Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 5 in Washington, MD earn $53.30/hr in base wages, or $75.56/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Dec 2025.
UA Local 5 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 5 pay scale for 2026 is $53.30 per hour for journeymen in Washington, MD, or about $106,600 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $75.56 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 12/22/25.
| Local 5 journeyman hourly wage | $53.30 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $75.56 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $106,600 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $23.99–$26.65 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 12/22/25 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 5 apprentice in Washington, MD starts at roughly $23.99 an hour — about 45% of the $53.30 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $39.97 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 5 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $23.99 / hour | $47,970 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $29.32 / hour | $58,630 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $34.64 / hour | $69,290 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $39.97 / hour | $79,950 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $45.31 / hour | $90,610 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $53.30 / hour | $106,600 |
UA Local 5 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 301-899-7861 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 5 represents the skilled plumbing professionals serving the District of Columbia and the surrounding Maryland suburbs. As one of the oldest and most established labor organizations in the region, Local 5 maintains a rigorous standard for commercial, industrial, and residential plumbing installations. The market is defined by its high density of federal government facilities, healthcare complexes, and large-scale mixed-use developments. Members are tasked with the installation and maintenance of complex water systems, medical gas piping, and backflow prevention systems. Because of the critical infrastructure within the nation's capital, the demand for highly trained, licensed plumbers remains a constant driver for the regional labor economy.
The jurisdiction is characterized by a high volume of institutional work, requiring plumbers to navigate strict security clearances and technical specifications unique to government contracting. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market since 2014, noting that the signatory landscape includes a mix of large mechanical primes and specialized service contractors. Local 5 provides a centralized labor pool that ensures major projects have access to qualified manpower capable of meeting local building codes and safety regulations. For the tradesperson, this means access to a stable pipeline of work supported by a collective bargaining agreement that prioritizes fair compensation, comprehensive healthcare, and a multi-tiered retirement strategy that far exceeds non-union standards.
Based on the schedule effective December 22, 2025, the Journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 5 is established at $53.30, contributing to a total package of $75.56 when including all fringe benefits. This $22.26 difference covers critical employer-paid contributions to health, pension, and training funds. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting near 40% to 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete their classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, senior apprentices earn significantly closer to the full rate. These scheduled increases provide a transparent career path for those entering the trade, ensuring that as technical proficiency in plumbing and pipefitting grows, so does the individual's earning capacity within the Washington metro market.
UA Local 5 holds jurisdiction over all plumbing work within the District of Columbia and several key Maryland counties, including Prince George's and Montgomery. This territory includes a massive concentration of federal office buildings, data centers, and military installations where plumbing systems must meet high-durability standards. The jurisdiction also extends to suburban commercial corridors where signatory contractors manage large-scale retail and hospitality projects. Members are dispatched through the local hiring hall, with work assignments ranging from new construction high-rises to long-term facility maintenance. The agreement ensures that work performed within these boundaries adheres to the established wage and benefit standards, protecting the labor market from downward pressure while providing contractors with a predictable cost of labor.
The contractor landscape for Local 5 is composed of diverse signatory entities ranging from national mechanical giants to localized plumbing specialists. These firms often work as primary subcontractors on massive public works projects or provide essential service and repair for the region's expansive commercial real estate portfolios. Hiring fluctuates based on the commencement of large-scale infrastructure and institutional projects, with many contractors maintaining a core group of long-term foremen and journeymen. The market relies heavily on the local's ability to provide a steady stream of apprentices to support these larger firms. As federal spending and urban revitalization continue in the D.C. area, these signatory contractors remain the primary employers for licensed union plumbers in the region.
While Local 5 is primarily chartered as a Plumbers local, the skills overlap significantly in the D.C. market. Plumbers focus on potable water, sewage, and gas systems in buildings, whereas pipefitters typically handle high-pressure process piping and HVAC systems. Many members are cross-trained, though the local's primary focus is maintaining the plumbing integrity of the region's vast building stock.
Yes, maintaining valid licensure is a requirement for journeyman status. The JATC provides training that aligns with the requirements for the Washington D.C. and Maryland state plumbing boards. Apprentices work under the master license of the signatory contractor while they accumulate the hours necessary to sit for their own journeyman exam at the end of their five-year term.
Certain municipal and federal projects in the District carry 'First Source' or local hiring requirements. Local 5 works with signatory contractors to ensure that members residing within the District are prioritized for these specific roles, helping contractors meet their diversity and residency quotas while ensuring members have access to work close to home.
Travelers and transferees are managed according to the United Association Constitution. A member in good standing from another local may be eligible to work in Local 5's jurisdiction if there is a manpower shortage, though permanent transfers typically require approval from the Business Manager and depend on the current local unemployment list and long-term market outlook.
UA Local 5 is seated in Washington, 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 Washington and the rest of Maryland, including contractors signatory to UA Local 5. 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 5 pay scale for 2026 is $53.30 per hour for journeymen in Washington, MD, or about $106,600 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $75.56 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 12/22/25.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 5 agreement make $53.30 an hour in base wages, or $75.56 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 12/22/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$53.30 per hour base wage and $75.56 per hour total package for a journeyman in Washington, MD, effective 12/22/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $106,600 before overtime.
A Local 5 apprentice in Washington, MD starts at roughly $23.99 an hour — about 45% of the $53.30 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $39.97 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 5 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $23.99 an hour, or roughly $47,970 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $53.30 journeyman rate effective 12/22/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $34.64 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $39.97 an hour in the fourth period and $53.30 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 5 training center.
The current UA Local 5 journeyman rate is $53.30/hour, with a total package of $75.56/hour including fringe benefits, effective 12/22/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $106,600 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 5 business office before relying on the figure.
The $53.30/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $75.56/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 5 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 $53.30/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $23.99–$26.65/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 5 is headquartered in Washington, 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 12/22/25 schedule; check with the Local 5 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 5 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 5 hall is at 5891 Allentown Rd Camp Springs, MD 20746, serving Washington, MD and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 301-899-7861.
UA Local 5 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 301-899-7861 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 5 can be reached at 301-899-7861. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.