Coverage varies by state, trade and authority. These are source snapshots, not a census of unique businesses or a live license check. Ratios cannot establish market saturation or contractor quality.
California vs New York: contractor markets, side by side
California has 223,427 roster records across the trades we cover; New York has 29,413. Counts come from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the NYC Department of Buildings + DCWP + City of Buffalo; market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| California | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 223,427 | 29,413 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 54.8 | 14.7 |
| Residents | 40,805,409 | 19,994,326 |
| Households | 14,984,242 | 8,494,175 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $97,970 | $89,542 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 103,856 (2025) | 38,667 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Los Angeles | Br |
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 source records per 10k residents against 14.7 in New York. Differences in source coverage affect this ratio; it does not measure contractors per square mile or competition for jobs.
The ZIP-weighted income indicator is higher in California: $97,970 against $89,542 in New York, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | California | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 29,781 | 3,539 |
| Plumbers | 18,634 | 1,153 |
| HVAC Contractors | 12,571 | 103 |
| General Contractors | 121,774 | 24,443 |
| Roofing Contractors | 5,940 | — |
| Solar Contractors | 1,235 | — |
| Landscape Contractors | 12,976 | — |
| Pool Contractors | 3,041 | — |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | 2,332 | 471 |
| Carpenters | 1,116 | — |
| Concrete Contractors | 5,851 | — |
| Masons | 2,201 | — |
| Drywall Contractors | 3,432 | — |
| Tile Contractors | 6,630 | — |
| Excavating Contractors | 2,587 | — |
| Painters | 16,728 | — |
| Flooring Contractors | 7,312 | — |
Counts reflect the separate covered-trade snapshot. A “—” means no count is provided here; it says nothing about whether the trade exists or requires a license. These category counts are not reconciled with the headline roster totals.
Figures use separately generated snapshots: overall roster totals, trade counts and mapped-city counts can differ in scope and collection time and should not be added together or treated as a reconciled census. The displayed source refresh date does not date every aggregate. Population and households are sums of the covered ZIP estimates. The income indicator is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level household-income medians, not the state's household median. Census context can refer to a different period from the roster. Housing-unit authorizations refer to the displayed permit year; they are not completed projects. See the ACS estimate guidance and Building Permits Survey for the underlying statistical definitions.
Working one of these markets?
California vs New York: common questions
Does California or New York have more contractor records?
California has 223,427 covered records; New York has 29,413. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the NYC Department of Buildings + DCWP + City of Buffalo.
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, California or New York?
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 snapshot records per 10k residents against 14.7 in New York.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, California or New York?
California: $97,970 against $89,542 in New York. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this California vs New York comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and NYC Department of Buildings + DCWP + City of Buffalo; population, household, income, and permit figures are U.S. Census aggregates. Counts are snapshot records, not a census of unique companies. Source scope and dates differ between states.