Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 392 in Cincinnati, OH earn $43.30/hr in base wages, or $66.58/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Mar 2026.
UA Local 392 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 392 pay scale for 2026 is $43.30 per hour for journeymen in Cincinnati, OH, or about $86,600 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $66.58 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/1/26.
| Local 392 journeyman hourly wage | $43.30 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $66.58 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $86,600 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.49–$21.65 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 3/1/26 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 392 apprentice in Cincinnati, OH starts at roughly $19.49 an hour — about 45% of the $43.30 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 392 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.49 / hour | $38,970 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $23.82 / hour | $47,630 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $28.15 / hour | $56,290 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $32.47 / hour | $64,950 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $36.81 / hour | $73,610 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $43.30 / hour | $86,600 |
UA Local 392 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 513-241-1760 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 392 represents a skilled workforce of plumbers, pipefitters, and mechanical equipment service technicians across the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. This local union is a critical pillar of the regional construction industry, providing high-level mechanical expertise for the heavy industrial, commercial, and healthcare sectors. As one of the most established labor organizations in the Ohio River Valley, Local 392 manages the training and dispatch of craftsmen who maintain the infrastructure of the city's significant corporate headquarters, large-scale manufacturing facilities, and public works projects. The market is defined by a consistent demand for licensed professionals capable of navigating complex code requirements and high-pressure piping systems.
Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the mechanical labor market in Southwest Ohio, observing how Local 392's rigorous training standards influence the local bidding environment. The local operates a comprehensive Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) facility that ensures a steady pipeline of journey-level talent. This commitment to technical proficiency makes the Cincinnati market a hub for specialized mechanical work, including medical gas installation, industrial process piping, and advanced HVACR service. For both signatory contractors and individual tradespeople, Local 392 serves as the primary arbiter of labor standards, ensuring that large-scale development projects in the tri-state area are staffed by qualified, safety-conscious professionals who adhere to strict collective bargaining guidelines.
The wage structure for UA Local 392 is defined by a clear distinction between the take-home hourly rate and the total employer cost. Effective March 1, 2026, the journeyman hourly rate is established at $43.30, while the total package reaches $66.58 when including all fringe benefits. This $23.28 difference covers essential components like healthcare, pension contributions, and specialized training funds. Apprentices enter the program at a set percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting between 40% and 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete educational milestones and on-the-job training hours. These structured increases ensure that as a worker's technical proficiency grows, their compensation scales accordingly, reaching the full journeyman rate upon successful completion of the five-year program and relevant licensing exams.
The chartered jurisdiction of UA Local 392 covers a multi-county region centered in Cincinnati, spanning Southwest Ohio and extending into parts of Northern Kentucky. This territory includes major economic hubs and industrial corridors where pipefitters and plumbers handle everything from high-rise commercial construction to intricate refinery maintenance. The local handles dispatch for all work falling under the Master Labor Agreement, including domestic water systems, sanitary drainage, hydronic heating, and process piping for the region's manufacturing base. Members may be required to travel throughout this tri-state footprint depending on project location, though the highest density of work remains concentrated within the immediate Cincinnati metro area and its primary suburban industrial parks.
The signatory landscape for UA Local 392 is comprised of a diverse mix of mechanical firms ranging from global industrial contractors to specialized local service shops. Large-scale mechanical primes dominate the landscape for new construction, particularly in the healthcare and higher education sectors, where complex piping systems are required. There is also a robust contingent of HVACR service contractors who focus on the long-term maintenance of the region's commercial building stock. These contractors rely on the local for a scalable workforce that can meet the fluctuating demands of outage work, seasonal surges, and large-scale capital improvements. The relationship between the local and these firms is governed by a collective bargaining agreement that ensures uniform labor costs and safety standards.
Plumbers generally focus on potable water, drainage, and gas systems in commercial and residential settings, whereas pipefitters work primarily on high-pressure industrial systems, power plants, and climate control piping. Local 392 is a combination local, meaning it represents both trades under one roof, though apprentices usually specialize in one path during their final years of training based on market demand and personal aptitude.
Yes, members in good standing from other United Association locals can typically work in the Cincinnati jurisdiction via a travel letter. However, permanent transfers (clearing in) are subject to the approval of the Business Manager and are usually dependent on current local employment levels. Travelers must report to the hall to sign the out-of-work list and verify their certifications before being dispatched.
While not every role requires it, many pipefitting projects in the Cincinnati industrial sector require UA certified welder designations, such as UA-21 or UA-15. The JATC provides testing and certification services for members. Having these certifications significantly increases a member's employability, particularly with signatory contractors involved in refinery, chemical plant, or power generation work where high-pressure X-ray quality welds are the standard.
The primary advantage of the Local 392 package is the 'total package' concept where health insurance and retirement contributions are paid by the employer on top of the $43.30 hourly wage. In a non-union setting, these costs are often deducted from the worker's gross pay. The defined-benefit pension and specialized training access provided by the local are rarely matched in the open market for mechanical trades in Southwest Ohio.
UA Local 392 is seated in Cincinnati, Ohio (OH). We hold published wage sheets for 30 locals across Ohio — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Cincinnati and the rest of Ohio, including contractors signatory to UA Local 392. 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 392 pay scale for 2026 is $43.30 per hour for journeymen in Cincinnati, OH, or about $86,600 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $66.58 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/1/26.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 392 agreement make $43.30 an hour in base wages, or $66.58 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 3/1/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$43.30 per hour base wage and $66.58 per hour total package for a journeyman in Cincinnati, OH, effective 3/1/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $86,600 before overtime.
A Local 392 apprentice in Cincinnati, OH starts at roughly $19.49 an hour — about 45% of the $43.30 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 392 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.49 an hour, or roughly $38,970 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $43.30 journeyman rate effective 3/1/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $28.15 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $32.47 an hour in the fourth period and $43.30 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 392 training center.
The current UA Local 392 journeyman rate is $43.30/hour, with a total package of $66.58/hour including fringe benefits, effective 3/1/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $86,600 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 392 business office before relying on the figure.
The $43.30/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $66.58/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 392 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 $43.30/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.49–$21.65/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 392 is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH 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 392 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 392 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 392 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 392 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 3/1/26 schedule; check with the Local 392 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 392 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 392 hall is at 1228 Central Pkwy Rm 200 Cincinnati, OH 45202, serving Cincinnati, OH and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 513-241-1760.
UA Local 392 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 513-241-1760 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 392 can be reached at 513-241-1760. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.