The average salary for a Plumber in Stockton is 75,109 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 6,259 $ gross per month and 36.11 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 33,333 $ to 125,000 $. The analysis is based on 35 salary reports from workers and employers in Stockton. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/25/2026 | Self-Employed Contractor | 45.0 h | 132,000 $ | 117,333 $ | 9,778 $ | 56.41 $ | I run a busy contracting company with a small crew. I put in long hours managing projects, bidding, and doing high-end installs; income reflects being a business owner. |
| 02/12/2026 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 88,000 $ | 88,000 $ | 7,333 $ | 42.31 $ | I work as a journeyman for a regional company that recently raised pay to stay competitive. I'm full-time and handle both service and small remodel projects. |
| 09/07/2025 | Maintenance Plumber | 40.0 h | 82,000 $ | 82,000 $ | 6,833 $ | 39.42 $ | I do preventative maintenance and repairs for commercial properties. I'm full-time and have several years of experience with institutional clients. |
| 04/28/2025 | Part-Time Estimator / Owner | 16.0 h | 50,000 $ | 125,000 $ | 10,417 $ | 60.10 $ | I run the business side of my contracting company part-time, focusing on estimates and high-value bids. I only work about 16 hours a week in this capacity. |
| 01/15/2025 | Senior Service Plumber | 40.0 h | 118,000 $ | 118,000 $ | 9,833 $ | 56.73 $ | I focus on complex service diagnostics and major repairs for an area contractor. I'm full-time with a senior-level skill set and earn a premium for specialized work. |
| 12/03/2024 | Plumbing Project Manager | 42.0 h | 125,000 $ | 119,048 $ | 9,921 $ | 57.23 $ | I manage plumbing projects from estimating through closeout for a regional contractor. I'm in a management role, working about 42 hours a week and overseeing crews. |
| 10/30/2024 | Apprentice Plumber (Full-Time) | 35.0 h | 36,000 $ | 41,143 $ | 3,429 $ | 19.78 $ | I'm a first-year apprentice working full-time on residential installs. I work 35 hours a week and get hands-on training from senior techs. |
| 06/11/2024 | Lead Plumber | 40.0 h | 115,000 $ | 115,000 $ | 9,583 $ | 55.29 $ | I'm the lead plumber on commercial projects, coordinating subcontractors and performing punch lists. I'm full-time and have several years of supervisory experience. |
| 02/20/2024 | Journeyman Plumber | 37.5 h | 78,000 $ | 83,200 $ | 6,933 $ | 40.00 $ | I work full-time as a journeyman for a larger service company and often handle high-complexity residential jobs. I usually work 37.5 hours a week. |
| 11/20/2023 | Commercial Plumber | 40.0 h | 98,500 $ | 98,500 $ | 8,208 $ | 47.36 $ | I work on larger commercial projects and coordinate with general contractors. I'm full-time and have several certifications that contribute to higher pay. |
| 09/01/2023 | Small Business Owner | 40.0 h | 92,000 $ | 92,000 $ | 7,667 $ | 44.23 $ | I own a small three-person plumbing business. I spend time both in the office and field doing installs; it's a full-time role and income varies with workload. |
| 05/14/2023 | Union Plumber | 40.0 h | 105,000 $ | 105,000 $ | 8,750 $ | 50.48 $ | I'm a union plumber on commercial projects. I've been with the union several years and the pay reflects prevailing rates and overtime opportunities; I'm full-time. |
| 11/02/2022 | Maintenance Plumber (Part-Time) | 20.0 h | 30,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I do part-time maintenance for an apartment complex, handling routine repairs and preventive maintenance. I average about 20 hours a week. |
| 07/19/2022 | Master Plumber | 40.0 h | 95,000 $ | 95,000 $ | 7,917 $ | 45.67 $ | I'm a licensed master plumber doing commercial and high-end residential work. I'm full-time and take on technical leads and permitting tasks in addition to installs. |
| 03/30/2022 | Service Technician | 38.0 h | 70,000 $ | 73,684 $ | 6,140 $ | 35.43 $ | I work as a service tech for a larger residential company. I'm full-time, cover a broad service area, and have seen pay increases due to higher demand. |
| 01/17/2022 | Lead Technician | 40.0 h | 89,000 $ | 89,000 $ | 7,417 $ | 42.79 $ | I'm lead technician for a commercial accounts team and coordinate multiple sites. It's a full-time role with responsibility for quality and scheduling. |
| 12/22/2021 | Plumbing Supervisor | 40.0 h | 85,000 $ | 85,000 $ | 7,083 $ | 40.87 $ | I supervise field crews and coordinate with project managers for a regional contractor. I'm in a leadership position, work full time, and handle crew assignments. |
| 06/05/2021 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 63,500 $ | 63,500 $ | 5,292 $ | 30.53 $ | I've been at a medium-sized service company for several years as a journeyman. This is a full-time role and I run service routes and emergency calls. |
| 03/08/2021 | Emergency Response Plumber | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I handle emergency calls and after-hours work; I'm full-time and the on-call nature of the job increases my effective pay compared to standard hours. |
| 11/18/2020 | Self-Employed Contractor | 45.0 h | 98,000 $ | 87,111 $ | 7,259 $ | 41.88 $ | I own a small contracting business and work long hours managing jobs, estimating, and doing hands-on installs. This is a management role and I regularly put in extended weeks. |
| 08/01/2020 | Pandemic-Era Contractor | 40.0 h | 80,000 $ | 80,000 $ | 6,667 $ | 38.46 $ | During the pandemic I ran a contracting route doing both emergency and remodel work. I was full-time and demand pushed rates up for several months. |
| 02/10/2020 | Apprentice Plumber (Part-Time) | 30.0 h | 28,000 $ | 37,333 $ | 3,111 $ | 17.95 $ | I work part-time while I'm in the apprenticeship program. I usually work 30 hours a week doing helper tasks and basic installs to gain field experience. |
| 12/05/2019 | Apprentice Plumber (Evenings) | 15.0 h | 13,000 $ | 34,667 $ | 2,889 $ | 16.67 $ | I work evenings as an apprentice while attending trade school. This is a part-time position where I help with basic tasks and learn on the job. |
| 09/23/2019 | Senior Plumber | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I'm a senior plumber handling larger remodels and complex diagnostics. I'm a full-time employee at a small firm and regularly train newer techs. |
| 03/15/2019 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I've been a journeyman for five years at a regional contractor. I'm full-time doing installs and commercial service; I don't have direct reports but mentor apprentices. |
| 10/05/2018 | Part-Time Service Plumber | 25.0 h | 34,000 $ | 54,400 $ | 4,533 $ | 26.15 $ | I work part-time doing evening and weekend service calls for a local company while attending class. I handle diagnostic and repair work for residential customers. |
| 06/18/2018 | HVAC/Plumber Technician | 40.0 h | 66,500 $ | 66,500 $ | 5,542 $ | 31.97 $ | I split time between HVAC and plumbing service work for a regional company. I'm full-time and the dual-skill set increases my pay compared to single-discipline techs. |
| 04/20/2018 | Plumbing Foreman | 42.0 h | 75,000 $ | 71,429 $ | 5,952 $ | 34.34 $ | I supervise a small crew on commercial jobs and coordinate schedules. I'm in a management role, work about 42 hours a week and handle on-site decisions and crew oversight. |
| 02/14/2018 | Commercial Service Technician | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I work in commercial service maintaining plumbing systems for multiple properties. I'm full-time and handle scheduled maintenance and urgent repairs. |
| 12/12/2017 | Self-Employed Plumber | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I run my own one-person contracting business and do residential service work. I'm full-time and have been growing my client base for about four years. |
| 09/04/2017 | Residential Plumber | 40.0 h | 48,500 $ | 48,500 $ | 4,042 $ | 23.32 $ | I do residential installs and repairs for a small company. I've been in the trade a couple of years and work full-time with modest benefits. |
| 06/01/2017 | Service Plumber | 38.0 h | 52,000 $ | 54,737 $ | 4,561 $ | 26.32 $ | I work as a service plumber for a small business doing residential repairs. I'm full-time and average about 38 hours a week responding to customer calls and running parts. |
| 11/30/2016 | Journeyman Plumber | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I have been a journeyman for three years at a mid-sized plumbing contractor. I'm full time and handle service calls and remodel work, but I don't supervise others. |
| 08/14/2016 | Apprentice Plumber | 20.0 h | 18,200 $ | 36,400 $ | 3,033 $ | 17.50 $ | I'm an apprentice and have been working 20 hours a week while finishing my trade school classes. This is a part-time role with a small residential company and I'm doing basic installs and learning the trade. |
| 07/10/2016 | Plumber Helper | 36.0 h | 30,000 $ | 33,333 $ | 2,778 $ | 16.03 $ | I'm a helper assisting journeymen on residential jobs. This is my first full-time position in the trade and I work around 36 hours a week. |
Stockton, California anchors the Stockton–Lodi metro in San Joaquin County, a fast-moving Central Valley market tied to housing, logistics, healthcare, and higher education. These sectors all rely on ongoing maintenance and upgrades to water, waste, and gas systems, which generally supports steady demand for qualified plumbers in and around Stockton.
Local activity is shaped by several trends. Residential service work remains a constant as older housing in central Stockton typically needs repipes, fixture replacements, and sewer repairs, while newer subdivisions on the metro’s edges generate rough-in and finish work. Periodic drought conditions in California also encourage water-efficiency retrofits—such as low-flow fixtures, recirculation systems, and leak detection—often spurred by conservation programs from local utilities. On the commercial side, warehousing and light industrial facilities near the Port of Stockton and along the I‑5 and State Route 99 corridors can require ongoing tenant improvements, backflow compliance, and process-water upgrades.
Stockton’s plumbing labor market often balances strong residential service demand with cyclical commercial construction. Homeowners and property managers frequently seek 24/7 service providers for drain clearing, water heater replacements, and code-compliant gas line work. At the same time, medical, educational, and municipal facilities in the city typically maintain in-house maintenance teams and contract with union and non-union firms for larger projects.
Employers in Stockton commonly look for California code knowledge (California Plumbing Code), clean driving records for service routes, and the ability to pass background checks for assignments in hospitals and schools. Contractors that take on projects must hold a California C‑36 plumbing contractor license, and many institutional jobs request additional credentials such as OSHA 10/30, backflow prevention assembly tester certification, and, for hospital work, medical gas brazing qualifications in line with NFPA 99.
Apprenticeship is a primary entry route. UA Local 442 (Plumbers & Pipefitters) serves much of the Central Valley, including San Joaquin County, and typically offers a five-year earn‑while‑you‑learn path that includes classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Non-union companies in the region also hire helpers and trainees, with advancement based on experience, certifications, and demonstrated diagnostic skills.
Plumbers in Stockton can be hired directly by institutions, dispatched through a union hall, or employed by service contractors. Organizations that often hire or contract for plumbing work in the Stockton area include:
Many plumbers also subcontract on tenant improvements and ground-up builds led by general contractors, especially in warehouse, retail, and medical office projects around the metro.
Career paths in Stockton typically span three broad tracks: residential service, commercial/industrial construction, and institutional maintenance. Residential service technicians can build strong customer bases handling leaks, sewer diagnostics, and water heater or tankless installations. Commercial technicians often focus on code-heavy work—grease interceptors, backflow assemblies, and ADA-compliant fixtures—plus remodels for restaurants and logistics facilities. Institutional roles at hospitals, schools, and public agencies usually emphasize preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, and documentation.
Specializations that can boost prospects in the Stockton market include backflow testing and repair, medical gas installation, hydronic systems, and advanced leak detection. With the region’s emphasis on conservation, plumbers who understand high-efficiency fixtures, recirculation controls, and water‑smart retrofits may see added opportunities. Experienced tradespeople can move into foreman, estimator, or project manager roles, or pursue inspection and plan review positions with local jurisdictions.
Because the Stockton–Lodi area sits within commuting distance of Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, and Lodi, plumbers often work across city lines as projects ebb and flow. This regional flexibility—combined with ongoing maintenance needs in housing, healthcare, logistics, and education—generally keeps hiring needs active for reliable, code‑savvy plumbers in Stockton, California.
The average salary for a Plumber in Stockton is 75,109 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 6,259 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Plumber and the city overview for Stockton. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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