the paycheck, or as a mix of both.
Which California counties have plumber rates?
This page lists plumber records for 23 counties in California: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, Del-Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, and others. Determinations that apply statewide appear under a statewide entry rather than a named county.
How current are these California plumber rates?
The most recent determination in this set is dated May 18, 2026. WageFinder re-reads the official sources weekly, but the date that matters for compliance is the determination date on the document itself, which is shown on every wage detail page and links back to the government source.
