Plumber Hourly Pay in Salinas, CA: $31.76 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a plumber working in Salinas, CA runs $31.76 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $66,064 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Weighted against Salinas's regional price level (BEA RPP 109.0, 9% above national), each hour of work buys what $29.13 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $39,637 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Plumbers in Salinas, California, can expect to earn a median hourly rate of $31.76, which exceeds the national hourly median of $31.45. This wage is beneficial for both part-time workers and those engaged in per-diem opportunities. For instance, a plumber working three days a week in various settings—ranging from residential service calls to commercial construction sites—would earn a substantial wage for their expertise without committing to a full-time schedule. On the low end, entry-level plumbers may earn around $23.30 per hour, while top earners can make as much as $49.98 per hour, reflecting the diverse skill levels and job demands in the Salinas area. The figures presented are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Plumber Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.30 | $186.42 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.92 | $231.37 |
| Median (P50) | $31.76 | $254.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $40.43 | $323.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49.98 | $399.83 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Salinas
Based on $31.76/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.76/hr, a plumber working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Salinas, CA can expect to earn approximately $66,062 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $38,113. With a cost-of-living index of 109.04 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Salinas.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Salinas
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,270.43 | $5,505 | $66,062 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $762.26 | $3,303 | $39,637 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $508.17 | $2,202 | $26,425 |
Compare Plumber Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Plumber (Salinas) | $31.76 |
| Electrician (National Avg) | $31.97 |
| HVAC Technician (National Avg) | $28.47 |
| Pipefitter / Steamfitter (National Avg) | $32.85 |
| Construction Laborer (National Avg) | $22.95 |
Plumbers in Salinas, CA earn a median of $66,064 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.00% higher than the national median of $65,408 and 0.80% above the California state average of $65,540.
Plumber Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.76/hr = $39,637/year (purchasing power: $36,351).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $66,062/year (purchasing power: $60,584).
CoL index: 109.042 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$26.58/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.98/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.76/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+22.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Plumbers in Salinas (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.58/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.31/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.01/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.53/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.69/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $31.05/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.98/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.76/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.56/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for plumbers in Salinas grew 16.6% from $26.58/hr (2019) to $30.98/hr (2025). At a 2.52% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.56/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem plumbers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salinas metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.52% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Plumber in Salinas
For those contemplating part-time work, a plumber working 24 hours a week would take home approximately $39,574 annually, significantly less than what full-time plumbers earn. The per diem plumber pay in Salinas can be lucrative, particularly for travel pipefitters on out-of-town industrial projects, who may earn base pay of $40-$65 per hour in addition to a per diem of $100-$175 a day. Service plumbers billing call-out fees typically command rates of $150-$300 for initial visits, with self-employed plumbers in high-cost markets often clearing between $100-$180 per hour. Moreover, wages vary widely based on employment type: union contractors may offer higher hourly rates due to benefits, while non-union and self-employed plumbers may have higher pay but fewer perks. Understanding these dynamics is key when negotiating rates, especially given the trade-offs of higher per hour wages without benefits versus lower hourly rates with health insurance and retirement plans.
More salary data for Salinas, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Samuel Torres, CWP
Career Analyst
Samuel Torres has 10 years of experience in plumbing. He specializes in residential plumbing systems. He has worked with several home improvement companies.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for plumbers in Salinas. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.52%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for plumbers (SOC 47-2152).
Compiled and verified by Samuel Torres, CWP, a licensed plumber with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov