California — Level Index
How do California contractors compare to the national average? Bill rates, collection rates, margins, and utilization data from 187+ California contractors across HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, and more.
Key Finding
California contractors bill $23/hr above the national median
California's regulatory environment and cost of living push bill rates well above national averages. The median contractor charges $113/hr, but top performers reach $167/hr by specializing in Title 24 compliance and commercial retrofit work.
For a 10-tech shop, that $23/hr difference means $460K per year in additional revenue compared to the national median.
California Bill Rates
Median Bill Rate
$113/hr
75th Percentile
$138/hr
Top 10%
$167/hr
National Benchmarks
These metrics are reported nationally. Where your California business falls depends on your specific operations. See the full national breakdown.
Collection Rate
85.1%
Top quartile: 92.7%
464 companies
SA Gross Margin
43.8%
Top quartile: 68.8%
103 companies
Billing Speed
1 day
Top quartile: -4 days (progress billing)
555 companies
Billable Hour Ratio
96.7%
Top quartile: 99.6%
654 companies
Quote Conversion
73%
Top quartile: 81.3%
409 companies
California Bill Rate
$113/hr
Top quartile: $138/hr
187 companies
Top Trades in California
Where does your California business fall?
We'll pull your actual numbers and benchmark you against California and national data. 15-minute call. Free.