Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 142 in San Antonio, TX earn $38.97/hr in base wages, or $50.96/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jan 2025.
UA Local 142 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 142 pay scale for 2026 is $38.97 per hour for journeymen in San Antonio, TX, or about $77,940 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $50.96 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/10/25.
| Local 142 journeyman hourly wage | $38.97 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $50.96 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $77,940 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $17.54–$19.49 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 1/10/25 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 142 apprentice in San Antonio, TX starts at roughly $17.54 an hour — about 45% of the $38.97 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $29.23 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 142 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $17.54 / hour | $35,073 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $21.43 / hour | $42,867 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $25.33 / hour | $50,661 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $29.23 / hour | $58,455 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $33.12 / hour | $66,249 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $38.97 / hour | $77,940 |
UA Local 142 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 210-226-1244 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.
United Association Local 142 represents the highly skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and HVACR service technicians across the San Antonio metropolitan area and South Texas. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the regional demand for union labor in this market, which is characterized by a high volume of institutional work and mission-critical infrastructure. Local 142 members are essential to the city's expanding healthcare corridors, higher education facilities, and the significant industrial footprint surrounding the region's energy and manufacturing sectors. The local maintains a rigorous focus on safety and certification, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of executing complex mechanical systems under strict regulatory requirements.
The San Antonio market remains a focal point for mechanical construction due to the persistent growth of the I-35 corridor and the concentration of military installations. Local 142 provides a stable labor supply for large-scale commercial projects and specialized industrial piping applications that require high-purity welding or intricate plumbing systems. As the South Texas economy diversifies, the role of the UA becomes increasingly vital in providing standardized training and a predictable cost structure for contractors. This local serves as the primary resource for skilled mechanical trades in Bexar County and the surrounding rural districts, facilitating a bridge between the workforce and the major mechanical primes operating in the region.
Effective January 10, 2025, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 142 is set at $38.97, with a total package of $50.96 when including fringe benefits. This $11.99 difference covers critical employer-paid contributions to health, pension, and training funds. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 50% and receiving scheduled incremental raises as they complete their classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year of the apprenticeship, the rate approaches the full journeyman scale. These predetermined steps provide a clear financial trajectory for new entrants while ensuring that labor costs remain predictable for signatory contractors throughout the duration of a multi-year project cycle. Rates should be verified with the Local 142 business office as they are subject to annual adjustments.
The chartered jurisdiction of UA Local 142 is headquartered in San Antonio and extends across a wide geography in South Texas. The territory encompasses the entirety of Bexar County and reaches into the surrounding counties to ensure comprehensive coverage of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area. Work performed under this jurisdiction includes all phases of plumbing, pipefitting, and HVACR service in commercial, industrial, and institutional environments. Dispatch procedures are managed through the San Antonio hall, ensuring that signatory contractors can scale their workforces based on project demand. Members are expected to travel within this designated territory to various job sites, ranging from urban high-rises to remote industrial facilities located within the South Texas district.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 142 consists of a mix of large-scale mechanical primes, specialized plumbing firms, and dedicated HVACR service contractors. These organizations typically focus on high-stakes environments such as Level 1 trauma centers, research laboratories, and data centers where system failure is not an option. Hiring activity is generally driven by major capital projects and the ongoing maintenance requirements of San Antonio’s institutional owners. While the market is competitive, the UA's ability to provide specialized certifications in medical gas, orbital welding, and backflow prevention gives signatory contractors a distinct advantage in bidding for complex public and private sector work.
The hourly wage of $38.97 is the base amount paid on a member's paycheck before taxes. The total package of $50.96 includes an additional $11.99 in fringe benefits paid by the employer. These benefits include healthcare, pension contributions, and training funds, which are not deducted from the base wage but are provided in addition to it.
While a journeyman license is the baseline requirement, many Local 142 projects require specialized UA certifications. These often include Med-Gas installer credentials for hospital work, various ASME welding certifications for industrial piping, and backflow prevention tester licenses. The JATC provides the necessary training for members to obtain and maintain these high-demand qualifications.
Travel pay and subsistence are governed by the specific terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and may vary depending on the distance from the San Antonio city center or the headquarters of the signatory contractor. Members should consult the current CBA or the hall's dispatcher to understand the specific mileage thresholds and reimbursement rates for jobs outside the immediate metro area.
Yes, experienced tradespeople can join through a process often called 'organizing' or 'stripping in.' This typically requires an evaluation of past work experience, proof of state licensure, and a skills assessment or 'probationary' period to ensure the individual meets UA standards. Interested professionals should contact a Local 142 organizer to discuss the transition and benefit portability.
UA Local 142 is seated in San Antonio, Texas (TX). We hold published wage sheets for 20 locals across Texas — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving San Antonio and the rest of Texas, including contractors signatory to UA Local 142. 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 142 pay scale for 2026 is $38.97 per hour for journeymen in San Antonio, TX, or about $77,940 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $50.96 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/10/25.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 142 agreement make $38.97 an hour in base wages, or $50.96 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 1/10/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$38.97 per hour base wage and $50.96 per hour total package for a journeyman in San Antonio, TX, effective 1/10/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $77,940 before overtime.
A Local 142 apprentice in San Antonio, TX starts at roughly $17.54 an hour — about 45% of the $38.97 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $29.23 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 142 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $17.54 an hour, or roughly $35,073 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $38.97 journeyman rate effective 1/10/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $25.33 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $29.23 an hour in the fourth period and $38.97 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 142 training center.
The current UA Local 142 journeyman rate is $38.97/hour, with a total package of $50.96/hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/10/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $77,940 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 142 business office before relying on the figure.
The $38.97/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $50.96/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 142 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 $38.97/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $17.54–$19.49/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 142 is headquartered in San Antonio, TX 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 142 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 142 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 142 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 142 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 1/10/25 schedule; check with the Local 142 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 142 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 142 hall is at 3630 Belgium Ln San Antonio, TX 78219, serving San Antonio, TX and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 210-226-1244.
UA Local 142 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 210-226-1244 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 142 can be reached at 210-226-1244. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.