Plumber Salary in San Francisco
Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 38, effective July 2023.
How to become a plumber →Figures come from public sources and may not match the current contract; confirm with the local before making decisions.
UA Local 38 is the union local for plumbers in the Bay Area, and its agreement sets two rate tiers. Union apprentices train at the Joseph P. Mazzola Training Centers in San Francisco. California's prevailing wage law applies to public projects. California's statewide cost of living index is 140.5, against a U.S. average of 100.
UA Local 38 journeyman plumber Journey-Level Rate
Rate reflects the most recent available Davis-Bacon determination (effective July 2023). Contact the local directly for current negotiated scale.
Union scale reflects the UA Local 38 journeyman plumber journey-level rate from the applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination. The BLS area median reflects all plumbers across all employment types and experience levels.
| Training Center | Joseph P. Mazzola Training Centers |
| Address | 2660 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA 94124 |
| Phone | (415) 562-3838 |
| Website | ualocal38.org |
| Minimum Score | Written exam; 70% or higher required to advance to oral interview |
| Retake Policy | Eligibility list active 2 years; must reapply and retest if not called within that window |
Applying to UA Local 38?
Check with UA Local 38 for its current application requirements, including any aptitude test.
What to expect →All plumbers, union and non-union, all experience levels
All plumbers, union and non-union, all experience levels. Wage figures only, employer-paid benefits, pension contributions, and health and welfare are not included.
| Annual Median Wage | $77,880 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $92,380 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $37.44 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $44.41 |
| Total Employed | 5,660 |
| Area Type | Metropolitan Area |
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Up to six other metros in California, nearest first, then metros in other states within 300 miles. Journey-level rates are sourced from Davis-Bacon wage determinations, state prevailing wage determinations, or, where a local publishes one directly, its own collective bargaining agreement.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 47-2152). How we build these figures →
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.