Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 434 in Central &Amp; Western, WI earn $50.94/hr in base wages, or $73.72/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Apr 2026.
UA Local 434 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 434 pay scale for 2026 is $50.94 per hour for journeymen in Central &Amp; Western, WI, or about $101,880 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.72 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 4/18/26.
| Local 434 journeyman hourly wage | $50.94 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $73.72 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $101,880 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $22.92–$25.47 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 4/18/26 |
A Local 434 apprentice in Central &Amp; Western, WI starts at roughly $22.92 an hour — about 45% of the $50.94 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $38.21 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 434 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $22.92 / hour | $45,846 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $28.02 / hour | $56,034 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $33.11 / hour | $66,222 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $38.21 / hour | $76,410 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $43.30 / hour | $86,598 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $50.94 / hour | $101,880 |
UA Local 434 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 715-692-4341 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 434 represents the highly skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters across a massive geographical footprint in Central and Western Wisconsin. As a consolidated union with roots dating back over a century, Local 434 serves as the primary labor source for critical infrastructure, industrial manufacturing, and commercial development throughout the region. The organization maintains its headquarters in Mosinee, strategically positioned to support members and contractors from the Minnesota border through the Fox Valley fringe. By providing a standardized labor pool, the local ensures that large-scale mechanical projects meet rigorous safety and quality benchmarks required by state and federal regulations.
The market for UA Local 434 is defined by its versatility, ranging from sophisticated process piping in the region's prominent paper and food processing industries to high-purity systems in medical facilities and municipal water treatment plants. Because the jurisdiction covers many rural and mid-sized urban centers, the local plays a vital role in regional economic stability. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the demand for skilled trades in this corridor, noting that the combination of industrial maintenance and new commercial construction creates a consistent need for licensed journeyworkers who can navigate the complexities of Wisconsin's Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) requirements.
The UA Local 434 pay scale is structured to provide a living wage that reflects the high technical demands of the piping trades. As of the 4/18/26 effective date, the journeyman hourly rate is established at $50.94. When factoring in the comprehensive fringe benefit package, the total compensation reaches $73.72 per hour. For those entering the trade, the apprenticeship progression offers a tiered wage structure, typically starting at a set percentage of the journeyman rate—often around 45% to 50%—and increasing annually as the apprentice completes their required 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. This transparent wage schedule ensures that all members, from entry-level apprentices to master plumbers and steamfitters, are compensated fairly for their increasing skill sets and certifications throughout their careers.
The territorial jurisdiction of UA Local 434 is among the most expansive in the Midwest, covering a significant portion of Central and Western Wisconsin. This includes major hubs such as Eau Claire, Wausau, Marshfield, Stevens Point, and La Crosse. The jurisdiction encompasses diverse work environments, from heavy industrial sites and power generation plants to commercial office buildings and institutional facilities like schools and hospitals. Members dispatched through the hall are expected to travel within this designated area, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to qualified piping professionals regardless of project location. The local manages these dispatches to balance labor needs across the different sub-markets within the state's central and western corridors.
The signatory contractor landscape for UA Local 434 is comprised of a mix of large-scale mechanical primes and specialized local shops. These firms range from national industrial contractors capable of managing multi-million dollar plant shutdowns to regional plumbing and HVAC service providers catering to the commercial and institutional sectors. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major capital projects in the paper, dairy, and healthcare industries. Signatory partners benefit from a centralized dispatch system, which allows them to scale their workforce rapidly to meet project deadlines without sacrificing the quality of the welding, brazing, or specialized piping installation required for complex mechanical systems.
For the period effective April 18, 2026, the journeyman hourly wage for UA Local 434 is $50.94. When combined with the fringe benefit package, the total hourly compensation is $73.72. These rates apply to members performing standard building trades work and are subject to change based on future collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
The hourly wage represents the take-home pay before taxes, while the total package includes the employer's contributions to benefits. In Local 434, the difference between the $50.94 wage and the $73.72 package covers essential fringes like healthcare, multiple pension funds, and technical training through the JATC, providing a comprehensive safety net for members.
Applicants must typically be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a valid driver's license. The process is competitive and requires passing an aptitude test and an interview. Once accepted, apprentices earn a percentage of the journeyman rate while gaining the experience needed for state licensure.
Local 434 jurisdiction covers all plumbing, pipefitting, and steamfitting work within its Central and Western Wisconsin territory. This includes industrial process piping in paper mills, HVAC systems in hospitals, commercial plumbing in schools, and specialized welding in power plants, ensuring all work is performed by licensed, UA-trained professionals.
UA Local 434 is seated in Central &Amp; Western, Wisconsin (WI). We hold published wage sheets for 16 locals across Wisconsin — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Central &Amp; Western and the rest of Wisconsin, including contractors signatory to UA Local 434. 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 434 pay scale for 2026 is $50.94 per hour for journeymen in Central &Amp; Western, WI, or about $101,880 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.72 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 4/18/26.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 434 agreement make $50.94 an hour in base wages, or $73.72 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 4/18/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$50.94 per hour base wage and $73.72 per hour total package for a journeyman in Central &Amp; Western, WI, effective 4/18/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $101,880 before overtime.
A Local 434 apprentice in Central &Amp; Western, WI starts at roughly $22.92 an hour — about 45% of the $50.94 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $38.21 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 434 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $22.92 an hour, or roughly $45,846 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $50.94 journeyman rate effective 4/18/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $33.11 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $38.21 an hour in the fourth period and $50.94 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 434 training center.
The current UA Local 434 journeyman rate is $50.94/hour, with a total package of $73.72/hour including fringe benefits, effective 4/18/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $101,880 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 434 business office before relying on the figure.
The $50.94/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $73.72/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 434 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 $50.94/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $22.92–$25.47/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 434 is headquartered in Central &Amp; Western, WI 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 434 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 434 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 434 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 434 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 4/18/26 schedule; check with the Local 434 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 434 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 434 hall is at 912 N View Dr Mosinee, WI 54455, serving Central &Amp; Western, WI and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 715-692-4341.
UA Local 434 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 715-692-4341 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 434 can be reached at 715-692-4341. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.