Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 12 in Boston, MA earn $63.49/hr in base wages, or $95.62/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Apr 2023. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
UA Local 12 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 12 pay scale is $63.49 per hour for journeymen in Boston, MA, or about $126,980 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $95.62 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 12 journeyman hourly wage | $63.49 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $95.62 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $126,980 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $28.57–$31.75 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 4/26/23 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 12 apprentice in Boston, MA starts at roughly $28.57 an hour — about 45% of the $63.49 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $47.62 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 12 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $28.57 / hour | $57,141 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $34.92 / hour | $69,839 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $41.27 / hour | $82,537 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $47.62 / hour | $95,235 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $53.97 / hour | $107,933 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $63.49 / hour | $126,980 |
UA Local 12 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 617-288-6200 to confirm dispatch hours, 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.
UA Local 12 represents the union plumbers of the Greater Boston area, serving as a cornerstone of the Massachusetts building trades for over a century. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market as a critical hub for complex mechanical systems and high-density commercial development. The local maintains rigorous standards for its membership, ensuring that the piping infrastructure for the region's world-class medical facilities, universities, and high-rise residential towers meets strict safety and performance codes. Their headquarters and training center in Boston serve as the central point for dispatching skilled labor to the most demanding job sites in New England.
The Boston market remains one of the most competitive and highly regulated plumbing environments in the United States. Local 12 members are specialized in the installation, maintenance, and repair of water systems, gas piping, and medical gas infrastructure. Because the jurisdiction includes many of the nation's premier life science and biotech corridors, the workforce must be proficient in advanced technical applications beyond standard commercial plumbing. This specialized skill set creates a barrier to entry that protects the high wage standards and benefit packages negotiated through the collective bargaining agreement with signatory mechanical contractors and plumbing firms across the metropolitan area.
["As of April 26, 2023, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 12 is established at $63.49. When factoring in the comprehensive fringe benefit contributions, the total compensation package reaches $95.62 per hour. Apprentices in the five-year program begin at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 45% 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, senior apprentices earn approximately 80% to 85% of the full rate before sitting for their journeyman exam. This structured progression ensures that labor costs for contractors remain proportional to the skill level of the workforce on site."]
["The chartered territory for UA Local 12 covers the city of Boston and several dozen surrounding municipalities throughout Suffolk, Norfolk, and Middlesex counties. The jurisdiction is defined by specific town and city lines rather than broad county borders, requiring contractors to verify the exact location of a project to ensure compliance with Local 12's dispatch rules. Work covered includes all potable and non-potable water systems, sanitary waste and vent piping, and various industrial process systems. Members are generally dispatched from the Boston hiring hall, and the agreement includes specific provisions regarding travel zones and parking reimbursements common to the dense urban environment of the Boston metro area."]
["The signatory contractor landscape for Local 12 is dominated by large-scale mechanical primes that handle multi-million dollar institutional and commercial projects. These firms often specialize in the massive laboratory builds and hospital expansions that define the Boston skyline. Additionally, the local maintains strong partnerships with specialized plumbing service contractors and smaller residential shops that focus on high-end urban renovations. Hiring typically fluctuates based on the commencement of major capital projects in the Longwood Medical Area and the Seaport District. Contractors benchmarking labor costs must account for the high cost of doing business in Boston, including the logistical challenges of urban material delivery and workforce parking."]
UA Local 12 specifically represents plumbers, while UA Local 537 represents pipefitters and refrigeration technicians. While both locals work in the same geographic region and often on the same job sites, their scopes of work are distinct. Local 12 focuses on water, gas, and drainage systems, whereas Local 537 focuses on HVAC systems, process piping, and cooling infrastructure.
While Local 12 primarily serves residents of the Greater Boston area, there is no strict residency requirement to join. However, the jurisdiction's high density and traffic patterns make living within a reasonable commuting distance of the I-95/I-93 corridor practical for members who must report to various job sites throughout the urban core.
Yes, Local 12 provides members with access to certifications for Medical Gas, Backflow Prevention, and various welding processes. These certifications are often required for work in Boston's extensive healthcare and research facilities. The JATC ensures that members stay current with the latest Massachusetts plumbing codes and safety regulations through ongoing journeyman training programs.
Local 12 operates under standard UA reciprocity agreements. Travelers from other UA locals must typically report to the business agent and provide a travel card. In periods of high labor demand, the local may open calls to travelers, but priority is generally given to local members. Wages and benefits for travelers are paid according to the Local 12 CBA while working in this jurisdiction.
UA Local 12 is seated in Boston, Massachusetts (MA). We hold published wage sheets for 9 locals across Massachusetts — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Boston and the rest of Massachusetts, including contractors signatory to UA Local 12. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements, 4160 Temescal Canyon Road, Suite 401, Corona, CA 92883. Phone (951) 208-7780. Email hello@gulfstreamsp.com. Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific.View our verified Google Business Profile
Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 12 pay scale is $63.49 per hour for journeymen in Boston, MA, or about $126,980 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $95.62 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 12 agreement make $63.49 an hour in base wages, or $95.62 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 4/26/23. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$63.49 per hour base wage and $95.62 per hour total package for a journeyman in Boston, MA, effective 4/26/23. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $126,980 before overtime.
A Local 12 apprentice in Boston, MA starts at roughly $28.57 an hour — about 45% of the $63.49 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $47.62 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 12 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $28.57 an hour, or roughly $57,141 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $63.49 journeyman rate effective 4/26/23. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $41.27 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $47.62 an hour in the fourth period and $63.49 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 12 training center.
The current UA Local 12 journeyman rate is $63.49/hour, with a total package of $95.62/hour including fringe benefits, effective 4/26/23. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $126,980 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 12 business office before relying on the figure.
The $63.49/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $95.62/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 12 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 $63.49/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $28.57–$31.75/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 12 is headquartered in Boston, MA 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 12 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 4/26/23 schedule; check with the Local 12 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 12 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 12 hall is at 1240 Massachusetts Ave Boston, Ma 2125, serving Boston, MA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 617-288-6200.
UA Local 12 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 617-288-6200 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 12 can be reached at 617-288-6200. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.