Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 51 in East Providence, RI earn $54.39/hr in base wages, effective Oct 2025.
UA Local 51 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 51 pay scale for 2026 is $54.39 per hour for journeymen in East Providence, RI, or about $108,780 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 10/20/25.
| Local 51 journeyman hourly wage | $54.39 / hour |
|---|---|
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $108,780 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $24.48–$27.20 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/20/25 |
A Local 51 apprentice in East Providence, RI starts at roughly $24.48 an hour — about 45% of the $54.39 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $40.79 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 51 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $24.48 / hour | $48,951 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $29.91 / hour | $59,829 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $35.35 / hour | $70,707 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $40.79 / hour | $81,585 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $46.23 / hour | $92,463 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $54.39 / hour | $108,780 |
UA Local 51 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 401-943-3033 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 51 represents approximately 1,200 skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and refrigeration technicians serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Established through the merger of several legacy locals, this organization provides a centralized labor pool for the region's most complex mechanical infrastructure. The membership is instrumental in maintaining the industrial backbone of the Providence metropolitan area, ranging from healthcare facilities and university campuses to power generation plants and naval manufacturing sites. Since 2014, our firm has tracked the labor demand within this jurisdiction, noting that Local 51 remains the primary source for high-precision welding and certified plumbing for the state's largest capital improvements.
The market for Local 51 labor is characterized by a high concentration of institutional and industrial work. As the primary UA affiliate for the smallest state in the union, the local maintains a significant influence over the regional construction economy. Signatory contractors rely on this workforce for its rigorous training standards and ability to scale quickly for large-scale shutdowns or new builds. With a heavy emphasis on both plumbing and mechanical piping, the local ensures that the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors have access to licensed professionals who adhere to stringent safety and building codes. This regional dominance makes understanding their wage and fringe structure essential for both tradespeople and estimating teams.
As of the October 20, 2025 adjustment, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 51 is set at $54.39. This base rate is one component of a comprehensive total package that includes significant employer contributions toward health, retirement, and training funds. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40-45% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months based on successful completion of classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, senior apprentices earn upwards of 80% of the full scale. These structured increases provide a transparent path to middle-class earnings while ensuring that labor costs remain predictable for the 73 signatory contractors operating under the collective bargaining agreement in the Providence market.
The jurisdiction of UA Local 51 is unique, covering the entire state of Rhode Island and extending into several counties in Southeastern Massachusetts. This broad footprint allows members to work across state lines while remaining under the same benefit umbrella. Work covered includes all piping for plumbing, heating, cooling, and process systems, as well as high-pressure steam and medical gas installations. Dispatch typically originates from the Providence headquarters, with members traveling to job sites from Woonsocket down to Newport and eastward into the Fall River and New Bedford markets. The local manages a diverse portfolio of work including commercial high-rises, municipal water treatment facilities, and naval submarine support infrastructure.
The contractor landscape for Local 51 includes a mix of 73 signatory firms ranging from massive multi-state mechanical primes to specialized local plumbing shops. These contractors are frequently engaged in long-term maintenance contracts at the region's major hospitals and universities. There is also a strong presence of industrial piping contractors who specialize in the maritime and defense sectors prevalent in the Narragansett Bay area. Hiring activity is generally stable, with periodic surges driven by state-funded infrastructure projects and private commercial developments in the Providence downtown corridor. Since 2014, the volume of signatory work has remained a reliable benchmark for the overall health of the Rhode Island construction industry.
While the journeyman hourly rate is $54.39 as of October 2025, the total package includes additional hourly contributions for health insurance, pension, and training. To calculate the full cost of labor or total compensation, you must add these fringe benefits to the base rate. Contact the Local 51 financial secretary for the specific breakdown of the current fringe schedule.
Yes, Local 51 has a significant jurisdictional presence in Southeastern Massachusetts, including Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. This allows members residing in these areas to work locally while maintaining their Rhode Island-based benefits. It also allows signatory contractors in Providence to bid on work across the state line without changing their labor agreement.
Experienced tradespeople with a valid Rhode Island or Massachusetts plumbing or pipefitting license may inquire about 'organized' status or a travel card. These transfers are typically subject to a skills assessment and the current volume of work in the jurisdiction. Since 2014, the local has occasionally opened its doors to skilled journeymen to meet high labor demand.
The Local 51 JATC emphasizes UA welding certifications, Med-Gas installation, and OSHA safety standards. Because of the industrial nature of the Providence market, specialized certifications in orbital welding and high-pressure steam are also highly valued. Members have access to ongoing training to maintain these credentials, ensuring the signatory workforce stays ahead of industry code changes.
UA Local 51 is seated in East Providence, Rhode Island (RI). We hold published wage sheets for 2 locals across Rhode Island — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving East Providence and the rest of Rhode Island, including contractors signatory to UA Local 51. 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 51 pay scale for 2026 is $54.39 per hour for journeymen in East Providence, RI, or about $108,780 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 10/20/25.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 51 agreement make $54.39 an hour in base wages, per the wage sheet effective 10/20/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$54.39 per hour base wage for a journeyman in East Providence, RI, effective 10/20/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $108,780 before overtime.
A Local 51 apprentice in East Providence, RI starts at roughly $24.48 an hour — about 45% of the $54.39 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $40.79 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 51 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $24.48 an hour, or roughly $48,951 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $54.39 journeyman rate effective 10/20/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $35.35 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $40.79 an hour in the fourth period and $54.39 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 51 training center.
The current UA Local 51 journeyman rate is $54.39/hour, effective 10/20/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $108,780 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 51 business office before relying on the figure.
Apprentices under the UA Local 51 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 $54.39/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $24.48–$27.20/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 51 is headquartered in East Providence, RI and dispatches plumbers, pipefitters & hvac 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 & hvac work. Some Local 51 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 51 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 51 training center directly.
Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVAC 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 51 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 & hvac 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 10/20/25 schedule; check with the Local 51 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
We track 73 signatory contractors working under the UA Local 51 agreement, listed on this page with their websites and LinkedIn pages. Signatory shops are the employers legally able to hire Local 51 members and pay the negotiated scale.
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 51 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers, pipefitters & hvac markets.
The UA Local 51 hall is at 11 Hemingway Dr East Providence, Ri 2915, serving East Providence, RI and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 401-943-3033.
UA Local 51 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 401-943-3033 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 51 can be reached at 401-943-3033. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.