Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $155,330 or more. The middle half of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in San Francisco earn between $62,650 and $121,770.
- $49K10th
- $63K25th
- $78KMedian
- $122K75th
- $155K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,380 | $7,698 | $44.41 |
| Median | $77,880 | $6,490 | $37.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,650 | $5,221 | $30.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,770 | $10,148 | $58.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in San Francisco earn 12% more than the California average ($82,320) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($72,170). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $63,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $92,380 | $77,880 | $48,540 | $155,330 | 5,660 |
| California | $82,320 | $72,830 | $47,350 | $131,100 | 47,660 |
| United States | $72,170 | $63,800 | $44,150 | $108,420 | 465,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $92,380, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $69,320 a year, or $5,777 a month and $2,666 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $92,380 buys what about $79,905 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($114,280).
- San Jose$114,280
- San Francisco$92,380
- Los Angeles$80,230
- San Diego$78,580
- Vallejo$78,360
- Santa Rosa$78,080
- Santa Cruz$77,730
- Sacramento$76,440
- Bakersfield$76,110
- Fresno$76,020
All Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($114,280).
- San Jose, CA$114,280
- Bellingham, WA$102,860
- Portland, OR$100,710
- Chicago, IL$96,430
- Seattle, WA$96,250
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Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make an hour in San Francisco?
$44.41 an hour on average, and $37.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $69,320 a year ($5,777 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,380. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2152; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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