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Salary Guides / California
Pipefitter Salary in California
Read California employee wage ranges alongside piping duties, overtime terms and the training needed for your next California piping assignment.
What Pipefitters Earn in California
California employee wages span $22.76–$63.03/hr, with published annual earnings of $47,350–$131,100 a year. BLS combines plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in one occupation. These figures exclude premium pay and benefits. For a piping offer, compare the base wage with the assigned systems, joining responsibilities and paid hours. Separate shutdown overtime from the ordinary wage when comparing positions. Ask for the working schedule, expected job duration and the location of each assignment.
Hourly rates by level in California
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Where do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other pipefitters in California.
What are you making?
Type your hourly rate. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere — it stays in your browser.
Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.
You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in California
These national sector figures help frame California piping offers across mechanical installation, building projects and utility construction. They cover the combined pipe-trades occupation across employers.
Building Equipment Contractors
Mechanical contractors install building piping and equipment. Ask California employers how much time goes to fabrication, field installation and service calls. Also ask who supplies tools and how moves between jobs are scheduled.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Commercial building projects connect pipe installation with other trades. Discuss drawing changes, access windows and crew coordination on the California assignment. Find out whether the job ends after installation or includes testing and turnover.
Which states pay pipefitters the most
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA Local 250 Steamfitter/Pipefitter Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$6.65 | $13,832 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$1.39 | $2,891 | $159 | 3 weeks |
| ASSE/IAPMO 6010 Medical Gas Installer Certification | +$1.48 | $3,078 | $190 | 4 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.46 | $957 |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $35.01/hr.
Questions workers ask
Does the Apprentice band set my registered apprenticeship wage?▾
How should I compare shutdown work with a longer job?▾
Does the repeated annual change mean everyone received that raise?▾
See Open Pipefitter Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-2152; the BLS occupation combines plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, excluding premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
