Journeyman plumbers under UA Local 38 in San Francisco, CA earn $85.50/hr in base wages, or $134.48/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2023. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
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The Local 38 pay scale is $85.50 per hour for journeymen in San Francisco, CA, or about $171,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $134.48 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local, confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 38 journeyman hourly wage | $85.50 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $134.48 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $171,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45 to 50% of scale) | $38.48 to $42.75 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 07/01/2023 |
| Classification | Plumber, steamfitter, refrigeration fitter (San Francisco County) |
Apply now | Gulfstream places plumbers, steamfitters & hvac/r candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 38 apprentice in San Francisco, CA starts at roughly $38.48 an hour, about 45% of the $85.50 journeyman scale, and steps up each period, reaching around $64.13 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 38 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $38.48 / hour | $76,950 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $47.03 / hour | $94,050 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $55.58 / hour | $111,150 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $64.13 / hour | $128,250 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $72.68 / hour | $145,350 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $85.50 / hour | $171,000 |
Active Gulfstream trade listings in the local's state, with San Francisco 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 38 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 38 pay rates and union rules
UA Local 38 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.
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Local 38 wages for 2023: $85.50 an hour on the journeyman scale, $134.48 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 07/01/2023. That is the most recent San Francisco, CA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 36% of the UA Local 38 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.
Verified from official source: U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determinations CA20260018 rev. 8 and CA20260007 rev. 5
Download the UA Local 38 pay scale (PDF), one-page printable rate sheet, effective July 1, 2023.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $48.98/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 38 scale used across the San Francisco, CA 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 San Francisco 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, electrical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around San Francisco. We are a private recruiting firm, we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 38 rates. For current San Francisco scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
UA Local 38 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall, call 415-626-2000 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 38 represents the highly skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC technicians serving the City and County of San Francisco along with Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties. The local is instrumental in maintaining the aging infrastructure of the peninsula while facilitating the massive high-rise developments that define the skyline. Its members operate under rigorous safety standards and technical requirements unique to the seismic and density challenges of the Bay Area market.
The local maintains a robust presence in both the private commercial sector and public works, ensuring that large-scale infrastructure projects, healthcare facilities, and biotech laboratories have access to a qualified workforce. Because the San Francisco market is characterized by high living costs and extreme technical complexity, the union focuses heavily on continuous education and workforce development. This ensures that signatory contractors remain competitive by utilizing a workforce capable of executing intricate piping layouts and sustainable water management systems.
The wage schedule for UA Local 38 reflects the specialized nature of the San Francisco labor market, with a journeyman hourly rate of $91.00 effective August 22, 2025. It is important to note that the total package figure provided matches the hourly wage, suggesting the fringes are either managed via a distinct employer-paid structure or are inclusive of the taxable rate; users should verify the exact breakdown of the $91.00 total with the business office. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting at 40% to 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required OJT hours and classroom modules. This progression ensures that as a worker's proficiency in complex hydronic and sanitary systems increases, their compensation reflects their growing value to the signatory mechanical firms.
The signatory landscape for UA Local 38 is comprised of approximately 125 active contractors, ranging from massive multi-state mechanical primes to specialized local plumbing shops. These firms handle a vast array of projects, including high-rise residential towers, municipal water treatment facilities, and critical healthcare infrastructure. Hiring cycles often follow the progression of major commercial developments in the South of Market (SoMa) area and public infrastructure upgrades throughout the peninsula. Because the technical requirements in San Francisco are among the most stringent in the nation, signatory contractors rely on the local's training center to supply labor that is pre-certified in advanced welding, medical gas, and green building technologies.
The focus is split between high-density commercial construction and critical infrastructure. Members specialize in high-rise plumbing, seismic-resistant piping systems, and sophisticated HVAC controls. There is also significant volume in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, requiring specialized certifications in medical gas and high-purity piping often found in the Bay Area's research facilities.
Yes, through their Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, the local provides advanced training in welding, backflow prevention, medical gas installation, and instrumentation. These certifications are vital for members to remain eligible for dispatch to specialized projects like hospital expansions or pharmaceutical plant builds that require documented proficiency in specific codes.
Local 38 typically commands one of the highest hourly rates in the nation, reflecting the extreme cost of living and the technical demands of the San Francisco market. While neighboring locals also have high scales, Local 38 often serves as a benchmark for the region's labor costs in the mechanical and plumbing trades.
Contractors gain access to a pool of over 125 signatory firms and a highly trained workforce capable of meeting San Francisco's complex building codes. However, they must account for the specific wage escalations and fringe benefit contributions mandated by the Master Labor Agreement, which are structured to support the local's extensive training and pension facilities.
UA Local 38 is seated in San Francisco, California (CA). We hold published wage sheets for 50 locals across California, compare nearby scales before you take a call.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements recruits mechanical, electrical and plumbing staff for contractors across Bay Area, CA, including shops signatory to UA Local 38. See the roles we fill there, how the search runs and what it costs: Bay Area mechanical recruiter. Post a role.
We are a commercial MEP recruiting firm serving San Francisco and the rest of California, including contractors signatory to UA Local 38. 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 38 pay scale is $85.50 per hour for journeymen in San Francisco, CA, or about $171,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $134.48 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local, confirm the current rate with the hall.
UA Local 38 wages: journeyman Plumbers, Steamfitters & HVAC/R rate of $85.50 per hour in San Francisco, CA, with a total package of $134.48 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 07/01/2023. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 07/01/2023 with the UA Local 38 business office.
The UA Local 38 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $85.50 per hour ($134.48 per hour total package), effective 07/01/2023, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the UA Local 38 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 07/01/2023 with the hall.
Local 38 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $85.50 per hour journeyman rate, typically starting near 40 to 50% ($38.48 to $42.75 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 38 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman plumbers under the UA Local 38 agreement make $85.50 an hour in base wages, or $134.48 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 07/01/2023. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$85.50 per hour base wage and $134.48 per hour total package for a journeyman in San Francisco, CA, effective 07/01/2023. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $171,000 before overtime.
A Local 38 apprentice in San Francisco, CA starts at roughly $38.48 an hour, about 45% of the $85.50 journeyman scale, and steps up each period, reaching around $64.13 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 38 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $38.48 an hour, or roughly $76,950 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $85.50 journeyman rate effective 07/01/2023. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $55.58 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $64.13 an hour in the fourth period and $85.50 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 38 training center.
Local 38 wages for 2023: $85.50 an hour on the journeyman scale, $134.48 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 07/01/2023. That is the most recent San Francisco, CA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published UA Local 38 journeyman rate is $85.50 an hour ($134.48 total package), effective 07/01/2023, roughly $171,000 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. It is the rate in force for 2023 unless the local has since ratified a new agreement.
Yes, a one-page printable UA Local 38 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ua-local-38-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $85.50 hourly scale, the $134.48 total package and the 07/01/2023 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download, no sign-up needed.
The current UA Local 38 journeyman rate is $85.50/hour, with a total package of $134.48/hour including fringe benefits, effective 07/01/2023. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $171,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle, confirm with the Local 38 business office before relying on the figure.
The $85.50/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $134.48/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, steamfitters & hvac/r labor costs across locals.
Apprentices under the UA Local 38 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 $85.50/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $38.48 to $42.75/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 38 is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and dispatches plumbers, steamfitters & hvac/r 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 & hvac/r work. Some Local 38 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 38 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 38 training center directly.
Plumbers, Steamfitters & HVAC/R 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 38 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 & hvac/r 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 07/01/2023 schedule; check with the Local 38 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
We track 124 signatory contractors working under the UA Local 38 agreement, listed on this page with their websites and LinkedIn pages. Signatory shops are the employers legally able to hire Local 38 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 38 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers, steamfitters & hvac/r markets.
Yes, the openings section on this page lists current plumbers, steamfitters & hvac/r roles near San Francisco, CA, 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 38 business office.
The UA Local 38 hall is at 1621 Market St San Francisco, CA 94103, serving San Francisco, CA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 415-626-2000.
UA Local 38 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 415-626-2000 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 38 can be reached at 415-626-2000. 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 38's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at 415-626-2000.
Each Plumbers, Steamfitters & HVAC/R 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 415-626-2000.
We haven't found an official source for UA Local 38's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at 415-626-2000.
We haven't found an official source for UA Local 38's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at 415-626-2000.
UA Local 38's sourced plumber, steamfitter, refrigeration fitter (san francisco county) union rate is $85.50/hr in base wages and $134.48/hr for the total package, effective July 1, 2023. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$85.50/hr in base wages for plumber, steamfitter, refrigeration fitter (san francisco county), or $134.48/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective July 1, 2023 per the U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determinations CA20260018 rev. 8 and CA20260007 rev. 5 wage determination.
July 1, 2023. U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determinations CA20260018 rev. 8 and CA20260007 rev. 5 still carries this rate, but the negotiated line is over three years old and a new CBA cycle is almost certainly in force. Treat it as a floor, not a quote, call the local for the current step.
No, the $85.50/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $48.98/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $134.48/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private MEP 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.
Stale, verify, last cross-checked against the source on Oct 5, 2026 (1 month ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.
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
Plumber, steamfitter, refrigeration fitter (San Francisco County) · Effective 07/01/2023 · Base wage $85.50/hr · Published package $134.48/hr
U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon determinations CA20260018 rev. 8 and CA20260007 rev. 5
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 38. 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.