Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 174 in Coopersville, MI earn $43.29/hr in base wages, or $67.06/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2024.
UA Local 174 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 174 pay scale is $43.29 per hour for journeymen in Coopersville, MI, or about $86,580 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $67.06 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 6/28/24.
| Local 174 journeyman hourly wage | $43.29 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $67.06 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $86,580 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.48–$21.65 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/28/24 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 174 apprentice in Coopersville, MI starts at roughly $19.48 an hour — about 45% of the $43.29 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.47 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 174 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.48 / hour | $38,961 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $23.81 / hour | $47,619 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $28.14 / hour | $56,277 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $32.47 / hour | $64,935 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $36.80 / hour | $73,593 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $43.29 / hour | $86,580 |
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Local 174 wages: $43.29 an hour on the journeyman scale, $67.06 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/28/24. That is the most recent Coopersville, MI sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 35% of the UA Local 174 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.
Download the UA Local 174 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 28, 2024.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $23.77/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 174 scale used across the Coopersville, MI 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 Coopersville 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 Coopersville. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 174 rates. For current Coopersville scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
UA Local 174 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 616-837-0222 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 174 represents the skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and HVACR service technicians across the West Michigan corridor. Headquartered in Coopersville, this United Association affiliate manages the labor supply for critical infrastructure, industrial manufacturing, and commercial development throughout the Grand Rapids and Muskegon regions. Since 2014, our recruitment efforts have focused on the technical proficiency required by the West Michigan market, where a high concentration of food processing, automotive supply chain, and healthcare facilities demands rigorous adherence to building codes and safety standards. The local ensures that its members are equipped to handle complex process piping and high-efficiency mechanical systems common in these industrial environments.
The market served by Local 174 is distinct for its blend of heavy industrial sectors and rapid commercial expansion. As the regional economy continues to diversify, the demand for signatory labor remains steady, driven by both new construction and the maintenance of existing mechanical assets. For contractors, partnering with this local provides access to a pre-vetted workforce trained at a state-of-the-art JATC facility. For tradespeople, the union offers a stable career path with standardized wages and comprehensive benefits that are significantly higher than the non-union residential averages in the area. This structure creates a reliable ecosystem for mechanical construction projects across the lakefront and inland counties of West Michigan.
As of the June 28, 2024 update, the UA Local 174 pay scale for a Journeyman is established at an hourly rate of $43.29. When accounting for the full fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $67.06 per hour. Apprentices within the program follow a structured percentage-based progression, typically starting between 45% and 50% of the journeyman rate. These increments increase annually or semi-annually as the apprentice completes required classroom hours and verified on-the-job training milestones. This tiered system ensures that labor costs for signatory mechanical primes remain scalable while providing a clear roadmap for junior members to reach the full $67.06 total package. Specialized certifications in welding or medical gas may further impact individual employability within the West Michigan dispatch system.
The chartered territory for UA Local 174 encompasses a significant portion of Western Michigan, centered around the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland metropolitan areas. The jurisdiction extends from the Lake Michigan shoreline eastward, covering critical industrial hubs and agricultural centers. Dispatch for pipefitters and plumbers under this agreement covers all work related to the installation, maintenance, and repair of piping systems, including hydronic heating, chilled water, process piping, and sanitary plumbing. Members are expected to travel within the multi-county region to various job sites, ranging from lakeside power generation facilities to inland commercial developments. The agreement governs all signatory work within these borders, ensuring uniform labor standards across both urban and rural project sites.
The contractor landscape for UA Local 174 is comprised of approximately 26 signatory employers, ranging from large-scale mechanical primes to specialized service and repair shops. These firms handle the bulk of the region's sophisticated mechanical work, particularly in the pharmaceutical and food production sectors where sanitary piping is paramount. The presence of several regional powerhouses ensures a diverse project pipeline, including long-term institutional maintenance at universities and hospitals. Hiring typically follows the fluctuations of the construction cycle, with industrial shutdowns and major commercial builds driving peak demand. Signatory contractors benefit from a centralized pool of manpower that meets the specific certifications required for West Michigan's industrial base.
UA pay scales are determined by local market conditions and cost of living. While Local 174 offers a journeyman rate of $43.29 in West Michigan, neighboring locals in different economic zones like Local 440 (Indianapolis) or Local 246 (California) will have different negotiated rates. Local 174 remains highly competitive within the Michigan building trades, particularly when considering the $67.06 total package value.
Local 174 pipefitters are primarily involved in the installation of complex piping systems in industrial and commercial settings. This includes steam systems for manufacturing, process piping for West Michigan’s food processing plants, and hydronic systems for large office buildings. Their work is essential in maintaining the infrastructure of the Grand Rapids and Muskegon industrial corridors.
Transfers, or 'traveling,' are governed by the United Association International Constitution. A member from Local 211 or Local 46 may work in Local 174's jurisdiction as a traveler if there is a manpower shortage, but permanent transfers require approval from the Business Manager and typically depend on the current local unemployment list and long-term work projections.
Beyond the $43.29 take-home wage, the total $67.06 package includes employer-paid contributions to health insurance, a defined-benefit pension, and an annuity. It also covers the cost of advanced technical training through the JATC, ensuring members can maintain certifications in welding, medical gas, and backflow prevention without out-of-pocket tuition costs.
UA Local 174 is seated in Coopersville, Michigan (MI). We hold published wage sheets for 22 locals across Michigan — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Coopersville and the rest of Michigan, including contractors signatory to UA Local 174. 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 174 pay scale is $43.29 per hour for journeymen in Coopersville, MI, or about $86,580 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $67.06 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 6/28/24.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 174 agreement make $43.29 an hour in base wages, or $67.06 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/28/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$43.29 per hour base wage and $67.06 per hour total package for a journeyman in Coopersville, MI, effective 6/28/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $86,580 before overtime.
A Local 174 apprentice in Coopersville, MI starts at roughly $19.48 an hour — about 45% of the $43.29 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.47 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 174 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.48 an hour, or roughly $38,961 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $43.29 journeyman rate effective 6/28/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $28.14 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $32.47 an hour in the fourth period and $43.29 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 174 training center.
Local 174 wages: $43.29 an hour on the journeyman scale, $67.06 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/28/24. That is the most recent Coopersville, MI sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Yes — a one-page printable UA Local 174 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ua-local-174-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $43.29 hourly scale, the $67.06 total package and the 6/28/24 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current UA Local 174 journeyman rate is $43.29/hour, with a total package of $67.06/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/28/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $86,580 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 174 business office before relying on the figure.
The $43.29/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $67.06/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 174 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 $43.29/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.48–$21.65/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 174 is headquartered in Coopersville, MI 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 174 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 174 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 174 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 174 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 6/28/24 schedule; check with the Local 174 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
We track 26 signatory contractors working under the UA Local 174 agreement, listed on this page with their websites and LinkedIn pages. Signatory shops are the employers legally able to hire Local 174 members and pay the negotiated scale.
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 174 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 174 hall is at 1008 O'malley Dr Coopersville, MI 49404, serving Coopersville, MI and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 616-837-0222.
UA Local 174 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 616-837-0222 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 174 can be reached at 616-837-0222. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
$43.29/hr in base wages for combo, or $67.06/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 28, 2024 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
June 28, 2024. The source wage sheet is more than 18 months old, so a mid-term raise may already be in effect. Confirm the current step with the local's business office before extending an offer.
No — the $43.29/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $23.77/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $67.06/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.
Moderate confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Sep 1, 2026 (13 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.