Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 208 in Denver, CO earn $44.15/hr in base wages, or $62.52/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Aug 2024.
UA Local 208 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 208 pay scale is $44.15 per hour for journeymen in Denver, CO, or about $88,300 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $62.52 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 8/2/24.
| Local 208 journeyman hourly wage | $44.15 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $62.52 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $88,300 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.87–$22.08 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 8/2/24 |
| Classification | Pipefitters |
A Local 208 apprentice in Denver, CO starts at roughly $19.87 an hour — about 45% of the $44.15 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.11 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 208 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.87 / hour | $39,735 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $24.28 / hour | $48,565 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $28.70 / hour | $57,395 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $33.11 / hour | $66,225 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $37.53 / hour | $75,055 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $44.15 / hour | $88,300 |
UA Local 208 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 303-428-4380 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 208 represents skilled pipefitters, welders, and HVAC service technicians throughout the Denver metropolitan area and the surrounding Colorado Front Range. As a specialized trade union focusing on the installation and maintenance of complex piping systems, Local 208 serves as a primary labor source for the region's most demanding infrastructure projects. The Denver market has seen sustained growth in the healthcare, data center, and industrial sectors, creating a high demand for craftsmen capable of meeting strict welding certifications and pressure piping standards. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this landscape, noting that Local 208 members are essential for ensuring mechanical systems in large-scale commercial and industrial facilities operate at peak efficiency and safety levels.
The union operates a robust Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) facility in Denver, which provides rigorous five-year training programs to ensure the local workforce remains technically proficient. Beyond new construction, Local 208 signatory contractors handle significant service and retrofit work, maintaining the mechanical heart of Colorado’s capital city. For the traveling pipefitter or the local apprentice, this union offers a stable framework of collectively bargained wages and benefits that reflect the high cost of living in the Mountain West. By maintaining a deep bench of certified welders and process piping experts, Local 208 provides signatory mechanical primes with a scalable, highly productive workforce capable of executing accelerated project timelines across the Rocky Mountain region.
As of August 2, 2024, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 208 stands at $44.15, contributing to a comprehensive total package of $62.52 per hour. The difference of $18.37 covers essential fringe benefits including healthcare and retirement funds. Apprentices within Local 208 typically follow a five-year tiered progression, starting at a set percentage of the journeyman rate—often beginning around 45% to 50% for first-year students—and increasing annually as they accumulate on-the-job training hours and complete classroom modules. This structured advancement ensures that labor costs remain predictable for contractors while incentivizing skill acquisition for the workforce. All wage figures provided should be verified with the Local 208 business office, as specialized classifications like foreman or general foreman carry additional hourly premiums above the base journeyman scale.
The jurisdiction for UA Local 208 is centered in Denver, Colorado, extending throughout the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan area and covering several surrounding counties along the Front Range. The charter primarily covers pipefitting, steamfitting, and HVAC-R service work. Members are dispatched to a variety of sites ranging from high-rise commercial developments to industrial facilities and municipal water treatment plants. Because Denver serves as a regional hub, the jurisdiction involves significant coordination with neighboring locals for large-scale energy or infrastructure projects. Contractors operating within this territory must adhere to the travel and subsistence rules defined in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement when moving manpower between different zones or job sites within the state.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 208 is comprised of diverse mechanical firms, ranging from national mechanical primes to specialized local plumbing and piping shops. These contractors often specialize in heavy industrial work, commercial HVAC installation, and sophisticated process piping for the semiconductor or pharmaceutical industries. The Denver market is characterized by a high volume of public-private partnerships and large-scale healthcare expansions, requiring contractors who can provide hundreds of certified tradespeople on short notice. Hiring is primarily managed through the union referral hall, where contractors request specific certifications, such as high-pressure welding or medical gas endorsements, to match the technical requirements of their current project backlog.
UA Local 208 specifically focuses on pipefitting, steamfitting, and HVAC-R systems, dealing primarily with high-pressure piping, heating/cooling systems, and industrial process lines. While plumbers (represented by a sister local) focus on potable water and sanitary systems, pipefitters deal with chemicals, gases, and steam used in industrial applications and large-scale climate control.
Yes, the Local 208 JATC is a certified testing facility. Apprentices and journeymen can earn various UA welding certifications, including GTAW and SMAW processes. These certifications are essential for working on high-pressure steam lines and specialized industrial piping projects throughout Colorado, ensuring the highest standards of structural integrity and safety.
The total package of $62.52 is designed to remain competitive within the Denver metro market. The CBA includes annual increases to offset inflation and the rising costs of housing and healthcare in the Front Range. This ensures that signatory contractors can attract and retain the high-level talent required for complex mechanical projects.
Transferring into Local 208, known as 'depositing a travel card,' is governed by the UA Constitution. Generally, a member must find work in the jurisdiction as a traveler first. Permanent transfers are typically subject to the approval of the Business Manager and depend on the current local unemployment rate and long-term project manning requirements.
UA Local 208 is seated in Denver, Colorado (CO). We hold published wage sheets for 7 locals across Colorado — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Denver and the rest of Colorado, including contractors signatory to UA Local 208. 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 208 pay scale is $44.15 per hour for journeymen in Denver, CO, or about $88,300 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $62.52 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 8/2/24.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 208 agreement make $44.15 an hour in base wages, or $62.52 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 8/2/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$44.15 per hour base wage and $62.52 per hour total package for a journeyman in Denver, CO, effective 8/2/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $88,300 before overtime.
A Local 208 apprentice in Denver, CO starts at roughly $19.87 an hour — about 45% of the $44.15 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $33.11 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 208 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.87 an hour, or roughly $39,735 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $44.15 journeyman rate effective 8/2/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $28.70 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $33.11 an hour in the fourth period and $44.15 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 208 training center.
The current UA Local 208 journeyman rate is $44.15/hour, with a total package of $62.52/hour including fringe benefits, effective 8/2/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $88,300 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 208 business office before relying on the figure.
The $44.15/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $62.52/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 208 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 $44.15/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.87–$22.08/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 208 is headquartered in Denver, CO 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 208 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 208 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 208 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 208 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 8/2/24 schedule; check with the Local 208 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 208 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 208 hall is at 6350 N Broadway Ste 1 Denver, CO 80216, serving Denver, CO and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 303-428-4380.
UA Local 208 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 303-428-4380 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 208 can be reached at 303-428-4380. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.