Metro cost guide · BLS 2025

Home improvement costs in San Francisco (2026)

Construction trades in the San Francisco area earn $90,820 a year — 39% above the U.S. average. That makes most home projects run about 23% more than the national typical. Here's what 100+ projects cost in San Francisco, adjusted for local labor.

San Francisco construction labor

$90,820 avg / year

Ranks 1 of 44 major metros · project cost adjustment ×1.23 vs. national

U.S. typical
How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost? Roofing $5–$12/linear ft $6.15–$15/linear ft
How Much Do Kitchen Countertops Cost? Remodeling $50–$200/sq ft $62–$250/sq ft
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost? Solar & Energy $15,000–$35,000 $18,500–$43,100
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? Remodeling $6,000–$25,000 $7,400–$30,800
How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Cost? Roofing $150–$400 $180–$490
How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$10,000 $3,700–$12,300
How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $4–$8/sq ft $4.90–$9.85/sq ft
How Much Does a Fire Pit Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $300–$5,000 $370–$6,200
How Much Does a French Drain Cost? Windows & Exterior $1,500–$6,000 $1,800–$7,400
How Much Does a Garage Conversion Cost? Remodeling $6,000–$27,000 $7,400–$33,200
How Much Does a Gravel Driveway Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $1,200–$3,500 $1,500–$4,300
How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost to Install? Heating & Cooling $6,000–$20,000 $7,400–$24,600
How Much Does a Home Addition Cost? Remodeling $22,000–$100,000 $27,100–$123,000
How Much Does a Home Battery Cost? Solar & Energy $12,000–$20,000/unit $14,800–$24,600/unit
How Much Does a Hot Tub Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $5,000–$25,000 $6,200–$30,800
How Much Does a Kitchen Island Cost? Remodeling $3,000–$10,000 $3,700–$12,300
How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? Remodeling $15,000–$50,000 $18,500–$61,500
How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? Roofing $15,000–$40,000 $18,500–$49,200
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$16,000 $3,700–$19,700
How Much Does a Pergola Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $2,000–$8,000 $2,500–$9,800
How Much Does a Pole Barn Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $10,000–$40,000 $12,300–$49,200
How Much Does a Retaining Wall Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$12,000 $3,700–$14,800
How Much Does a Septic System Cost? Plumbing $3,000–$20,000 $3,700–$24,600
How Much Does a Sprinkler System Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $1,600–$5,000 $2,000–$6,200
How Much Does a Storage Shed Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $1,500–$10,000 $1,800–$12,300
How Much Does a Sunroom Addition Cost? Remodeling $20,000–$60,000 $24,600–$73,800
How Much Does a Tankless Water Heater Cost? Heating & Cooling $1,500–$4,500 $1,800–$5,500
How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? Remodeling $4,500–$15,000 $5,500–$18,500
How Much Does a Water Softener Cost? Plumbing $800–$3,500 $980–$4,300
How Much Does a Whole House Generator Cost? Solar & Energy $7,000–$15,000 $8,600–$18,500
How Much Does Air Conditioner Repair Cost? Heating & Cooling $150–$700/unit $180–$860/unit
How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$7,000 $3,700–$8,600
How Much Does an Egress Window Cost? Windows & Exterior $2,500–$6,000 $3,100–$7,400
How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $45,000–$90,000 $55,400–$110,700
How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $6,000–$35,000 $7,400–$43,100
How Much Does Artificial Turf Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $8–$20/sq ft $9.85–$25/sq ft
How Much Does Asbestos Removal Cost? Remodeling $1,200–$3,200 $1,500–$3,900
How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? Insulation $1–$4/sq ft $1.25–$4.90/sq ft
How Much Does Basement Waterproofing Cost? Windows & Exterior $2,500–$12,000 $3,100–$14,800
How Much Does Bathtub Refinishing Cost? Remodeling $300–$650 $370–$800
How Much Does Blown-In Insulation Cost? Insulation $0.9–$2.4/sq ft $1.10–$2.95/sq ft
How Much Does Carpet Installation Cost? Remodeling $2–$8/sq ft $2.45–$9.85/sq ft
How Much Does Chimney Repair Cost? Roofing $200–$2,500/unit $250–$3,100/unit
How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost? Insulation $3,000–$8,000 $3,700–$9,800
How Much Does Drain Cleaning Cost? Plumbing $150–$500/unit $180–$620/unit
How Much Does Driveway Sealing Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $100–$300 $120–$370
How Much Does Drywall Installation Cost? Remodeling $1.5–$3.5/sq ft $1.85–$4.30/sq ft
How Much Does Flooring Installation Cost? Remodeling $3–$25/sq ft $3.70–$31/sq ft
How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost? Windows & Exterior $2,500–$15,000 $3,100–$18,500
How Much Does Garage Door Replacement Cost? Windows & Exterior $1,000–$3,500 $1,200–$4,300
How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost? Roofing $100–$350 $120–$430
How Much Does Gutter Installation Cost? Roofing $1,000–$4,500 $1,200–$5,500
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck? Outdoor & Landscaping $4,000–$25,000 $4,900–$30,800
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Detached Garage? Remodeling $20,000–$50,000 $24,600–$61,500
How Much Does It Cost to Build an ADU? Remodeling $80,000–$250,000/sq ft $98,400–$307,500/sq ft
How Much Does It Cost to Epoxy a Garage Floor? Remodeling $1,500–$3,500 $1,800–$4,300
How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement? Remodeling $15,000–$50,000 $18,500–$61,500
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Ceiling Fan? Electrical $150–$600/unit $180–$740/unit
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Fence? Outdoor & Landscaping $2,000–$8,000 $2,500–$9,800
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Fireplace? Remodeling $1,000–$10,000 $1,200–$12,300
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Mini Split? Heating & Cooling $2,000–$14,500 $2,500–$17,800
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Skylight? Roofing $1,200–$4,200/unit $1,500–$5,200/unit
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Sump Pump? Plumbing $650–$2,000 $800–$2,500
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Toilet? Plumbing $250–$800 $310–$980
How Much Does It Cost to Install an EV Charger at Home? Solar & Energy $1,000–$3,000 $1,200–$3,700
How Much Does It Cost to Install Recessed Lighting? Electrical $125–$300/unit $150–$370/unit
How Much Does It Cost to Install Sod? Outdoor & Landscaping $1–$3.5/sq ft $1.25–$4.30/sq ft
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior? Windows & Exterior $3,000–$10,000 $3,700–$12,300
How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a House? Remodeling $2,000–$6,000 $2,500–$7,400
How Much Does It Cost to Pump a Septic Tank? Plumbing $250–$600 $310–$740
How Much Does It Cost to Reface Kitchen Cabinets? Remodeling $4,000–$10,000 $4,900–$12,300
How Much Does It Cost to Repipe a House? Plumbing $4,000–$15,000 $4,900–$18,500
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Boiler? Heating & Cooling $4,000–$10,000 $4,900–$12,300
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Central AC Unit? Heating & Cooling $4,000–$12,000 $4,900–$14,800
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Furnace? Heating & Cooling $3,000–$12,000 $3,700–$14,800
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Roof? Roofing $7,000–$18,000 $8,600–$22,100
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Water Heater? Heating & Cooling $900–$3,500 $1,100–$4,300
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Well Pump? Plumbing $1,500–$4,000 $1,800–$4,900
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an HVAC System? Heating & Cooling $7,000–$20,000 $8,600–$24,600
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Ductwork? Heating & Cooling $1,400–$12,000 $1,700–$14,800
How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House? Electrical $8,000–$30,000 $9,800–$36,900
How Much Does It Cost to Soundproof a Room? Remodeling $1,000–$3,000 $1,200–$3,700
How Much Does It Cost to Stucco a House? Windows & Exterior $8,000–$30,000 $9,800–$36,900
How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel? Electrical $1,500–$6,000 $1,800–$7,400
How Much Does Landscaping Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $3,000–$15,000 $3,700–$18,500
How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost? Remodeling $1,500–$6,000 $1,800–$7,400
How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost? Remodeling $1–$6/sq ft $1.25–$7.40/sq ft
How Much Does Pressure Washing Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $200–$600 $250–$740
How Much Does Radiant Floor Heating Cost? Heating & Cooling $6–$20/sq ft $7.40–$25/sq ft
How Much Does Radon Mitigation Cost? Windows & Exterior $800–$2,500 $980–$3,100
How Much Does Roof Repair Cost? Roofing $350–$1,900 $430–$2,300
How Much Does Sewer Line Replacement Cost? Plumbing $3,000–$12,000 $3,700–$14,800
How Much Does Siding Replacement Cost? Windows & Exterior $7,000–$20,000 $8,600–$24,600
How Much Does Spray Foam Insulation Cost? Insulation $1.5–$5/sq ft $1.85–$6.15/sq ft
How Much Does Stamped Concrete Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $8–$20/sq ft $9.85–$25/sq ft
How Much Does Tile Installation Cost? Remodeling $7–$20/sq ft $8.60–$25/sq ft
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $400–$1,800/unit $490–$2,200/unit
How Much Does Tree Trimming Cost? Outdoor & Landscaping $250–$1,000 $310–$1,200
How Much Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost? Remodeling $3–$10/sq ft $3.70–$12/sq ft
How Much Does Window Replacement Cost? Windows & Exterior $5,000–$15,000 $6,200–$18,500

How these are adjusted: we apply the San Francisco metro's labor-cost multiplier (×1.23), built from BLS metro wage data, to each project's national range. Materials price close to national, so the difference is mostly labor. These are budgeting estimates, not quotes — neighborhoods and contractors vary. Always get local bids. See all of California's costs too.

What construction trades earn in San Francisco

Annual mean wage by trade (2025), and how each compares to the U.S. average — from BLS data.

TradeSan Franciscovs. U.S.
Electricians $103,690 +45%
Plumbers $92,380 +28%
HVAC technicians $86,540 +34%
Carpenters $89,630 +37%
Roofers $74,210 +28%
Painters $70,530 +27%
Construction laborers $73,640 +42%

Frequently asked questions

Is it expensive to renovate in San Francisco?
Construction trades in the San Francisco area earn $90,820 a year on average — 39% above the U.S. average of $65,360 (BLS, 2025). Because labor is roughly half of most bills, that pushes a typical project about 23% more than the national figure.
Why does San Francisco cost more than average?
Materials cost about the same nationwide; the difference is local labor. The San Francisco metro ranks 1 of 44 major metros we track for construction-trade wages, which is the main driver of pricing here.
Do these prices cover the whole San Francisco area?
Yes — these reflect the San Francisco metropolitan area. Exact quotes still vary by neighborhood, contractor, and scope, so always get a few local bids. Use the calculator on any guide for a tailored ballpark.

Compare other metros on the cost-by-city index, see California costs by state, or the underlying trade wage data.