Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 23 in Rockford, IL earn $55.54/hr in base wages, or $84.42/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jan 2026.
View current trade openings and apply
The Local 23 pay scale for 2026 is $55.54 per hour for journeymen in Rockford, IL, or about $111,080 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $84.42 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/20/26.
| Local 23 journeyman hourly wage | $55.54 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $84.42 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $111,080 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45 to 50% of scale) | $24.99 to $27.77 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 1/20/26 |
| Classification | Combo |
Apply now | Gulfstream places plumbers & pipefitters candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 23 apprentice in Rockford, IL starts at roughly $24.99 an hour, about 45% of the $55.54 journeyman scale, and steps up each period, reaching around $41.66 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 23 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $24.99 / hour | $49,986 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $30.55 / hour | $61,094 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $36.10 / hour | $72,202 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $41.66 / hour | $83,310 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $47.21 / hour | $94,418 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $55.54 / hour | $111,080 |
Active Gulfstream trade listings in the local's state, with Rockford listings first when available. Jobs elsewhere in the state are not necessarily near this hall. Union status is not verified for these jobs; confirm with your recruiter.
UA Local 23 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.
UA Local 23 pay rates and union rules
UA Local 23 does not post an online application we could verify; contact the hall by phone for dispatch or apprenticeship. To be considered for direct-hire roles with mechanical, electrical and sheet metal contractors in this area, apply to Gulfstream. This is not an application to the union.
We'll email you when the UA Local 23 rate is updated, plus union-shop plumbers & pipefitters openings near Rockford, IL. Sign up for rate updates. Free alerts from Gulfstream Strategic Placements. We are not affiliated with UA Local 23.
Local 23 wages: $55.54 an hour on the journeyman scale, $84.42 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 1/20/26. That is the most recent Rockford, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
UA Local 23 has not published a current wage sheet to the public rate sources we track, so the figure above is the reporting-wide pipefitters average, not this hall's own scale. 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 Rockford, IL area, and local scale in the Rockford market is normally set by the hall's current collective bargaining agreement, confirm it with the business office before quoting.
Gulfstream recruits pipefitters talent for commercial mechanical, electrical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Rockford. We are a private recruiting firm, we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 23 rates. For current Rockford scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
UA Local 23 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall, call 815-397-0350 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.
UA Local 23 represents the skilled Plumbers and Pipefitters of North Central Illinois, centering its operations in the Rockford metropolitan area. This local union is a critical pillar of the regional construction economy, providing highly trained manpower for high-pressure piping systems, medical gas installations, and complex HVAC infrastructure. The organization serves as a central hub for labor relations between skilled tradespeople and signatory contractors, ensuring that large-scale industrial and commercial projects in the Stateline region are executed to rigorous safety and quality standards. By maintaining a centralized dispatch and training system, Local 23 provides a stable workforce for the area's diverse building needs.
The Rockford market presents a unique blend of industrial manufacturing legacy and modern institutional growth, which directly influences the work available through Local 23. Members are frequently deployed to food processing facilities, healthcare campuses, and municipal water treatment plants that require specialized mechanical expertise. As the regional economy continues to diversify into logistics and advanced manufacturing, the demand for licensed plumbers and certified pipefitters remains consistent. For the tradesperson, this local offers a structured path to middle-class earnings and comprehensive benefits, while providing contractors with a scalable pool of labor that has undergone standardized, multi-year vocational training at the JATC facility.
Effective January 20, 2026, the Journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 23 is established at $55.54, contributing to a total compensation package of $84.42 when fringes are included. This rate serves as the benchmark for all signatory commercial and industrial work within the jurisdiction. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of this journeyman scale, typically starting around 40% to 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases reflect the apprentice's growing competency in specialized tasks such as welding, blueprint reading, and code compliance. By the fifth year, senior apprentices earn a high percentage of the full rate, ensuring a smooth transition to journeyman status upon successful completion of the certification exams.
The contractor landscape for UA Local 23 consists of a diverse mix of signatory firms ranging from large mechanical primes to specialized service providers. Many of these contractors focus on the region's robust manufacturing sector, providing ongoing maintenance and capital improvements for industrial plants. Others specialize in the commercial sector, handling large-scale plumbing and HVAC installations for schools, hospitals, and government buildings. The relationship between the local and its signatory partners is managed through a collective bargaining agreement that standardizes labor costs, allowing contractors to bid competitively on major projects while ensuring workers receive fair compensation and consistent safety oversight across different job sites.
Members can obtain a wide array of industry-recognized certifications including UA Weld Certifications, Medical Gas Installer certification, Backflow Prevention, and OSHA safety training. These credentials are vital for working on specialized industrial and healthcare projects. The training center provides ongoing continuing education for journeymen to stay current with evolving building codes and new piping technologies.
Application windows are generally determined by the current demand for labor in the Rockford market. While many locals accept applications year-round, others hold specific monthly or annual intake periods. Interested candidates should check the official JATC website or call the hall directly to confirm the next scheduled testing date and the deadline for document submission.
The majority of UA Local 23's work is concentrated in the commercial and industrial sectors, including schools, hospitals, and factories. However, some signatory contractors do perform high-end residential or large-scale multi-family housing projects. The specific work rules and wage scales for residential projects may differ from the master building trades agreement, depending on the current contract language.
Plumbers primarily focus on potable water, gas, and drainage systems within buildings, often working with copper, PVC, and cast iron. Pipefitters generally handle high-pressure systems, industrial process piping, and HVAC heating/cooling lines, often requiring advanced welding skills. While their training overlaps significantly at the JATC, members often specialize in one path based on their interests and the needs of their employer.
UA Local 23 is seated in Rockford, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 42 locals across Illinois, compare nearby scales before you take a call.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements recruits mechanical, electrical and plumbing staff for contractors nationwide, union and open shop. These are markets where we run the most searches: Los Angeles mechanical recruiter · San Diego mechanical recruiter · Houston mechanical recruiter · Phoenix mechanical recruiter. Post a role.
We are a commercial MEP recruiting firm serving Rockford and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to UA Local 23. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place 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 to Friday, 7:00 AM to 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 23 pay scale for 2026 is $55.54 per hour for journeymen in Rockford, IL, or about $111,080 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $84.42 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/20/26.
UA Local 23 wages for 2026: journeyman Plumbers & Pipefitters rate of $55.54 per hour in Rockford, IL, with a total package of $84.42 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/20/26. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 1/20/26 with the UA Local 23 business office.
The UA Local 23 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $55.54 per hour ($84.42 per hour total package), effective 1/20/26, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the UA Local 23 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 1/20/26 with the hall.
Local 23 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $55.54 per hour journeyman rate, typically starting near 40 to 50% ($24.99 to $27.77 per hour) in the first period and stepping up each period to 100% at turnout. The exact percentage schedule is set by the UA Local 23 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 23 agreement make $55.54 an hour in base wages, or $84.42 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 1/20/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$55.54 per hour base wage and $84.42 per hour total package for a journeyman in Rockford, IL, effective 1/20/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $111,080 before overtime.
A Local 23 apprentice in Rockford, IL starts at roughly $24.99 an hour, about 45% of the $55.54 journeyman scale, and steps up each period, reaching around $41.66 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 23 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $24.99 an hour, or roughly $49,986 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $55.54 journeyman rate effective 1/20/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $36.10 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $41.66 an hour in the fourth period and $55.54 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 23 training center.
Local 23 wages: $55.54 an hour on the journeyman scale, $84.42 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 1/20/26. That is the most recent Rockford, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published UA Local 23 journeyman rate is $55.54 an hour ($84.42 total package), effective 1/20/26, roughly $111,080 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes, a one-page printable UA Local 23 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ua-local-23-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $55.54 hourly scale, the $84.42 total package and the 1/20/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download, no sign-up needed.
The current UA Local 23 journeyman rate is $55.54/hour, with a total package of $84.42/hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/20/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $111,080 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle, confirm with the Local 23 business office before relying on the figure.
The $55.54/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $84.42/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 23 agreement are paid a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting near 40 to 50% in the first period and stepping up each six-month or annual period until reaching 100% at turnout. Against the current $55.54/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $24.99 to $27.77/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 23 is headquartered in Rockford, IL 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 23 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 23 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 23 training center directly.
Plumbers & Pipefitters apprenticeships generally run four to five years, roughly 8,000 to 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 23 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 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 1/20/26 schedule; check with the Local 23 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 23 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
Yes, the openings section on this page lists current plumbers & pipefitters roles near Rockford, IL, and you can apply directly through the apply form on this page. These are direct-hire positions with mechanical contractors that Gulfstream recruits for, not union dispatch or hall referrals. For the hall's out-of-work list, contact the Local 23 business office.
The UA Local 23 hall is at 4525 Boeing Dr Rockford, IL 61109, serving Rockford, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 815-397-0350.
UA Local 23 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 815-397-0350 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 23 can be reached at 815-397-0350. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing, confirm hours with the hall.
Apply through the local's joint apprenticeship training committee (JATC). Most programs open applications on a set schedule and require an aptitude test and interview. For UA Local 23's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at 815-397-0350.
Each Plumbers & Pipefitters local sets its own intake process, and it varies. The common paths: apprenticeship through the JATC; organizing in as an experienced worker, since journeymen and technicians already working in the trade can usually apply directly to the hall for membership; or transferring from another local of the same international with a transfer card from your current hall. For fees and requirements, contact the hall at 815-397-0350.
We haven't found an official source for UA Local 23's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at 815-397-0350.
We haven't found an official source for UA Local 23's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at 815-397-0350.
Coverage unverified, contact the hall. No reviewed published boundary is held for this local; office location does not establish jurisdiction.
Coverage map and city lookup · Hall contact
No comparable official rate held. No trade average or another hall’s rate is substituted.
Confirm the current agreement, classification, zone and effective schedule with the hall; a package is not take-home pay.
Membership fees, dues and admission rules are not verified in our held official records. Confirm directly with the hall.
Rates and sources · Membership and apprenticeship · Official hall contact · Send a recruiting inquiry to Gulfstream · Compare Rates
Recruiting inquiries go to Gulfstream, not UA Local 23. Membership, dispatch and apprenticeship applications must go directly to the hall. Gulfstream is union-independent and recruits for commercial mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors.
We fill union-covered and salaried roles for union and merit-shop mechanical contractors: project managers, superintendents, estimators and service staff. Hall dispatch stays with the local.