Journeyman plumbers under UA Local 188 in Savannah, GA earn $35.45/hr in base wages, effective Aug 2025.
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UA Local 188 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — hall hours above are from the local's official site; call the hall to confirm dispatch procedure, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 188 pay scale for 2026 is $35.45 per hour for journeymen in Savannah, GA, or about $70,900 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/4/25.
| Local 188 journeyman hourly wage | $35.45 / hour |
|---|---|
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $70,900 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.95–$17.73 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 8/4/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman |
A Local 188 apprentice in Savannah, GA starts at roughly $15.95 an hour — about 45% of the $35.45 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $26.59 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 188 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.95 / hour | $31,905 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $19.50 / hour | $38,995 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $23.04 / hour | $46,085 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $26.59 / hour | $53,175 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $30.13 / hour | $60,265 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $35.45 / hour | $70,900 |
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Local 188 wages: $35.45 an hour on the journeyman scale, effective 8/4/25. That is the most recent Savannah, GA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
UA Local 188's published wage determination does not break out fringes, so we show only the wage figures it prints.
Verified from official source: UA Local 188 (Savannah GA) published wage rates effective August 4, 2025–July 31, 2026; hourly journeyman wage rate. The local itemizes fringe contributions separately and prints no total package, so none is shown here
Download the UA Local 188 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective August 4, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | Not published | The wage determination does not separate fringes for this local. |
|---|---|---|
| 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 188 scale used across the Savannah, GA 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 Savannah metro, so a plumbers wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits plumbers talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Savannah. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 188 rates. For current Savannah scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
UA Local 188 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 912-354-5520 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 188 represents highly skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC technicians throughout the Savannah and Southeast Georgia corridor. As a critical labor partner in one of the East Coast's most significant port cities, this local provides the specialized workforce required for complex industrial and commercial infrastructure. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor dynamics in this region, where the intersection of maritime logistics, chemical processing, and institutional expansion creates a consistent demand for certified craftspeople. The local ensures that signatory contractors have access to a pool of workers trained to rigorous national UA standards, covering everything from high-pressure steam systems to medical gas installations.
The Savannah market is characterized by a mix of historic preservation and heavy industrial development, requiring Local 188 members to be versatile in their technical applications. Beyond the port-related facilities, the jurisdiction includes substantial healthcare networks and higher education campuses that rely on consistent mechanical maintenance and new construction. For the tradesperson, Local 188 offers a pathway to stable employment through a collective bargaining agreement that defines clear safety protocols and compensation structures. For the signatory contractor, the local acts as a central dispatch and training hub, reducing the overhead costs associated with recruitment and long-term skills development in a competitive regional construction landscape.
Based on the figures effective December 15, 2023, the journeyman hourly rate for Local 188 is established at $31.55. It is important to note that the total package is also reported at $31.55, suggesting that the take-home hourly wage is currently reflective of the full hourly labor cost under this specific reporting period. Apprentices in the five-year program typically start at a set percentage of the journeyman rate, often beginning at 45% or 50% and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases provide a predictable path toward the full $31.55 rate. Members should contact the Local 188 business office in Savannah to confirm the specific allocation of fringe benefits and any recent adjustments to the taxable wage versus the total employer contribution.
The chartered jurisdiction for UA Local 188 covers a significant portion of Southeast Georgia, anchored by Chatham County and extending to the surrounding coastal and inland regions. This territory encompasses major industrial zones near the Savannah River, the growing logistics corridors along I-95, and specialized facilities within the regional military and aerospace sectors. The local manages dispatch for all work falling under the Master Labor Agreement, including commercial plumbing, industrial process piping, and mechanical HVAC installations. Travel requirements depend on the specific site location within the coastal empire region, with the union hall serving as the primary point of contact for manpower requests and jurisdictional inquiries across these Georgia counties.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 188 is comprised of approximately 24 active employers, ranging from national mechanical primes to specialized local service firms. These contractors handle the bulk of the large-scale industrial piping projects at the port and regional manufacturing plants. The presence of several large-scale mechanical firms ensures a diverse mix of project types, including long-term maintenance contracts and rapid-response commercial service. Recruitment in this market is driven by these signatory partners who rely on the local's training center to produce welders and pipefitters capable of meeting stringent quality controls for high-stakes industrial environments and public works projects.
The training center provides a wide range of industry-standard certifications, including UA welding certifications, medical gas installation, backflow prevention, and OSHA safety training. These credentials ensure that members are qualified for specialized work in healthcare and industrial facilities throughout Southeast Georgia.
Travelers and members looking to transfer into Local 188 must follow the procedures outlined in the UA Constitution. This typically involves contacting their home local's Business Manager and the Local 188 office to verify current work availability and regional specific requirements.
Members work in a variety of settings, from the Savannah riverfront industrial plants and shipping terminals to modern hospital complexes and university laboratories. The environment can vary from climate-controlled commercial mechanical rooms to outdoor industrial sites requiring heavy PPE and adherence to strict safety protocols.
Application windows vary based on market demand and current enrollment capacity. Generally, the JATC holds specific periods each year for new applicants. Interested individuals should monitor the local's official communications or call the Savannah office directly to confirm the next scheduled intake date.
UA Local 188 is seated in Savannah, Georgia (GA). We hold published wage sheets for 10 locals across Georgia — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Savannah and the rest of Georgia, including contractors signatory to UA Local 188. 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 188 pay scale for 2026 is $35.45 per hour for journeymen in Savannah, GA, or about $70,900 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 8/4/25.
Journeyman plumbers under the UA Local 188 agreement make $35.45 an hour in base wages, per the wage sheet effective 8/4/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$35.45 per hour base wage for a journeyman in Savannah, GA, effective 8/4/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $70,900 before overtime.
A Local 188 apprentice in Savannah, GA starts at roughly $15.95 an hour — about 45% of the $35.45 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $26.59 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 188 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.95 an hour, or roughly $31,905 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $35.45 journeyman rate effective 8/4/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $23.04 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $26.59 an hour in the fourth period and $35.45 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 188 training center.
Local 188 wages: $35.45 an hour on the journeyman scale, effective 8/4/25. That is the most recent Savannah, GA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published UA Local 188 journeyman rate is $35.45 an hour, effective 8/4/25 — roughly $70,900 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable UA Local 188 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ua-local-188-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $35.45 hourly scale and the 8/4/25 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current UA Local 188 journeyman rate is $35.45/hour, effective 8/4/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $70,900 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 188 business office before relying on the figure.
Apprentices under the UA Local 188 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 $35.45/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.95–$17.73/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 188 is headquartered in Savannah, GA and dispatches plumbers & steamfitters 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 & steamfitters work. Some Local 188 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 188 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 188 training center directly.
Plumbers & Steamfitters 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 188 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 & steamfitters 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 8/4/25 schedule; check with the Local 188 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
We track 24 signatory contractors working under the UA Local 188 agreement, listed on this page with their websites and LinkedIn pages. Signatory shops are the employers legally able to hire Local 188 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 188 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & steamfitters markets.
The UA Local 188 hall is at 2337 E Victory Dr Savannah, GA 31404, serving Savannah, GA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 912-354-5520. The hall office is open Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 8:00am–5:00pm; Wednesday 8:00am–12:00pm (per the local's official site).
The UA Local 188 hall office is open Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 8:00am–5:00pm; Wednesday 8:00am–12:00pm, as published on the local's official website. Dispatch and out-of-work list procedures can differ from office hours — call 912-354-5520 to confirm before traveling in.
UA Local 188 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 912-354-5520 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 188 can be reached at 912-354-5520. The hall office is open Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 8:00am–5:00pm; Wednesday 8:00am–12:00pm, per the local's official site.
$35.45/hr in base wages for journeyman, effective August 4, 2025 per the UA Local 188 (Savannah GA) published wage rates effective August 4, 2025–July 31, 2026; hourly journeyman wage rate. The local itemizes fringe contributions separately and prints no total package, so none is shown here wage determination.
August 4, 2025. Read directly from the primary source (UA Local 188 (Savannah GA) published wage rates effective August 4, 2025–July 31, 2026; hourly journeyman wage rate. The local itemizes fringe contributions separately and prints no total package, so none is shown here) and cross-checked at build time. Highest confidence for offer benchmarking.
The published wage determination for this local prints wages without a separate fringe line, so we do not show a benefit figure. The hall's fund office can provide the contribution schedule.
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 21, 2026 (13 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.