Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 690 in Philadelphia, PA earn $73.73/hr in base wages, or $110.99/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jul 2026.
UA Local 690 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 690 pay scale for 2026 is $73.73 per hour for journeymen in Philadelphia, PA, or about $147,460 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $110.99 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/25/26.
| Local 690 journeyman hourly wage | $73.73 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $110.99 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $147,460 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $33.18–$36.87 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 7/25/26 |
| Classification | Plumbers |
A Local 690 apprentice in Philadelphia, PA starts at roughly $33.18 an hour — about 45% of the $73.73 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $55.30 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 690 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $33.18 / hour | $66,357 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $40.55 / hour | $81,103 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $47.92 / hour | $95,849 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $55.30 / hour | $110,595 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $62.67 / hour | $125,341 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $73.73 / hour | $147,460 |
UA Local 690 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 215-677-6900 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 690 represents the skilled plumbers and pipefitters across the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area and surrounding Pennsylvania counties. As one of the most prominent building trades organizations in the region, Local 690 maintains rigorous standards for commercial and industrial plumbing installations. The union ensures that its members are equipped to handle complex piping systems in diverse environments including healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and high-rise commercial developments. Since 2014, our recruitment efforts have tracked the significant role this local plays in stabilizing labor costs and providing a reliable pipeline of certified manpower for signatory mechanical contractors operating within the Delaware Valley.
The Philadelphia market is defined by its density and the strict adherence to master plumbing codes, making Local 690 a vital entity for project compliance and safety. By organizing the workforce, the local manages collective bargaining agreements that establish transparent labor rates and comprehensive benefit structures. For contractors, partnering with this local provides access to a pre-vetted pool of journeymen who have completed extensive safety and technical training. For the tradesperson, the union offers a structured career path with clear escalations in compensation, ensuring that technical proficiency is rewarded in alignment with the high cost of living and specialized demands of the urban Pennsylvania construction landscape.
As of the July 2026 effective date, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 690 is set at $73.73, contributing to a total compensation package of $110.99 when fringe benefits are included. This robust package reflects the high demand for master-level plumbing skills in the Philadelphia market. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 35% to 45% and advancing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job milestones. By the fifth year of the apprenticeship, workers often reach 80% or more of the full scale. These local 690 wage rates are among the highest in the region, designed to attract top-tier talent while providing a sustainable living wage through consistent step-up increases throughout the five-year training cycle.
The chartered jurisdiction for UA Local 690 covers a wide swath of Southeastern Pennsylvania, centered on the City of Philadelphia and extending into several neighboring counties. This territory includes all aspects of the plumbing trade, from underground utility work and medical gas systems to sophisticated water filtration and high-pressure steam piping. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from the dense urban core of Center City to industrial parks in the suburban belt. The jurisdiction ensures that all signatory work within these borders follows the established CBA, providing territorial protection for members and a level playing field for signatory contractors bidding on regional infrastructure, commercial, and institutional projects.
The signatory landscape for UA Local 690 is comprised of a diverse mix of mechanical primes and specialized plumbing contractors. These firms range from large-scale regional mechanical contractors capable of managing multi-million dollar institutional projects to specialized service and repair shops focusing on high-rise residential maintenance. Hiring typically follows the fluctuations of the Philadelphia construction cycle, with significant demand currently driven by life sciences laboratory builds and university expansions. Signatory contractors benefit from a centralized dispatch system that allows them to scale their workforce rapidly in response to project awards, ensuring that all labor meets the stringent licensing requirements of the City of Philadelphia.
As of the most recent update effective July 2026, a journeyman plumber under Local 690 earns an hourly base rate of $73.73. When including fringe benefits like healthcare and pension, the total package reaches $110.99 per hour. These rates are subject to change based on the specific collective bargaining agreement terms and should be confirmed with the union hall.
Apprentices start at a set percentage of the journeyman rate, allowing them to earn while they learn. Wages increase annually as the apprentice moves through the five-year program, provided they meet all classroom and field requirements. This structured progression ensures that as a worker's skill set increases, their compensation reflects their growing value to the signatory contractor.
While Local 690 is primarily a plumbers' union, there is often overlap in piping systems related to HVAC installations. However, specialized HVAC service and steamfitting in the Philadelphia market may also fall under the jurisdiction of sister locals like UA Local 420. Local 690 specifically focuses on the installation and maintenance of plumbing, drainage, and medical gas systems.
The jurisdiction is headquartered in Philadelphia and covers the five-county region of Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Any signatory plumbing work performed within these boundaries must adhere to the Local 690 Master Agreement, ensuring consistent labor standards across the entire metropolitan area.
UA Local 690 is seated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA). We hold published wage sheets for 23 locals across Pennsylvania — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Philadelphia and the rest of Pennsylvania, including contractors signatory to UA Local 690. 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 690 pay scale for 2026 is $73.73 per hour for journeymen in Philadelphia, PA, or about $147,460 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $110.99 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 7/25/26.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 690 agreement make $73.73 an hour in base wages, or $110.99 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 7/25/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$73.73 per hour base wage and $110.99 per hour total package for a journeyman in Philadelphia, PA, effective 7/25/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $147,460 before overtime.
A Local 690 apprentice in Philadelphia, PA starts at roughly $33.18 an hour — about 45% of the $73.73 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $55.30 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 690 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $33.18 an hour, or roughly $66,357 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $73.73 journeyman rate effective 7/25/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $47.92 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $55.30 an hour in the fourth period and $73.73 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 690 training center.
The current UA Local 690 journeyman rate is $73.73/hour, with a total package of $110.99/hour including fringe benefits, effective 7/25/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $147,460 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 690 business office before relying on the figure.
The $73.73/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $110.99/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 690 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 $73.73/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $33.18–$36.87/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 690 is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA 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 690 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 690 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 690 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 690 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 7/25/26 schedule; check with the Local 690 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 690 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 690 hall is at 2791 Southampton Rd Philadelphia, PA 19154, serving Philadelphia, PA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 215-677-6900.
UA Local 690 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 215-677-6900 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 690 can be reached at 215-677-6900. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.