Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 118 in Racine, WI earn $57.35/hr in base wages, or $84.72/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Apr 2026.
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UA Local 118 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 118 pay scale for 2026 is $57.35 per hour for journeymen in Racine, WI, or about $114,700 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $84.72 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 4/18/26.
| Local 118 journeyman hourly wage | $57.35 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $84.72 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $114,700 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $25.81–$28.68 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 4/18/26 |
| Classification | Plumbers |
A Local 118 apprentice in Racine, WI starts at roughly $25.81 an hour — about 45% of the $57.35 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $43.01 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 118 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $25.81 / hour | $51,615 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $31.54 / hour | $63,085 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $37.28 / hour | $74,555 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $43.01 / hour | $86,025 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $48.75 / hour | $97,495 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $57.35 / hour | $114,700 |
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Local 118 wages: $57.35 an hour on the journeyman scale, $84.72 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 4/18/26. That is the most recent Racine, WI sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 32% of the UA Local 118 package is employer-paid benefits and fringes rather than wages, which is why the package figure and a take-home hourly rate are not the same number.
Unverified: crowd-sourced figure (unionpayscales.com), not confirmed against the local's own wage sheet
Download the UA Local 118 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective April 18, 2026.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $27.37/hr | Derived: total package minus base wage. This is the employer's combined hourly contribution to the funds, not take-home pay. |
|---|---|---|
| What the contributions fund | Health & welfare, pension, annuity, training and industry funds | Standard fund categories in mechanical and electrical agreements. The exact split between funds is set in the local's agreement — the hall or fund office publishes the schedule. |
| Paid on | Every hour worked | Fringe contributions are made per hour worked, so they scale with dispatched hours and are paid to the funds rather than to the member. |
The rates above are the UA Local 118 scale used across the Racine, WI area. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial mechanical and process piping, chiller and boiler work, HVAC piping and hydronics and service, retrofit and shutdown work for signatory contractors throughout the Racine metro, so a pipefitters wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits pipefitters talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Racine. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 118 rates. For current Racine scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
UA Local 118 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 262-654-3815 to confirm dispatch procedure, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
United Association Local 118 represents the skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC service technicians operating out of Racine, Wisconsin. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market as a vital industrial and commercial hub situated between the Milwaukee and Chicago corridors. The local provides a highly trained workforce for the region's diverse economic base, which includes heavy manufacturing facilities, healthcare systems, and municipal infrastructure. By maintaining rigorous standards for craftsmanship and safety, Local 118 ensures that signatory contractors have access to the specialized labor required for complex pressurized systems and high-purity piping environments common in the Great Lakes region.
The market for UA Local 118 is defined by its strategic location along Lake Michigan, which attracts significant investment in industrial processing and commercial development. Members are responsible for the installation and maintenance of essential fluid and gas systems that power the local economy. From large-scale boiler replacements in aging industrial plants to advanced plumbing systems in new healthcare facilities, the work performed under this charter is essential to regional stability. For the individual tradesperson, Local 118 offers a structured path to a middle-class career through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, ensuring that labor supply meets the technical demands of modern mechanical construction.
As of April 18, 2026, the Journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 118 is established at $57.35. When accounting for the full fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $84.72 per hour. This total package includes employer contributions toward health insurance, pension funds, and specialized training. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40-50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year of the program, an apprentice's wage closely mirrors the full journeyman scale, reflecting their increased autonomy and technical proficiency in the field. These rates are subject to annual adjustments based on collective bargaining agreements.
The jurisdiction for UA Local 118 is centered in Racine, Wisconsin, covering the southeastern corner of the state. This territory includes high-density commercial zones and industrial parks that require constant mechanical upkeep and new system integration. The charter gives members priority for work performed within these boundaries, including plumbing, pipefitting, and steamfitting for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Travel and dispatch rules are governed by the local’s hiring hall, which coordinates labor for projects ranging from small-scale service repairs to multi-year industrial expansions. Contractors operating in this area must adhere to the specific working conditions and overtime rules outlined in the Local 118 master agreement.
The signatory contractor landscape in the Racine market consists of a mix of regional mechanical primes and specialized local shops. These firms range from large-scale contractors capable of managing multi-million dollar industrial builds to family-owned plumbing businesses focusing on commercial service and residential infrastructure. Hiring typically fluctuates based on the cycle of major capital projects in the manufacturing sector and municipal upgrades. Because Local 118 serves a concentrated geographical area, signatory contractors often maintain long-term relationships with the local workforce, relying on the hall to scale up manpower during shutdowns or peak construction seasons while keeping core service crews year-round.
While both trades share core skills, plumbers focus on potable water, drainage, and gas systems in residential and commercial buildings. Pipefitters generally work on high-pressure industrial systems, including steam, chemicals, and manufacturing process piping. Local 118 provides training and representation for both classifications, ensuring high standards across all piping disciplines in the Racine and Kenosha areas.
Travelers and transferees are generally managed through the United Association's standard reciprocal agreements. A member in good standing from another local may be eligible for work in Local 118's jurisdiction depending on the current 'Book' status and local labor demand. Prospective transfers should contact the Business Manager in Racine to discuss specific requirements and current manning levels.
The apprenticeship typically lasts five years, combining 8,000 to 10,000 hours of on-the-job training with several hundred hours of classroom instruction. This comprehensive approach ensures that by the time an individual reaches journeyman status, they are fully competent in code compliance, blueprint reading, and advanced welding or piping techniques required for the Wisconsin mechanical market.
Yes, Local 118 encourages members to obtain advanced certifications such as UA Weld Certifications, Med-Gas installation, Backflow Prevention, and HVACR service tech licenses. These certifications are often subsidized through the JATC fund and allow members to qualify for specialized roles on industrial job sites, increasing their employability and value to signatory contractors.
UA Local 118 is seated in Racine, Wisconsin (WI). We hold published wage sheets for 16 locals across Wisconsin — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Racine and the rest of Wisconsin, including contractors signatory to UA Local 118. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 118 pay scale for 2026 is $57.35 per hour for journeymen in Racine, WI, or about $114,700 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $84.72 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 4/18/26.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 118 agreement make $57.35 an hour in base wages, or $84.72 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 4/18/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$57.35 per hour base wage and $84.72 per hour total package for a journeyman in Racine, WI, effective 4/18/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $114,700 before overtime.
A Local 118 apprentice in Racine, WI starts at roughly $25.81 an hour — about 45% of the $57.35 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $43.01 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 118 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $25.81 an hour, or roughly $51,615 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $57.35 journeyman rate effective 4/18/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $37.28 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $43.01 an hour in the fourth period and $57.35 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 118 training center.
Local 118 wages: $57.35 an hour on the journeyman scale, $84.72 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 4/18/26. That is the most recent Racine, WI sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published UA Local 118 journeyman rate is $57.35 an hour ($84.72 total package), effective 4/18/26 — roughly $114,700 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable UA Local 118 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ua-local-118-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $57.35 hourly scale, the $84.72 total package and the 4/18/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current UA Local 118 journeyman rate is $57.35/hour, with a total package of $84.72/hour including fringe benefits, effective 4/18/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $114,700 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 118 business office before relying on the figure.
The $57.35/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $84.72/hour total package adds employer-paid fringes — health and welfare, pension, annuity, apprenticeship training, and industry funds. Contractors bid work off the total package, so that is the number that matters when comparing plumbers & pipefitters labor costs across locals.
Apprentices under the UA Local 118 agreement are paid a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting near 40–50% in the first period and stepping up each six-month or annual period until reaching 100% at turnout. Against the current $57.35/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $25.81–$28.68/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 118 is headquartered in Racine, WI and dispatches plumbers & pipefitters manpower throughout its chartered jurisdiction. Work performed inside that territory falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement and wage schedule, even when the contractor is based elsewhere and travels in.
Most locals require applicants to be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., hold a high school diploma or GED, pass a basic math/aptitude assessment and a drug screen, and be physically able to perform plumbers & pipefitters work. Some Local 118 programs give preference to applicants inside the jurisdiction or to veterans. Eligibility rules are set by the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), so confirm the current criteria with the hall before applying.
Apprenticeship applications go through the UA Local 118 JATC, not through a contractor or a recruiter. Applications typically open in defined intake windows each year: you submit the application with proof of age, education, and residency, sit for an aptitude test, and then interview. Ranked applicants are placed on an eligibility list and indentured as signatory contractors call for apprentices. Gulfstream Strategic Placements does not process apprenticeship applications — contact the Local 118 training center directly.
Plumbers & Pipefitters apprenticeships generally run four to five years — roughly 8,000–10,000 hours of on-the-job training plus several hundred classroom hours per year. Apprentices earn a paycheck the entire time, stepping up through the wage periods until they turn out as journeymen at 100% of scale.
Signatory contractors hire through the local's hiring hall, so working under the UA Local 118 agreement generally means being a member or being organized in through the local's process. Journeymen from other locals can travel in by signing the out-of-work book, subject to the local's referral rules and manpower needs. Non-union plumbers & pipefitters professionals are usually placed with open-shop contractors instead — we recruit for both.
Rates move with the collective bargaining agreement, typically on a fixed anniversary date each year of a three- to five-year contract, with negotiated increases split between the base wage and the fringe package. The figures on this page reflect the 4/18/26 schedule; check with the Local 118 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
Wage rates vary widely by local and market. Use the Union Pay Scale Explorer to sort every UA and SMART local by hourly wage, total package, and annualized pay so you can benchmark Local 118 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 118 hall is at 3030 39th Ave Room 112 Kenosha, WI 53144, serving Racine, WI and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 262-654-3815.
UA Local 118 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 262-654-3815 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in — Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
UA Local 118 can be reached at 262-654-3815. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
$57.35/hr in base wages for plumbers, or $84.72/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective April 18, 2026 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
April 18, 2026. Pulled from the local's current published CBA wage sheet on unionpayscales.com and cross-checked at build time. High confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $57.35/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $27.37/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $84.72/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private mechanical construction recruiting firm. We are not affiliated with the local, we do not run dispatch, and we do not set or negotiate union rates. We publish the local's own sourced figures as a reference for members and contractors.
High confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Sep 23, 2026 (7 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.