It all depends on the company policy. I can charge by the hour, or give a flat rate based on the amount of hours I believe it will take to complete a certain project. A flat rate is sometimes very beneficial to the customer because if the job takes longer than expected, you can save some money by not having to pay by the hour. The range of plumber’s hourly rates vary. In the San
Francisco Bay Area the rate is typically about $125-185.00 per hour.