Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 776 in Lima, OH earn $42.76/hr in base wages, or $63.59/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2026.
UA Local 776 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 776 pay scale for 2026 is $42.76 per hour for journeymen in Lima, OH, or about $85,520 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $63.59 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/25/26.
| Local 776 journeyman hourly wage | $42.76 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $63.59 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $85,520 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $19.24–$21.38 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/25/26 |
| Classification | Combo |
A Local 776 apprentice in Lima, OH starts at roughly $19.24 an hour — about 45% of the $42.76 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.07 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 776 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $19.24 / hour | $38,484 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $23.52 / hour | $47,036 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $27.79 / hour | $55,588 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $32.07 / hour | $64,140 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $36.35 / hour | $72,692 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $42.76 / hour | $85,520 |
UA Local 776 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 419-229-5176 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.
UA Local 776 serves as the primary labor organization for plumbers, pipefitters, and service technicians across Northwest Ohio. Based in Lima, this local provides the skilled workforce necessary for a diverse range of industrial, commercial, and institutional projects throughout the region. The market is defined by a heavy industrial presence, including petroleum refining and chemical manufacturing, which demands high-level certifications in welding and process piping. Local 776 ensures its members meet these rigorous standards through continuous training and strict adherence to safety protocols, maintaining a competitive edge for signatory contractors operating in the competitive Ohio Valley construction landscape.
Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor dynamics within the Lima market to help contractors and tradespeople navigate the signatory environment. Local 776 manages a robust apprenticeship program that supplies manpower to significant infrastructure projects and long-term facility maintenance contracts. The stability of this local is rooted in its ability to provide specialized labor for complex mechanical systems, ranging from high-pressure steam lines to sanitary plumbing for healthcare facilities. As regional investment in manufacturing and energy continues, the demand for Local 776's specialized skill sets remains a cornerstone of the regional construction economy.
As of May 25, 2026, the journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 776 is $42.76, contributing to a comprehensive total package of $63.59. This package includes the base taxable wage plus employer-paid fringe benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions. Apprentices in the five-year program enter at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 45-50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, senior apprentices earn approximately 80-85% of the scale. These fixed progression steps ensure that labor costs are predictable for signatory mechanical primes and that workers are compensated fairly as their technical proficiency increases throughout their tenure.
The chartered jurisdiction for UA Local 776 covers several counties in Northwest Ohio, centered around the Lima metropolitan area. This territory encompasses all work related to the installation, maintenance, and repair of piping systems, including HVAC refrigeration, medical gas, and industrial process piping. Members are dispatched from the Lima hall to job sites ranging from rural agricultural facilities to dense industrial corridors. The local maintains jurisdiction over various sectors including commercial office builds, public school renovations, and heavy industrial maintenance. Travel requirements are generally dictated by the specific project location within the multi-county footprint, and the local works closely with neighboring UA locals to manage manpower via travel cards when regional demand exceeds local supply.
The contractor landscape for UA Local 776 is comprised of a mix of large mechanical primes and specialized service contractors. Signatory mechanical primes typically handle large-scale capital projects in the industrial and institutional sectors, such as hospital expansions and refinery turnarounds. Smaller signatory shops often focus on commercial plumbing, HVAC service, and residential maintenance agreements. The relationship between the local and its signatory partners is governed by a collective bargaining agreement that standardizes labor costs, ensuring a level playing field for bidding. Hiring fluctuates based on major project cycles, but the steady need for industrial maintenance in the Lima region provides a consistent baseline of man-hours for the membership.
Members can obtain a wide range of industry-standard certifications, including UA Weld Certifications, Medical Gas Installer certification, and various OSHA safety ratings. The JATC also provides training for backflow prevention and specialized HVACR diagnostic certifications. These credentials stay with the member and are recognized by signatory contractors nationwide, enhancing employability and ensuring high work quality across all project types.
While the $42.76 hourly rate is the taxable income, the $63.59 total package includes approximately $20.83 in non-taxable benefits. This means the member receives high-quality healthcare and retirement funding without these costs being deducted from their take-home pay. For a contractor, this figure represents the total cost of labor, inclusive of all mandatory insurance and benefit contributions required by the CBA.
Yes, UA members in good standing can typically work in Local 776's jurisdiction as travelers if there is a demand for manpower. Permanent transfers, or 'depositing a card,' usually require the approval of the local's executive board and are dependent on the current work outlook and the member's specific skill set or residency status in Northwest Ohio.
A standard work week consists of 40 hours, usually five eight-hour days or four ten-hour days depending on the project's Project Labor Agreement (PLA). Overtime is typically paid at time-and-a-half for hours exceeding the standard shift or for Saturday work, while Sundays and holidays generally command double-time pay. Specific overtime rules should always be verified against the current master agreement.
UA Local 776 is seated in Lima, Ohio (OH). We hold published wage sheets for 30 locals across Ohio — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Lima and the rest of Ohio, including contractors signatory to UA Local 776. 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 776 pay scale for 2026 is $42.76 per hour for journeymen in Lima, OH, or about $85,520 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $63.59 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 5/25/26.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 776 agreement make $42.76 an hour in base wages, or $63.59 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/25/26. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$42.76 per hour base wage and $63.59 per hour total package for a journeyman in Lima, OH, effective 5/25/26. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $85,520 before overtime.
A Local 776 apprentice in Lima, OH starts at roughly $19.24 an hour — about 45% of the $42.76 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $32.07 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 776 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $19.24 an hour, or roughly $38,484 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $42.76 journeyman rate effective 5/25/26. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $27.79 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $32.07 an hour in the fourth period and $42.76 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 776 training center.
The current UA Local 776 journeyman rate is $42.76/hour, with a total package of $63.59/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/25/26. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $85,520 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 776 business office before relying on the figure.
The $42.76/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $63.59/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 776 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 $42.76/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $19.24–$21.38/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 776 is headquartered in Lima, OH 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 776 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 776 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 776 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 776 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 5/25/26 schedule; check with the Local 776 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 776 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 776 hall is at 1300 Bowman Rd Lima, OH 45804, serving Lima, OH and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 419-229-5176.
UA Local 776 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 419-229-5176 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 776 can be reached at 419-229-5176. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.