Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 489 in Cumberland, MD earn $34.03/hr in base wages, or $48.67/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Oct 2022. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
UA Local 489 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 489 pay scale is $34.03 per hour for journeymen in Cumberland, MD, or about $68,060 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $48.67 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 489 journeyman hourly wage | $34.03 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $48.67 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $68,060 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.31–$17.02 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/21/22 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 489 apprentice in Cumberland, MD starts at roughly $15.31 an hour — about 45% of the $34.03 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.52 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 489 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.31 / hour | $30,627 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $18.72 / hour | $37,433 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.12 / hour | $44,239 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $25.52 / hour | $51,045 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $28.93 / hour | $57,851 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $34.03 / hour | $68,060 |
UA Local 489 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 301-722-8515 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 489 serves as the primary labor organization for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters across Western Maryland and the neighboring regions. Established to uphold the standards of the mechanical trades, this local provides the specialized workforce necessary for critical infrastructure projects, commercial developments, and industrial maintenance throughout the Cumberland metropolitan area. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the regional labor market, noting that Local 489 remains a vital hub for skilled craftspeople who manage complex piping systems, boilers, and high-pressure steam applications essential to the region's economic health and industrial output.
The market surrounding Cumberland is characterized by a blend of historical industrial facilities, healthcare institutions, and public works projects. Local 489 members are central to the maintenance and expansion of these facilities, ensuring that mechanical systems operate at peak efficiency. For contractors, the local offers a predictable, highly trained labor supply that reduces the risks associated with unskilled labor. For the tradesperson, the union provides a framework for career stability and professional development through rigorous safety standards and collective bargaining. This relationship between labor and management defines the mechanical contracting landscape in the tri-state area, fostering a culture of technical excellence and reliability.
As of the October 2022 update, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 489 is established at $34.03, contributing to a total compensation package of $48.67 per hour when including fringe benefits. This package represents the baseline for skilled mechanical trades in the Cumberland region. Apprentices typically begin their careers at a percentage of this journeyman rate—often starting around 45% to 50%—and receive incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases ensure that pay scales keep pace with the growing technical proficiency of the apprentice. Upon reaching the five-year mark and successfully passing the journeyman exam, the individual transitions to the full scale, reflecting their status as a fully qualified mechanic capable of independent site supervision and complex installations.
The jurisdiction of UA Local 489 is centered in Cumberland, Maryland, extending through the mountainous regions of Western Maryland and into designated portions of neighboring states. This chartered territory covers a diverse geographic footprint where members are dispatched to various job sites ranging from rural industrial plants to urban commercial centers. The work under this agreement encompasses all aspects of the plumbing and pipefitting trades, including process piping, HVAC system installation, and medical gas systems. Travel and dispatch rules are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which dictates how members are assigned to projects based on seniority and skill sets, ensuring that signatory contractors have the right personnel for specific technical requirements throughout the local's defined territory.
The contractor landscape for UA Local 489 is comprised of a diverse mix of signatory mechanical primes and specialized service contractors. These firms range from large-scale a mechanical contractor specialists who handle heavy mechanical work in manufacturing plants to commercial HVAC and plumbing contractors focused on institutional projects like schools and hospitals. The signatory environment in Cumberland is stable, with many contractors maintaining long-term relationships with the local to staff ongoing maintenance contracts and multi-year construction phases. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major capital projects in the region, with the local serving as the central clearinghouse for manpower needs, ensuring that contractors can scale their crews quickly to meet project deadlines.
Based on the 2022 figures, the total package for a journeyman is $48.67 per hour. This includes the $34.03 base wage plus $14.64 in fringe benefits such as pension, health insurance, and training funds. This structure ensures that members receive not only competitive take-home pay but also long-term financial security and comprehensive healthcare coverage.
The apprenticeship is a five-year program combining paid on-the-job training with evening or weekend classroom instruction. Participants earn a percentage of the journeyman rate that increases annually as they gain experience. The curriculum covers welding, soldering, blueprint reading, and local plumbing codes, preparing the apprentice for the state licensing exam and a career as a journeyman.
While Local 489 is headquartered in Cumberland, MD, its jurisdiction traditionally includes portions of the tri-state area. The specific counties in West Virginia and Pennsylvania covered by Local 489 are defined by the United Association's charter. Contractors and members should verify specific project locations with the hall to ensure they are working under the correct territorial agreement.
Members have access to a wide range of certifications through the JATC, including ASME welding certifications, medical gas installation, backflow prevention, and various safety certifications like OSHA 30. These credentials are often required for work on high-spec industrial and healthcare projects, making union members highly marketable to signatory contractors in the region.
UA Local 489 is seated in Cumberland, Maryland (MD). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Maryland — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Cumberland and the rest of Maryland, including contractors signatory to UA Local 489. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 489 pay scale is $34.03 per hour for journeymen in Cumberland, MD, or about $68,060 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $48.67 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 489 agreement make $34.03 an hour in base wages, or $48.67 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 10/21/22. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$34.03 per hour base wage and $48.67 per hour total package for a journeyman in Cumberland, MD, effective 10/21/22. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $68,060 before overtime.
A Local 489 apprentice in Cumberland, MD starts at roughly $15.31 an hour — about 45% of the $34.03 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.52 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 489 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.31 an hour, or roughly $30,627 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $34.03 journeyman rate effective 10/21/22. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.12 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $25.52 an hour in the fourth period and $34.03 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 489 training center.
The current UA Local 489 journeyman rate is $34.03/hour, with a total package of $48.67/hour including fringe benefits, effective 10/21/22. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $68,060 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 489 business office before relying on the figure.
The $34.03/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $48.67/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 489 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 $34.03/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.31–$17.02/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 489 is headquartered in Cumberland, MD 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 489 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 489 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 489 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 489 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 10/21/22 schedule; check with the Local 489 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 489 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 489 hall is at 2 Park St Cumberland, MD 21502, serving Cumberland, MD and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 301-722-8515.
UA Local 489 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 301-722-8515 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 489 can be reached at 301-722-8515. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.