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 Virginia: contractor markets, side by side
California has 223,427 roster records across the trades we cover; Virginia has 42,816. Counts come from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the Virginia DPOR (Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation); market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| California | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 223,427 | 42,816 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 54.8 | 35.9 |
| Residents | 40,805,409 | 11,942,085 |
| Households | 14,984,242 | 4,997,364 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $97,970 | $102,122 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 103,856 (2025) | 32,274 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Los Angeles | Virginia Beach |
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 source records per 10k residents against 35.9 in Virginia. 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 Virginia: $102,122 against $97,970 in California, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | California | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 29,781 | 3,922 |
| Plumbers | 18,634 | 1,443 |
| HVAC Contractors | 12,571 | 2,442 |
| General Contractors | 121,774 | 30,296 |
| Roofing Contractors | 5,940 | 1,338 |
| Solar Contractors | 1,235 | — |
| Landscape Contractors | 12,976 | 2,169 |
| Pool Contractors | 3,041 | — |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | 2,332 | 410 |
| Carpenters | 1,116 | 54 |
| Concrete Contractors | 5,851 | 1,277 |
| Masons | 2,201 | 1,029 |
| Drywall Contractors | 3,432 | 142 |
| Tile Contractors | 6,630 | — |
| Excavating Contractors | 2,587 | 3,134 |
| Painters | 16,728 | 2,141 |
| Flooring Contractors | 7,312 | 158 |
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 Virginia: common questions
Does California or Virginia have more contractor records?
California has 223,427 covered records; Virginia has 42,816. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the Virginia DPOR (Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation).
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, California or Virginia?
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 snapshot records per 10k residents against 35.9 in Virginia.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, California or Virginia?
Virginia: $102,122 against $97,970 in California. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this California vs Virginia comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and Virginia DPOR (Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation); 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.