Plumber pay in San Jose, CA
Plumbers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a typical $107,560 a year. The middle half earn $76,040 to $155,600, and the top 10% earn more than $155,600. About 3,830 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-2152).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $63,270 |
| 25th percentile | $76,040 |
| Median (typical) | $107,560 |
| 75th percentile | $155,600 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $155,600 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 1 of 50 large metros for plumbers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $107,560, a single filer keeps about $78,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Jose are 10% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $71,300 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Jose No. 3 of 50 large metros for plumbers after cost of living.
Where plumbers’ pay goes furthest
- Chicago, IL$103,380 typical · worth $73.9k
- Minneapolis, MN$101,630 typical · worth $71.5k
- Seattle, WA$95,230 typical · worth $68.2k
- Portland, OR$101,010 typical · worth $68.1k
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a plumber make in San Jose, CA?
The typical (median) plumber in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earns $107,560 a year. The middle half earn between $76,040 and $155,600, and the top 10% earn more than $155,600. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a plumber in San Jose?
Anything above $107,560 pays more than half of plumbers in San Jose. $155,600 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $155,600 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a plumber in San Jose take home after taxes?
At the typical $107,560, a single filer keeps about $78,700 a year ($6,560 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 10% above the US average, that buys what $71,300 would in a typical US city.
Where do plumbers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical plumber pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Chicago, IL, Minneapolis, MN, Seattle, WA. San Jose, CA ranks No. 3.
More: Plumber pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Jose, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.