Plumber salary in San Jose, CA
Median pay, San Jose / Silicon Valley metro
$107,560/year
about $51.71 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $76,040 – $155,600
Half of plumbers in the San Jose / Silicon Valley metro area earn more than $107,560 a year and half earn less. That's 69% higher than the national median of $63,800, and ranks #1 of the 30 big metro areas we track for this job.
Pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| 25th | $76,040 | $36.56 |
| Median (50th) | $107,560 | $51.71 |
| 75th | $155,600 | $74.81 |
| 90th (top earners) | $155,600 | $74.81 |
*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 Jose / Silicon Valley metro area, here's how an offer compares:
- Below market under $76,040 ($36.56/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $76,040 to $155,600 ($36.56 to $74.81/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $155,600 ($74.81/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 Jose / Silicon Valley metro. Occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.