Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 439 in East St Louis, IL earn $49/hr in base wages, or $73.42/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jan 2026.
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The Local 439 pay scale for 2026 is $49.00 per hour for journeymen in East St Louis, IL, or about $98,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.42 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/1/26.
| Local 439 journeyman hourly wage | $49.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $73.42 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $98,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $22.05–$24.50 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 1/1/26 |
| Classification | STEAMFITTER (CLINTON (NORTHWESTERN PART INCLUDING ST. ROSE, FROGTOWN, JAMESTOWN AND… |
Apply now — Gulfstream places plumbers & pipefitters candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 439 apprentice in East St Louis, IL starts at roughly $22.05 an hour — about 45% of the $49.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $36.75 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 439 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $22.05 / hour | $44,100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $26.95 / hour | $53,900 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $31.85 / hour | $63,700 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $36.75 / hour | $73,500 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $41.65 / hour | $83,300 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $49.00 / hour | $98,000 |
Active Gulfstream trade listings in the local's state, with East St Louis 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 439 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 439 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 439 wages: $49.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $73.42 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 1/1/26. That is the most recent East St Louis, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 33% of the UA Local 439 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. Department of Labor Davis-Bacon general wage determination IL20260001 (rev 5), building construction, PLUM0439-002 01/01/2026: base rate $49.00 plus printed fringes $24.42
Download the UA Local 439 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective January 1, 2026.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $24.42/hr | Printed as the fringe line on U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division determination IL20260001, schedule PLUM0439-002. |
|---|---|---|
| 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 439 scale used across the East St Louis, IL 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 East St Louis metro, so a pipefitters wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits pipefitters talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around East St Louis. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 439 rates. For current East St Louis scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
Source document: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Davis-Bacon Act determination IL20260001 (mod 5), published 2026-05-21.
Schedule line PLUM0439-002 — Building construction, scope: Counties listed on IL20260001.
Classification as printed: STEAMFITTER (CLINTON (NORTHWESTERN PART INCLUDING ST. ROSE, FROGTOWN, JAMESTOWN AND KEY PORT), RANDOLPH (WESTERN 1/4 INCLUDING KELLOG, MODOC, PRAIRIE, DUROCKER, AND ROOTS) AND MONROE (EXCEPT HECKER) COUNTIES)
UA Local 439 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 618-624-6096 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 439 represents skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters across the Metro East region of Illinois. Headquartered in East St. Louis, this local serves a critical industrial and commercial hub that bridges the gap between the St. Louis metropolitan area and the expansive industrial corridors of Southern Illinois. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor landscape in this region, noting that Local 439 members are integral to the maintenance of heavy industrial facilities, refineries, and large-scale commercial infrastructure. The local maintains a rigorous standard for craftsmanship, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of handling complex piping systems and high-pressure steam applications.
The market for Local 439 is defined by a blend of legacy industrial strength and modern commercial development. Because East St. Louis sits at a strategic logistics crossroads, the demand for pipefitting and plumbing services remains steady across diverse sectors including chemical processing, food manufacturing, and healthcare facilities. For tradespeople, this local offers a structured path to a middle-class career through collective bargaining and a robust training program. For contractors, the local provides a predictable labor cost structure and a pipeline of vetted talent. The stability of the Metro East market is supported by these labor-management partnerships, which prioritize safety and technical proficiency in one of the Midwest's most vital economic zones.
Journeyman wages at UA Local 439 are determined through collective bargaining agreements between the union and signatory contractor associations. While specific hourly rates are not publicly listed here, the total compensation package includes a base hourly wage plus significant employer-paid fringes. Apprentices typically start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often beginning around 40-50% and increasing annually or bi-annually as they meet specific work hour and classroom milestones. To obtain the most current wage and fringe benefit schedule, including the specific breakdowns for taxable income versus retirement and healthcare contributions, interested parties should contact the Local 439 business office directly for the latest area wage determination.
The jurisdiction of UA Local 439 covers a significant portion of the Metro East Illinois area, centered around St. Clair County. The chartered territory extends to include vital industrial zones along the Mississippi River and into neighboring rural districts. Work performed under this agreement encompasses the installation, maintenance, and repair of all piping systems, including domestic water, sanitary waste, process piping for industrial plants, and high-pressure steam for power generation. The local manages dispatch for members across this territory, ensuring that projects from the urban center of East St. Louis to the surrounding suburban and industrial developments are staffed by qualified residents who understand local codes and safety regulations.
The contractor landscape for Local 439 consists of a diverse mix of signatory employers ranging from small plumbing shops to massive industrial mechanical primes. These firms specialize in various niches, including large-scale HVAC installations for institutional buildings, process piping for the region's refineries, and specialized plumbing systems for municipal projects. Hiring typically follows the fluctuations of major regional projects, with industrial shutdowns and commercial developments driving peak labor demand. Signatory contractors benefit from the ability to scale their workforce rapidly using the union's referral system, ensuring that even the largest projects in the East St. Louis market are completed by craftsmen trained to UA national standards.
Due to the proximity to major waterways and rail lines, Local 439 members frequently work in oil refineries, chemical plants, and steel mills. This involves specialized welding, high-pressure steam piping, and complex process systems that require advanced UA certifications. Maintenance and turnaround work at these facilities represent a significant portion of the local's man-hours.
Travelers and members seeking a permanent transfer must follow the UA Constitution and local bylaws. Generally, this involves reporting to the Business Manager, proving good standing with a home local, and ensuring there is sufficient work in the jurisdiction to support additional members. Transfers are usually subject to approval by the Local 439 executive board.
Yes, the JATC provides ongoing training for various certifications including UA Weld Tests, Medical Gas installation, Backflow Prevention, and HVACR service. These certifications are vital for maintaining a competitive edge in the Metro East market and are often required by signatory contractors for specific government or industrial contracts.
Local 439 operates a referral hall system. When signatory contractors need labor, they contact the hall, and members are dispatched based on their position on the out-of-work list and their specific qualifications. This system ensures fair distribution of work and guarantees that contractors receive workers with the specific skill sets required for their projects.
UA Local 439 is seated in East St Louis, 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 construction and service staff for contractors nationwide, union and open shop. These are markets where we run the most searches: Orange County mechanical recruiter · Seattle mechanical recruiter · Inland Empire mechanical recruiter · Portland mechanical recruiter. Post a role.
We are a commercial mechanical construction recruiting firm serving East St Louis and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to UA Local 439. 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 439 pay scale for 2026 is $49.00 per hour for journeymen in East St Louis, IL, or about $98,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.42 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 1/1/26.
UA Local 439 wages for 2026: journeyman Plumbers & Pipefitters rate of $49.00 per hour in East St Louis, IL, with a total package of $73.42 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/1/26. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 1/1/26 with the UA Local 439 business office.
The UA Local 439 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $49.00 per hour ($73.42 per hour total package), effective 1/1/26, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the UA Local 439 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 1/1/26 with the hall.
Local 439 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $49.00 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($22.05–$24.50 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 439 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 439 agreement make $49.00 an hour in base wages, or $73.42 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 1/1/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$49.00 per hour base wage and $73.42 per hour total package for a journeyman in East St Louis, IL, effective 1/1/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $98,000 before overtime.
A Local 439 apprentice in East St Louis, IL starts at roughly $22.05 an hour — about 45% of the $49.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $36.75 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 439 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $22.05 an hour, or roughly $44,100 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $49.00 journeyman rate effective 1/1/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $31.85 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $36.75 an hour in the fourth period and $49.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 439 training center.
Local 439 wages: $49.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, $73.42 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 1/1/26. That is the most recent East St Louis, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published UA Local 439 journeyman rate is $49.00 an hour ($73.42 total package), effective 1/1/26 — roughly $98,000 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable UA Local 439 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ua-local-439-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $49.00 hourly scale, the $73.42 total package and the 1/1/26 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current UA Local 439 journeyman rate is $49.00/hour, with a total package of $73.42/hour including fringe benefits, effective 1/1/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $98,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 439 business office before relying on the figure.
The $49.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $73.42/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 439 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 $49.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $22.05–$24.50/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 439 is headquartered in East St Louis, 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 439 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 439 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 439 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 439 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 1/1/26 schedule; check with the Local 439 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 439 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current plumbers & pipefitters roles near East St Louis, 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 439 business office.
The UA Local 439 hall is at 1220 Donald Bailey Dr Caseyville, IL 62232, serving East St Louis, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 618-624-6096.
UA Local 439 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 618-624-6096 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 439 can be reached at 618-624-6096. 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 439's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at 618-624-6096.
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 618-624-6096.
We haven't found an official source for UA Local 439's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at 618-624-6096.
We haven't found an official source for UA Local 439's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at 618-624-6096.
UA Local 439's sourced steamfitter (clinton (northwestern part including st. rose, frogtown, jamestown and… union rate is $49.00/hr in base wages and $73.42/hr for the total package, effective January 1, 2026. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$49.00/hr in base wages for steamfitter (clinton (northwestern part including st. rose, frogtown, jamestown and…, or $73.42/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective January 1, 2026 per the U.S. Department of Labor Davis-Bacon general wage determination IL20260001 (rev 5), building construction, PLUM0439-002 01/01/2026: base rate $49.00 plus printed fringes $24.42 wage determination.
January 1, 2026. Read directly from the primary source (U.S. Department of Labor Davis-Bacon general wage determination IL20260001 (rev 5), building construction, PLUM0439-002 01/01/2026: base rate $49.00 plus printed fringes $24.42) and cross-checked at build time. Highest confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $49.00/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $24.42/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $73.42/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private mechanical construction 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.
High confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Oct 1, 2026 (18 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.