Plumbing and HVAC contractors / California
How many plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors are in California?
The Census Bureau counted 11,686 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors with paid employees in California in 2023. That is 14.6% more than in 2017.
CALIFORNIA · 2023
The count
11,686
plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors with paid employees
- Employees
- 126,947
- Average per site
- 10.9
- Change since 2017
- +14.6%
- State rank
- 1 of 51
What the number means
California had 11,686 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in 2023, ranking number 1 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Together they employed 126,947 people and paid $10.9 billion in annual payroll, an average of 10.9 employees per site.
These businesses make up 1.13% of every employer establishment in California, below the 1.33% national share. A site count is not the same as the number of companies: a chain with 40 locations counts 40 times.
61% of plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in California have fewer than 5 employees, against 58% across the U.S.
California holds 10.5% of the nation's plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors and 12.3% of all U.S. employer establishments, so, measured against the state's overall size, the trade is under-represented. The most common size class is under 5 employees (7,120 sites). Average payroll per employee is $85,543, against $73,693 for the U.S. trade.
Size of the businesses
| Employees per site | Share | Sites | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 7,120 | 60.9% | |
| 5 to 9 | 2,125 | 18.2% | |
| 10 to 19 | 1,301 | 11.1% | |
| 20 to 49 | 725 | 6.2% | |
| 50 to 99 | 234 | 2.0% | |
| 100 to 249 | 136 | 1.2% | |
| 250 to 499 | 24 | 0.2% | |
| 500 to 999 | 13 | 0.1% | |
| 1,000 or more | 8 | 0.1% |
Count since 2017
Index: 2017 = 100. Employer establishments only. 2017 count 10,196; 2019 count 10,585; 2022 count 11,334; 2023 count 11,686. Employment +20.4% since 2017.
Biggest other trades in California
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 31,333 | 628,541 | +0.5% |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 13,412 | 165,621 | +20.7% |
| General auto repair | 9,799 | 46,943 | +2.4% |
| Child day care | 9,670 | 89,288 | +12.4% |
| Landscaping services | 9,393 | 103,803 | +10.8% |
| Beauty salons | 8,733 | 33,898 | +17.9% |
| Janitorial services | 6,956 | 116,330 | +27.1% |
| Fitness centers | 5,371 | 86,970 | +22.2% |
Plumbing and HVAC contractors in nearby ranks
All states for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors · Every trade in California
Questions
How many plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors are in California?
The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 11,686 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors with paid employees in California in 2023. That ranks California number 1 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Is the number of plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in California growing?
Between 2017 and 2023 the count grew (14.6%), from 10,196 to 11,686. Across the United States the count changed by +8.5% over the same period. These years include the 2020 pandemic.
Does this count include self-employed owners with no staff?
No. County Business Patterns covers establishments with at least one paid employee. A sole proprietor with no employees is counted in a separate Census series called Nonemployer Statistics, which this site does not use yet, so the real number of people working in this trade is higher than the figure shown.
Read this before using the number
These counts describe how many businesses already exist. They say nothing about demand, profit, competition near you or how much any owner earns, and we make no estimate of income. Check local licensing, costs and rules before acting on any figure here. See the disclaimer.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.