Plumber in Daly City, CA

As someone who has watched the plumbing trade evolve across the Bay Area for over two decades, I can tell you that Daly City offers a unique proposition for plumbers. It’s not the glitzy tech hub of San Francisco, nor the sprawling suburbs of the Peninsula. It’s the pragmatic workhorse of the region—a place where the plumbing needs are constant, the competition is fair, and the cost of living is a reality that demands a solid income. This guide will cut through the marketing fluff and give you the grounded, local intel you need to decide if Daly City is your next career move.

The Salary Picture: Where Daly City Stands

Let’s start with the numbers that matter. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and local market data paint a clear picture. The median salary for a plumber in Daly City is $66,808 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.12. This sits comfortably above the national average of $63,350/year, a testament to the high cost of doing business—and living—in the Bay Area.

However, a median is just a midpoint. Your actual earnings will depend heavily on experience, specialization, and the type of employer you land with. Here’s how that breaks down locally:

Experience Level	Estimated Annual Salary	Key Factors in Daly City
Entry-Level	$52,000 - $58,000	Apprenticeship roles, residential service calls, basic installations. Expect to be on a crew, learning the trade under a licensed journeyman.
Mid-Level (Journeyman)	$65,000 - $75,000	You can work independently on most jobs. This is the core of the local workforce, handling everything from emergency calls to remodels in Serra and Westlake Park.
Senior-Level	$78,000 - $90,000+	Specialization kicks in. Think commercial work, medical gas systems, or becoming a lead estimator. You might be supervising a small team on a multi-unit project in a new development.
Expert/Owner-Operator	$100,000+	Running your own shop or consulting on high-end projects. This is where you leverage deep knowledge of local codes and relationships with general contractors.

How Daly City Compares to Other CA Cities:

• San Francisco: Salaries can be 10-15% higher ($75,000-$85,000 median), but the commute and parking challenges can be a nightmare, and job competition is fiercer.
• San Jose: Similar median to Daly City, but with more tech-sector commercial work. The commute south is a major consideration.
• East Bay (Oakland/Concord): Often slightly lower cost of living and similar pay. A strong alternative if you want more space for your dollar.
• Peninsula (San Mateo/Burlingame): Higher pay (by ~5-10%) but significantly higher housing costs. Daly City often acts as a "gateway" to these markets without the initial price shock.

Insider Tip: The 6% 10-year job growth for the metro area (San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley) is solid. It’s not explosive growth, but it’s steady. This means you’re not chasing a boom-and-bust cycle; you’re entering a stable market. With 199 jobs listed in the metro area at any given time, there’s healthy turnover and opportunity, especially for those with commercial experience or who are willing to work on-call for emergencies.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

A salary of $66,808 is meaningless without context. In Daly City, the context is high. Let’s break down a monthly budget for a plumber earning the area median.

Pre-Tax Monthly Income: $66,808 / 12 = $5,567
After California state tax (approx. 9.3% for this bracket), federal tax (approx. 12%), FICA, and other deductions, your take-home pay will be roughly $4,200 - $4,400 per month, depending on your W-4 withholding and benefits.

Sample Monthly Budget (Single Person, Renter):

Expense Category	Estimated Cost	Notes
Rent (1BR Apartment)	$2,304	This is the city-wide average. You can find places for $2,000 in older buildings or share a 2BR for $1,400-$1,600.
Utilities	$150 - $200	PG&E is a major expense, especially in winter. Internet/Phone: $80.
Car Payment/Insurance	$400 - $600	Crucial. Public transit won't get you to most job sites. Insurance is high in CA.
Food & Groceries	$400 - $500	Living in the Bay Area, you'll shop at Smart & Final, Costco, and local markets. Eating out is a luxury.
Healthcare	$150 - $300	Depends on your employer's contribution.
Misc. (Clothing, Tools, Fun)	$300 - $500	Tools are a constant investment.
SAVINGS	$250 - $400	This is the tight part.

Can You Afford to Buy a Home?
Let’s be direct: No, not on a single median plumber's salary. As of late 2023, the median home price in Daly City is around $1.1 million. A 20% down payment is $220,000. Even with a $66,808 salary, a standard mortgage would be out of reach.

Your path to homeownership here likely requires:

1. Dual Income: A partner with a similar or higher income.
2. Significant Career Advancement: Moving into high-salary specialties (see "Long Game" section) or starting your own business.
3. Long-Term Equity: Buying a smaller condo or a fixer-upper in a less trendy neighborhood, then leveraging equity over 10-15 years.

Insider Tip: Many tradespeople in the area live in more affordable parts of the East Bay (like Hayward or San Leandro) and commute to the peninsula. The trade-off is a 60-90 minute drive each way, often in heavy traffic. It’s a valid strategy, but it’s a grind.

Where the Jobs Are: Daly City's Major Employers

Daly City’s plumbing job market is a mix of union and non-union, residential and commercial. Here are the key players:

1. San Mateo County Union Plumbing & Pipe Fitting (UA Local 393): This is the powerhouse. They handle most of the large-scale commercial, industrial, and institutional work in the county, including at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center (just south of Daly City) and the new developments in the area. Getting in requires an apprenticeship, but the benefits (healthcare, pension) are top-tier. Starting wages are high, and the jobs in metro: 199 figure is heavily influenced by union contractors.

2. Local Residential Service Companies (e.g., Roto-Rooter, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing): These are the mainstays for residential emergency calls, drain cleaning, and fixture installations. They offer steady work, often with on-call shifts. Pay is typically $55,000 - $75,000 with potential for overtime. Hiring is consistent due to high turnover.

3. General Contractors (e.g., Devcon Construction, Swinerton): While based regionally, these giants frequently have projects in Daly City and the surrounding areas, especially in the Serra and Westlake Park neighborhoods. They hire plumbers for new construction and large-scale remodels. These are often temporary project-based jobs, but they pay premium rates.

4. School Districts (e.g., Jefferson Union High School District): School districts have full-time facilities maintenance staff, including plumbers. These are gold-standard jobs: stable, union, with regular hours and summers off. They’re highly competitive and often filled from within.

5. Property Management Companies (e.g., Greystar, Equity Residential): Large apartment complexes in Daly City and nearby San Bruno (like The Crossings or The Village at Serra) need in-house maintenance plumbers. This is a "reports to one boss" lifestyle. Pay is moderate ($60,000), but the work-life balance is often better than in service/construction.

Hiring Trends: The push for more housing in the region means steady work in new construction. Simultaneously, the aging housing stock in established neighborhoods like St. Francis Heights guarantees demand for repair and remodel work. Commercial projects tied to the healthcare sector (Kaiser, Sutter Health) are also a reliable source of work.

Getting Licensed in CA

California’s plumbing license (C-36) is a serious credential. It’s not something you get overnight.

The Process:

1. Apprenticeship (4-5 years): You must complete 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 108 hours of classroom instruction. This is typically done through a union apprenticeship (UA Local 393) or a non-union program like the United Association’s National Training Center.
2. Journeyman Exam: After your apprenticeship, you must pass the state’s journeyman plumber exam. The pass rate is high for those who complete a quality program.
3. Contractor’s License (C-36): To work for yourself, you need a contractor’s license. This requires:
   • 4 years of journeyman-level experience.
   • Passing the Law & Business Exam and the Plumbing C-36 Exam.
   • A $25,000 surety bond.
   • Business registration with the CA Secretary of State and local city.

Costs & Timeline:

• Apprenticeship: Often free or low-cost (you pay for books/tools). You earn while you learn, starting at ~50% of journeyman wage and increasing yearly.
• Exam Fees: ~$250 per exam.
• Bond & Insurance: A contractor’s bond and liability insurance can cost $2,000 - $5,000 annually to start.
• Total Timeline to Contractor: 8-10 years from starting as an apprentice to owning your own business.

Key Resource: The California State License Board (CSLB) website is your bible. Also, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) has local chapters that offer training and networking.

Best Neighborhoods for Plumbers

Where you live affects your commute, which is everything in the Bay Area.

1. Daly City (Central): The most practical choice. You’re near everything—groceries, the highway (CA-1, CA-35), and BART to SF for off-time exploration. Rent for a 1BR is right at the city average ($2,300). Great for a young plumber who wants to be in the thick of it.
2. Serra/Serra Gardens: A large, hilly neighborhood with many post-war homes. This is prime territory for remodels and service calls. Commute is easy via CA-35 or CA-1. Rent is slightly higher ($2,400-$2,600 for a 1BR) due to the larger lot sizes and views.
3. Westlake Park: A quintessential mid-century suburb. Very established, with steady work for a plumber focused on residential service and repairs. It’s a 10-minute drive to SFO airport or downtown SF. Rent is similar to central Daly City.
4. St. Francis Heights: More elevated, with some stunning views. A mix of older homes and newer builds. Quiet and family-oriented. Commute to job sites in San Mateo or SF is straightforward. Rent for a smaller unit can be found around $2,200.
5. Living in San Bruno (South): Just over the city line. You get slightly better access to the Peninsula job market (San Mateo, Burlingame) and the 101 freeway. The rent is comparable, and the vibe is very similar. A solid compromise if you find a job with a company based south of Daly City.

Insider Tip: Avoid the northwestern edge of Daly City (near the Pacific Ocean) if you don’t want a foggy, damp commute every morning. The "marine layer" is real. The eastern hills get more sun but can be foggy in the evening.

The Long Game: Career Growth

The median salary of $66,808 is a starting point. To build real wealth, you need to specialize and advance.

Specialty Premiums (What You Can Earn More For):

• Medical Gas Piping: Certification in this can add $5-$10/hour to your rate. Essential for work at hospitals like Kaiser or UCSF.
• Backflow Prevention Certification: A must-have for commercial and irrigation work. Adds significant value.
• Green Technology (Water Efficiency, Tankless Heaters): As California pushes water conservation, expertise here is in high demand.
• CAD/Estimating: Moving from the wrench to the desk. Lead estimators for commercial firms can earn $90,000+.

Advancement Paths:

1. Service Technician: Specialize in diagnostics, repair, and customer interaction. Work towards a lead tech role.
2. Foreman/Supervisor: Oversee a crew on a construction site. Requires strong organizational and people skills.
3. Business Development/Estimator: Move into the office side, bidding on projects.
4. Owner-Operator: The ultimate goal. Start with residential service, build a client base, then expand into small commercial work. A successful one-person shop in Daly City can clear $120,000+ after a few years, but you’re also managing a business.

10-Year Outlook: The 6% job growth is a baseline. The real driver will be infrastructure. The need to replace aging water mains, upgrade septic systems in the hills, and install fire sprinklers in older buildings will create sustained demand. Plumbers who embrace technology (diagnostic cameras, digital invoicing) and sustainability will be the most valuable.

The Verdict: Is Daly City Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Stable Job Market: Solid demand from residential, commercial, and institutional sectors.	High Cost of Living: Your $66,808 salary goes less far here than in most of the country.
Good Commute Base: Central location with access to SF, the Peninsula, and the South Bay without the extreme traffic of other suburbs.	Homeownership is a Long-Term Goal: Very difficult on a single plumber's salary.
Union Strongholds: UA Local 393 offers excellent benefits and long-term career security.	Competitive Market: You need to be skilled and reliable to stand out.
Diverse Work: From emergency calls in a 1950s home to new construction in a tech campus.	Weather: The persistent fog and dampness can be a quality-of-life issue for some.

Final Recommendation:
Daly City is an excellent choice for a plumber who values stability over glamour. It’s not the place to get rich quick, but it’s a place to build a solid, respectable career with a clear path to advancement. If you can handle the cost of living by sharing housing, budgeting wisely, or commuting from a cheaper area, you can thrive here. It’s perfect for someone who wants to join a union, master their craft, and maybe one day own a small business serving the community they live in. For the ambitious go-getter, it’s a stable launchpad to the wider Bay Area market. For the work-life balance seeker, it offers a manageable rhythm in a high-stakes region.

FAQs

Q: Is it worth joining the union in Daly City?
A: For most, yes. The wages ($50+/hour for journeyman), benefits (healthcare, pension), and job security on large projects are unmatched. The apprenticeship is also the best training you can get. The trade-off is less flexibility and a formal process to get in.

Q: I’m not from CA. Will my experience transfer?
A: You can work as a plumber's helper or apprentice without a California license. However, to work as a journeyman, you will need to challenge the state exam. Your out-of-state experience will count toward the 4 years required for a contractor's license, but you’ll need documentation.

Q: How competitive is the market?
A: It’s competitive but not cutthroat. There’s a shortage of skilled tradespeople nationwide. If you are reliable, communicative, and have a clean driving record, you will find work. The key is networking—get to know contractors, join the PHCC, and let your work speak for itself.

Q: Can I rely on public transportation?
A: For commuting to a central office or a large job site near BART, yes. But for daily service calls across the peninsula, no. A reliable, fuel-efficient vehicle is a non-negotiable tool of the trade.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake new plumbers make here?
A: Underestimating the cost of living and not budgeting for tools and vehicle maintenance. A single unexpected repair on your work van can wipe out a month’s savings. Build an emergency fund first.