Plumber Jobs in Los Angeles, CA
Plumbers in Los Angeles earn a metro median of about $34.19 an hour, and in-house jobs at UCLA and LAUSD now post $52 to $58. The current openings are below, followed by who is hiring across the city, how local journeyman cards work, and where to train.
Current plumber Openings in Los Angeles, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Plumber Work in Los Angeles
Plumbing work in Los Angeles splits between residential service, new construction and in-house maintenance. Service companies such as Mike Diamond, based in Hollywood, send plumbers into older houses and apartments across the city, where repipes, drain lines and water heaters keep the trucks busy. Union construction plumbers come out of UA Plumbers Local 78, whose apprentices train near Downtown. The steadiest jobs sit inside big institutions: UCLA in Westwood, USC in University Park and at the Coliseum, Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Grove, LAUSD schools across the city, and the City of Los Angeles.
The licensing picture is also local. California has no state journeyman plumber license, so Los Angeles employers ask for a City of Los Angeles journey-level plumber card or a Los Angeles County Journeyman Plumber Certificate instead. Hospital plumbers also need medical gas brazing certification, and testers of backflow devices are certified by the county.
Top Los Angeles Employers Hiring Plumbers
These employers have posted plumber roles in Los Angeles:
- UCLA - the Westwood campus facilities shop posts plumbers at $52.76 an hour, including a swing-shift backflow plumber.
- USC - the university hires plumbers at University Park for $38.39 to $42 an hour, plus fixed-term plumbers at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
- Cedars-Sinai - the Beverly Grove medical center's plumbing shop pays $40.88 to $65.41 an hour and requires a journeyman card and medical gas brazing certification.
- Los Angeles Unified School District - the district hires plumbers at $57.95 an hour and asks for a city or county journeyman credential.
- City of Los Angeles - the city's Plumber class pays about $118,000 a year, or about $126,500 at LADWP.
- Mike Diamond Services - the Hollywood-based home services company hires service plumbers, apprentices and trainees with no experience.
Plumber Salaries in Los Angeles
- Entry level: about $22 to $28 an hour for helpers, trainees and early apprentices.
- Experienced: roughly $34 to $49 an hour for journey-level service, construction and maintenance plumbers.
- Senior: $52 to $60 an hour and up for in-house and senior roles, and about $118,000 a year in the City of Los Angeles Plumber class.
These are estimates built from BLS 2025 figures for the Los Angeles metro (median $34.19, top tenth above $60.14) and pay ranges posted by local employers. Pay moves with a city or county journeyman card, union status, medical gas and backflow certifications, shift, and whether the work is residential service, construction or public sector. Service companies often add commission on repipes and water heater replacements.
How to Become a Plumber in Los Angeles
California does not issue a state journeyman plumber license. To contract on your own you need a C-36 Plumbing Contractor license from the Contractors State License Board, which requires four years of journey-level experience in the last ten and a $25,000 bond. Working for an employer, the credential that matters locally is the Los Angeles County Journeyman Plumber Certificate from Los Angeles County Public Works, renewed every two years, or the City of Los Angeles journey-level card. Backflow testers are certified by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The union route is the five-year UA Plumbers Local 78 apprenticeship, with classes at its training center on James M. Wood Boulevard. Los Angeles Trade-Technical College offers a Plumbing associate degree and certificate, and LAUSD's Harbor Occupational Center in San Pedro runs a 300-hour plumbing course.
What the Job Involves
Plumbers install and repair water supply, drain, waste and vent, and gas piping, along with fixtures and water heaters. A day can include clearing main lines, cutting and joining copper, PEX and cast iron, replacing valves, testing backflow devices and reading drawings for new work. Hospital and campus plumbers also handle medical gas, steam traps and urgent work orders from building staff.
Skills Employers Look For
- A Los Angeles County or City of Los Angeles journeyman credential
- Knowledge of the California Plumbing Code
- Soldering, brazing and pipe joining across materials
- Drain cleaning and camera inspection
- Backflow testing or medical gas certification
- A valid California driver's license and clean record
- Clear communication with homeowners and building staff
Career Path and Advancement
Most Los Angeles plumbers start as helpers, trainees or apprentices and reach journey level after four or five years. From there, service plumbers move to lead tech and service manager, construction plumbers move to foreman, and some take the C-36 exam to open their own shop. Others move into public and institutional jobs at UCLA, USC, Cedars-Sinai, LAUSD or the City of Los Angeles, where backflow and medical gas certifications lead to senior and lead plumber roles.
Related Careers in Los Angeles
If plumbing interests you, these Los Angeles trades guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a plumber in Los Angeles?
California has no state journeyman plumber license, but many Los Angeles employers require a Los Angeles County Journeyman Plumber Certificate or a City of Los Angeles journey-level card. Running your own plumbing business requires a C-36 contractor license from the Contractors State License Board.
How much do plumbers make in Los Angeles?
The metro median is about $34.19 an hour, or roughly $71,100 a year. In-house plumbers at UCLA, Cedars-Sinai and LAUSD post $40 to $65 an hour, and the City of Los Angeles Plumber class pays about $118,000 a year.
How do I apply to the UA Local 78 apprenticeship?
Applications are taken by appointment at the Local 78 training center, followed by a placement test. You must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED, a California driver's license and a Social Security card.
How long does it take to become a journeyman plumber?
Union apprenticeships in Los Angeles run five years with classroom hours each year. Non-union routes usually take four to five years of supervised work before you qualify for a journeyman credential.
Who certifies backflow testers in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health certifies backflow testers in the county, with recertification every two years. Some employers, including UCLA, require backflow certification at hire.
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