Plumber salary in San Francisco, CA
Median pay, San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland)
$77,880/year
about $37.44 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $62,650 – $121,770
Half of plumbers in the San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland) area earn more than $77,880 a year and half earn less. That's 22% higher than the national median of $63,800, and ranks #9 of the 30 big metro areas we track for this job.
Pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| 25th | $62,650 | $30.12 |
| Median (50th) | $77,880 | $37.44 |
| 75th | $121,770 | $58.54 |
| 90th (top earners) | $155,330 | $74.68 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Is your offer fair?
For a plumber job in the San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland) area, here's how an offer compares:
- Below market under $62,650 ($30.12/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $62,650 to $121,770 ($30.12 to $58.54/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $121,770 ($58.54/hr). Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- Pay usually rises with license level (apprentice, journeyman, master). Make sure the offer matches yours.
- Ask whether service calls pay commission or bonuses on top of the hourly rate.
- Check whether a company vehicle, tools and on-call pay are included.
Also watch for the common warning signs in the posting itself: 15 job posting red flags.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025, San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland). Occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.