Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 72 in Atlanta, GA earn $41.18/hr in base wages, or $55.78/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Mar 2026.
UA Local 72 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 72 pay scale for 2026 is $41.18 per hour for journeymen in Atlanta, GA, or about $82,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $55.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/1/26.
| Local 72 journeyman hourly wage | $41.18 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $55.78 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $82,360 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.53–$20.59 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 3/1/26 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 72 apprentice in Atlanta, GA starts at roughly $18.53 an hour — about 45% of the $41.18 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.88 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 72 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.53 / hour | $37,062 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $22.65 / hour | $45,298 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $26.77 / hour | $53,534 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $30.88 / hour | $61,770 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $35.00 / hour | $70,006 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $41.18 / hour | $82,360 |
UA Local 72 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 404-373-5778 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 72 represents the plumbers, pipefitters, and HVACR service technicians who drive the mechanical infrastructure of the Atlanta metropolitan area and broader Georgia territory. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this labor market, noting Local 72's critical role in staffing large-scale commercial developments, mission-critical data centers, and industrial facilities. The local operates a comprehensive training facility that ensures a steady supply of certified welders and licensed plumbers for the region's most complex mechanical projects. Because Atlanta serves as a major logistics and corporate hub, the demand for high-skilled labor under the Local 72 banner remains a primary benchmark for mechanical contracting costs in the Southeast.
The market covered by Local 72 is characterized by rapid urban expansion and a high concentration of institutional work, including healthcare systems and higher education campuses. Membership in this local provides contractors with a scalable workforce capable of meeting strict safety and quality standards on projects ranging from high-rise residential plumbing to complex process piping for manufacturing plants. As the jurisdictional footprint spans a significant portion of Northern and Central Georgia, the local maintains a robust dispatch system to support signatory mechanical primes. For the tradesperson, this represents one of the most stable pathways for career advancement and wage growth in a state where organized labor provides a distinct competitive advantage in specialized mechanical disciplines.
["Effective March 1, 2026, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 72 is established at $41.18, with a total compensation package reaching $55.78 per hour when including fringe benefits. This package reflects the high value placed on specialized mechanical skills in the Georgia market. Apprentices entering the five-year program start at a percentage of the journeyman rate—typically beginning around 40-45%—and receive incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, apprentices often earn 80% or more of the full scale. This structured progression ensures that labor costs remain predictable for contractors while providing a clear financial roadmap for members as they move toward full journeyman status and specialized certifications."]
["UA Local 72 holds a broad territorial charter centered in Atlanta but extending across a vast section of Georgia. The jurisdiction covers the entire metro Atlanta region and reaches into surrounding counties to include industrial corridors and growing suburban markets. The work governed by this agreement includes the installation, maintenance, and repair of all plumbing systems, heating and cooling piping, industrial process piping, and medical gas systems. Dispatch procedures are managed through the main office in Birmingham Highway, ensuring that signatory contractors can staff projects efficiently across various zones. Members may be required to travel within the multi-county footprint, following the specific travel and subsistence rules outlined in the current collective bargaining agreement."]
["The signatory contractor landscape for UA Local 72 is comprised of a diverse mix of large mechanical primes and specialized service firms. These organizations range from national mechanical giants focused on stadium and airport infrastructure to regional plumbing contractors who specialize in multi-family residential and commercial office builds. There is also a significant contingent of signatory service and maintenance providers who focus on long-term HVACR contracts for corporate campuses and industrial sites. Hiring activity is generally dictated by the pipeline of large-scale capital projects in the Atlanta core, supplemented by steady institutional renovation work. Contractors rely on the local's hiring hall to source certified labor that meets the stringent requirements of Georgia's mechanical and plumbing codes."]
Members have access to a wide range of certifications including UA Weld Certifications, Medical Gas Installation, Backflow Prevention, and OSHA safety training. These credentials are vital for working on specialized projects like hospitals and industrial plants within the Atlanta market, and the training is provided through the JATC to ensure all members meet high industry standards.
Local 72 utilizes a standard hiring hall dispatch system where members who are out of work register on the 'out-of-work' list. Signatory contractors request manpower based on their project needs, and members are dispatched according to their position on the list and their specific qualifications, such as welding certs or plumbing licenses.
When local manpower is fully utilized on large-scale projects, such as major airport expansions or data center builds, Local 72 may open calls to travelers from other UA locals. Travelers must provide a travel card from their home local and adhere to the specific terms and wage rates established in the Local 72 collective bargaining agreement.
While both trades fall under Local 72, plumbers focus primarily on potable water, sanitary waste, and storm drainage systems in commercial and residential settings. Pipefitters generally work on high-pressure steam, chemicals, and cooling systems in industrial and power plant environments. Apprentices choose a specific track, but both receive a foundation in basic piping geometry and safety.
UA Local 72 is seated in Atlanta, Georgia (GA). We hold published wage sheets for 9 locals across Georgia — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Atlanta and the rest of Georgia, including contractors signatory to UA Local 72. 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 72 pay scale for 2026 is $41.18 per hour for journeymen in Atlanta, GA, or about $82,360 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $55.78 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 3/1/26.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 72 agreement make $41.18 an hour in base wages, or $55.78 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 3/1/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$41.18 per hour base wage and $55.78 per hour total package for a journeyman in Atlanta, GA, effective 3/1/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $82,360 before overtime.
A Local 72 apprentice in Atlanta, GA starts at roughly $18.53 an hour — about 45% of the $41.18 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $30.88 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 72 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.53 an hour, or roughly $37,062 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $41.18 journeyman rate effective 3/1/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $26.77 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $30.88 an hour in the fourth period and $41.18 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 72 training center.
The current UA Local 72 journeyman rate is $41.18/hour, with a total package of $55.78/hour including fringe benefits, effective 3/1/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $82,360 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 72 business office before relying on the figure.
The $41.18/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $55.78/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 72 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 $41.18/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.53–$20.59/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 72 is headquartered in Atlanta, GA 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 72 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 72 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 72 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 72 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 3/1/26 schedule; check with the Local 72 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 72 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 72 hall is at Po Box 17806 Atlanta, GA 30316, serving Atlanta, GA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 404-373-5778.
UA Local 72 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 404-373-5778 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 72 can be reached at 404-373-5778. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.