Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 602 in Washington, MD earn $55/hr in base wages, or $77.14/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Feb 2026.
UA Local 602 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 602 pay scale for 2026 is $55.00 per hour for journeymen in Washington, MD, or about $110,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $77.14 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/18/26.
| Local 602 journeyman hourly wage | $55.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $77.14 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $110,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $24.75–$27.50 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 2/18/26 |
| Classification | HVAC Service Tech |
A Local 602 apprentice in Washington, MD starts at roughly $24.75 an hour — about 45% of the $55.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $41.25 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 602 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $24.75 / hour | $49,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $30.25 / hour | $60,500 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $35.75 / hour | $71,500 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $41.25 / hour | $82,500 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $46.75 / hour | $93,500 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $55.00 / hour | $110,000 |
UA Local 602 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 301-333-2356 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.
Steamfitters UA Local 602 represents the highly skilled workforce responsible for the installation, maintenance, and service of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems across the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. As a cornerstone of the United Association, this local provides the specialized labor required for critical infrastructure, including data centers, federal government facilities, and healthcare campuses. The membership comprises journeymen and apprentices who have undergone rigorous training to handle complex piping systems, medical gas installations, and high-pressure steam applications that define the capital's unique architectural and industrial landscape. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market as a primary hub for mechanical construction activity.
The market served by Local 602 is characterized by a high density of mission-critical facilities and institutional projects that demand strict adherence to safety and quality standards. Signatory contractors in this jurisdiction rely on the union to supply a steady pipeline of talent capable of navigating the technical requirements of modern HVACR systems. Beyond new construction, the local maintains a significant presence in the service and retrofit sector, ensuring that the extensive inventory of commercial and government buildings remains operational. For tradespeople and contractors alike, Local 602 represents a standard of professionalism that integrates advanced BIM coordination with traditional field craft, making it a pivotal entity in the Mid-Atlantic construction economy.
The current economic framework for UA Local 602 establishes a Journeyman hourly rate of $55.00, effective as of February 18, 2026. When accounting for the robust benefits suite, the total taxable and non-taxable package reaches $77.14 per hour. Apprentices entering the program typically start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often ranging from 45% to 50% for first-year students, with incremental increases occurring annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled raises reward the accumulation of certifications and field experience, ensuring that by the fifth year, senior apprentices are nearing full scale. Contractors should note that these figures represent the base building trades agreement, and specific project labor agreements or service-specific classifications may result in varied total labor costs.
The chartered jurisdiction for UA Local 602 encompasses the District of Columbia and several surrounding counties in Maryland and Northern Virginia. This territory covers a massive geographic footprint that facilitates work on everything from Pentagon-adjacent military facilities to the sprawling bio-health corridor in suburban Maryland. Members are dispatched through the central hiring hall, with travel requirements varying based on the location of the signatory contractor's project site. The agreement covers all aspects of the steamfitting and pipefitting trade, including hydronic piping, chillers, boilers, and industrial process systems. Jurisdictional boundaries are strictly enforced to ensure that work falling under the UA umbrella is performed by qualified Local 602 members, providing stability for the regional labor market.
The signatory contractor landscape in the Washington metropolitan area consists of a mix of large-scale mechanical primes and specialized service providers. These firms handle the region's most complex MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) projects, often involving multi-million dollar contracts for federal agencies and private developers. Hiring activity is driven by the consistent demand for facility upgrades and the rapid expansion of the northern Virginia data center market. Because the region is a hub for national mechanical firms, members often find opportunities with large organizations that have stable backlogs of work. Contractors here must balance competitive bidding with the high standards of a unionized workforce that prioritizes long-term system reliability.
In the context of UA Local 602, the terms are often used interchangeably, though steamfitting specifically focuses on high-pressure systems while pipefitting covers a broader range of liquid and gas transport. Both classifications undergo the same five-year apprenticeship program in this local, ensuring all members are proficient in welding, brazing, and system layout across various industrial and commercial applications.
Yes, experienced tradespeople can join through a process called 'organizing' or by testing in as a journeyman. An evaluation of skills, including welding tests and a written exam, is required to determine the appropriate classification. Prospective members should contact the Local 602 organizers to discuss their work history and how their skills align with the current Master Labor Agreement.
While the apprenticeship provides the foundation, the Local 602 JATC offers specialized training for the critical cooling systems used in data centers. This includes advanced rigging, instrumentation, and specialized welding techniques required for the large-scale chillers and cooling towers prevalent in the 'Data Center Alley' jurisdiction, making their members highly sought after for these projects.
Wage adjustments are dictated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and usually occur on an annual basis. These increments are negotiated by the union leadership and the a mechanical contractor Association (MCA) representatives. The current confirmed rate of $55.00 an hour is set for the period beginning in early 2026, with future allocations determined by membership vote.
UA Local 602 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 602. 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 602 pay scale for 2026 is $55.00 per hour for journeymen in Washington, MD, or about $110,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $77.14 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/18/26.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 602 agreement make $55.00 an hour in base wages, or $77.14 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 2/18/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$55.00 per hour base wage and $77.14 per hour total package for a journeyman in Washington, MD, effective 2/18/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $110,000 before overtime.
A Local 602 apprentice in Washington, MD starts at roughly $24.75 an hour — about 45% of the $55.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $41.25 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 602 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $24.75 an hour, or roughly $49,500 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $55.00 journeyman rate effective 2/18/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $35.75 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $41.25 an hour in the fourth period and $55.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 602 training center.
The current UA Local 602 journeyman rate is $55.00/hour, with a total package of $77.14/hour including fringe benefits, effective 2/18/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $110,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 602 business office before relying on the figure.
The $55.00/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $77.14/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 602 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 $55.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $24.75–$27.50/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 602 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 602 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 602 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 602 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 602 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 2/18/26 schedule; check with the Local 602 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 602 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 602 hall is at 8700 Ashwood Dr 2nd Floor Capitol Heights, MD 20743, serving Washington, MD and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 301-333-2356.
UA Local 602 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 301-333-2356 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 602 can be reached at 301-333-2356. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.