Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 821 in State Of Florida, FL earn $34.03/hr in base wages, or $52.83/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Apr 2025.
UA Local 821 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 821 pay scale for 2026 is $34.03 per hour for journeymen in State Of Florida, FL, or about $68,060 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $52.83 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 4/19/25.
| Local 821 journeyman hourly wage | $34.03 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $52.83 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $68,060 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $15.31–$17.02 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 4/19/25 |
A Local 821 apprentice in State Of Florida, FL starts at roughly $15.31 an hour — about 45% of the $34.03 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.52 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 821 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $15.31 / hour | $30,627 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $18.72 / hour | $37,433 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $22.12 / hour | $44,239 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $25.52 / hour | $51,045 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $28.93 / hour | $57,851 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $34.03 / hour | $68,060 |
UA Local 821 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 561-422-9821 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 821 represents skilled plumbers and pipefitters across a significant portion of the Florida market. As a specialized labor organization, the local provides the skilled workforce necessary for large-scale commercial developments, public infrastructure projects, and critical industrial maintenance. The Florida construction landscape is historically volatile due to rapid population growth and climate-related engineering demands, making the presence of a structured, certified labor pool essential for signatory contractors. Members are trained to execute high-pressure piping systems, medical gas installations, and complex HVAC hydronic systems that meet stringent state building codes and safety regulations.
The market served by Local 821 is characterized by a mix of high-density urban development and essential industrial facilities. Because Florida is a right-to-work state, the union focuses heavily on maintaining a superior skill gap through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC). This strategy ensures that signatory mechanical primes can justify the higher labor costs associated with union agreements by delivering projects with fewer defects and faster completion timelines. For the individual tradesperson, Local 821 offers a rare path to a defined-benefit pension and comprehensive health coverage in a region where such benefits are not always standard in the non-union residential or light commercial sectors.
Based on the figures effective April 19, 2025, the Journeyman hourly rate for UA Local 821 is established at $34.03, contributing to a total package of $52.83 per hour. This total package includes all fringe benefits such as healthcare and retirement contributions paid by the employer. Apprentices entering the program typically begin at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting around 45% to 50% for first-year participants. These rates increase annually as the apprentice completes classroom hours and documented on-the-job training milestones. By the fifth year, a senior apprentice will earn significantly closer to the full scale. All overtime, including Saturday work or emergency service calls, is calculated based on these hourly rates according to the specific language in the standing Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The jurisdiction for UA Local 821 covers a broad territory across the State of Florida, encompassing several key counties and municipalities. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from municipal water treatment plants to high-rise commercial builds and regional hospitals. The local's charter includes the installation, maintenance, and repair of all piping systems, including process piping, vacuum systems, and sanitary drainage. Travel requirements vary depending on the specific project location, but the agreement typically defines a home zone with travel pay provisions for work performed outside of set geographical boundaries. Contractors operating within this jurisdiction must adhere to the dispatch rules to ensure proper manning levels for both short-term outages and multi-year new construction projects.
The contractor landscape for UA Local 821 is comprised of regional mechanical primes, a mechanical contractor specialists, and commercial plumbing firms. These signatory contractors often handle the most technically demanding work in the state, such as university laboratory builds and healthcare facility expansions. Hiring fluctuates based on large-scale capital project starts, but there is a consistent demand for service and maintenance technicians to support existing infrastructure. While Gulfstream Strategic Placements has tracked this market since 2014, we do not list specific company names here. Contractors interested in signing the agreement typically do so to gain access to the JATC-trained labor pool, which reduces their internal recruiting and training overhead.
The hourly wage ($34.03) is the gross amount appearing on your paycheck before taxes. The total package ($52.83) includes the hourly wage plus the dollar value of all employer-paid fringes like health insurance and pension contributions. You do not pay for these benefits out of your hourly rate; they are paid by the contractor in addition to your wages.
Yes, through the JATC, members can obtain and maintain certifications in orbital welding, Med-Gas, backflow prevention, and various UA-specific welding certs. These certifications are often required for specific job site access and are a major advantage for signatory contractors bidding on complex industrial or healthcare projects in the Florida market.
Travelers and transferees must follow the procedures outlined in the UA Constitution. This generally involves contacting the Business Manager of Local 821 to inquire about the current work list and whether the local is accepting travel cards. Permanent transfers usually require a period of working in the jurisdiction and approval from the local's executive board.
Wage rates are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the union and the signatory contractors association. These changes usually occur annually on a specific date, such as the April 19th increase noted for 2025. These increases may be applied to the base wage or diverted to fringe funds by a vote of the membership.
UA Local 821 is seated in State Of Florida, Florida (FL). We hold published wage sheets for 16 locals across Florida — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving State Of Florida and the rest of Florida, including contractors signatory to UA Local 821. 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 821 pay scale for 2026 is $34.03 per hour for journeymen in State Of Florida, FL, or about $68,060 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $52.83 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 4/19/25.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 821 agreement make $34.03 an hour in base wages, or $52.83 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 4/19/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$34.03 per hour base wage and $52.83 per hour total package for a journeyman in State Of Florida, FL, effective 4/19/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $68,060 before overtime.
A Local 821 apprentice in State Of Florida, FL starts at roughly $15.31 an hour — about 45% of the $34.03 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $25.52 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 821 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $15.31 an hour, or roughly $30,627 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $34.03 journeyman rate effective 4/19/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $22.12 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $25.52 an hour in the fourth period and $34.03 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 821 training center.
The current UA Local 821 journeyman rate is $34.03/hour, with a total package of $52.83/hour including fringe benefits, effective 4/19/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $68,060 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 821 business office before relying on the figure.
The $34.03/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $52.83/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 821 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 $34.03/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $15.31–$17.02/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 821 is headquartered in State Of Florida, FL 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 821 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 821 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 821 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 821 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 4/19/25 schedule; check with the Local 821 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 821 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 821 hall is at 1975 Sansbury's Way Ste 115 West Palm Beach, FL 33411, serving State Of Florida, FL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 561-422-9821.
UA Local 821 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 561-422-9821 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 821 can be reached at 561-422-9821. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.