Journeyman pipefitters under UA Local 91 in Birmingham, AL earn $30.50/hr in base wages, or $45.06/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Sep 2022. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
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UA Local 91 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 91 pay scale is $30.50 per hour for journeymen in Birmingham, AL, or about $61,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $45.06 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 91 journeyman hourly wage | $30.50 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $45.06 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $61,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $13.73–$15.25 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 9/1/22 |
| Classification | Journeyman (Industrial) — 2022–23 sheet |
A Local 91 apprentice in Birmingham, AL starts at roughly $13.73 an hour — about 45% of the $30.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.88 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 91 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $13.73 / hour | $27,450 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $16.78 / hour | $33,550 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $19.83 / hour | $39,650 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $22.88 / hour | $45,750 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $25.93 / hour | $51,850 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $30.50 / hour | $61,000 |
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Local 91 wages: $30.50 an hour on the journeyman scale, $45.06 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 9/1/22. That is the most recent Birmingham, AL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 32% of the UA Local 91 package is employer-paid benefits and fringes rather than wages, which is why the package figure and a take-home hourly rate are not the same number.
Verified from official source: UA Local 91 wage rate sheet 9/1/22–8/31/23
Download the UA Local 91 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective September 1, 2022.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $14.56/hr | Derived: total package minus base wage. This is the employer's combined hourly contribution to the funds, not take-home pay. |
|---|---|---|
| What the contributions fund | Health & welfare, pension, annuity, training and industry funds | Standard fund categories in mechanical and electrical agreements. The exact split between funds is set in the local's agreement — the hall or fund office publishes the schedule. |
| Paid on | Every hour worked | Fringe contributions are made per hour worked, so they scale with dispatched hours and are paid to the funds rather than to the member. |
The rates above are the UA Local 91 scale used across the Birmingham, AL area. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial mechanical and process piping, chiller and boiler work, HVAC piping and hydronics and service, retrofit and shutdown work for signatory contractors throughout the Birmingham metro, so a pipefitters wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits pipefitters talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Birmingham. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 91 rates. For current Birmingham scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
UA Local 91 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 205-591-2721 to confirm dispatch procedure, 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 91 represents skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and HVACR technicians across the greater Birmingham metropolitan area and Central Alabama. As a key stakeholder in the regional construction economy, the local provides a stabilized labor pool for large-scale industrial projects, commercial developments, and municipal infrastructure. The membership is trained to handle complex piping systems, including high-pressure steam, medical gas, and industrial process piping. By maintaining a centralized dispatch and rigorous training standards, the local ensures that signatory contractors have access to journey-level talent capable of meeting stringent safety and quality codes required for heavy industrial and healthcare environments common in the Birmingham corridor.
The Central Alabama market is characterized by a significant concentration of healthcare facilities, academic institutions, and heavy industrial manufacturing. Local 91 members play a critical role in maintaining these facilities, ensuring that plumbing and mechanical systems operate without interruption. The local’s jurisdiction covers a diverse economic landscape, from the urban density of Jefferson County to the expanding industrial zones in surrounding areas. Because Alabama is a right-to-work state, the local focuses heavily on the value proposition of superior craftsmanship and safety. For contractors, partnering with the local offers a scalable workforce solution that mitigates the risks associated with labor shortages in the specialized mechanical trades.
Because specific wage figures are not publicly disclosed for this local, journeyman rates must be confirmed directly through the Local 91 business office or the a mechanical contractor Association of Birmingham. The total compensation package typically includes a base hourly rate plus employer-paid fringes such as health insurance and pension contributions. Apprentices start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, usually beginning around 40-50% and increasing in scheduled increments as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These annual step-ups are contingent upon successful performance reviews and the mastery of trade-specific competencies. Professional contractors benchmarking these costs should request the current Wage and Fringe Benefit Schedule to accurately calculate the total burdened labor rate for bidding purposes.
The chartered jurisdiction of UA Local 91 centers on Birmingham and extends across several counties in Central Alabama. This territory encompasses major commercial hubs, industrial parks, and the vast medical district in downtown Birmingham. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from new hospital construction to long-term maintenance contracts at industrial plants. The jurisdiction is defined by the United Association to prevent overlap with neighboring locals, ensuring a clear boundary for signatory contractors. Work under this agreement includes the installation, maintenance, and repair of all piping systems, plumbing fixtures, and mechanical equipment within the designated geographic area. Travel requirements vary based on the project location relative to the dispatch point in Birmingham.
The signatory landscape for Local 91 consists of a mix of large-scale mechanical primes and specialized service providers. Many of these firms focus on the heavy industrial sector, supporting the region’s steel and manufacturing legacy, while others specialize in the complex mechanical needs of the UAB health system and other regional hospitals. Hiring fluctuates based on major capital projects and scheduled plant outages. For tradespeople, the variety of contractors provides opportunities in both new construction and long-term service work. Contractors in this market rely on the local to provide a steady stream of certified welders and licensed plumbers who can pass rigorous background checks for sensitive job sites.
Members have access to various UA certifications, including medical gas installation, backflow prevention, and various ASME welding certifications. These are critical for working on industrial and healthcare projects in Birmingham. The JATC provides the necessary training and testing facilities to keep these certifications current and compliant with state and local codes.
Yes, Local 91 includes a dedicated HVACR division. Technicians receive training in building automation, refrigerant handling, and high-efficiency mechanical systems. This specialized track ensures that signatory service contractors have a workforce capable of maintaining complex climate control systems in the region's large commercial and institutional buildings.
Journeymen who are out of work sign an available-for-work list at the union hall. When signatory contractors need labor, the hall refers members based on the order of the list and the specific skill sets or certifications required for the project. This system ensures fair access to work and efficient staffing for employers.
Travelers from other UA locals can work in Local 91's jurisdiction through the travel card system if there is a demand for labor. Permanent transfers, or 'depositing a card,' are subject to the local's bylaws, the current volume of work, and the approval of the business manager or executive board.
UA Local 91 is seated in Birmingham, Alabama (AL). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Alabama — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 91 pay scale is $30.50 per hour for journeymen in Birmingham, AL, or about $61,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $45.06 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman pipefitters under the UA Local 91 agreement make $30.50 an hour in base wages, or $45.06 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 9/1/22. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$30.50 per hour base wage and $45.06 per hour total package for a journeyman in Birmingham, AL, effective 9/1/22. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $61,000 before overtime.
A Local 91 apprentice in Birmingham, AL starts at roughly $13.73 an hour — about 45% of the $30.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.88 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 91 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $13.73 an hour, or roughly $27,450 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $30.50 journeyman rate effective 9/1/22. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $19.83 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $22.88 an hour in the fourth period and $30.50 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 91 training center.
Local 91 wages: $30.50 an hour on the journeyman scale, $45.06 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 9/1/22. That is the most recent Birmingham, AL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Yes — a one-page printable UA Local 91 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/ua-local-91-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $30.50 hourly scale, the $45.06 total package and the 9/1/22 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current UA Local 91 journeyman rate is $30.50/hour, with a total package of $45.06/hour including fringe benefits, effective 9/1/22. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $61,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 91 business office before relying on the figure.
The $30.50/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $45.06/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 91 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 $30.50/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $13.73–$15.25/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
UA Local 91 is headquartered in Birmingham, AL 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 91 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 91 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 91 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 91 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 9/1/22 schedule; check with the Local 91 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 91 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 91 hall is at 3648 9th Ave N Birmingham, AL 35222, serving Birmingham, AL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 205-591-2721.
UA Local 91 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 205-591-2721 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 91 can be reached at 205-591-2721. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
$30.50/hr in base wages for journeyman (industrial) — 2022–23 sheet, or $45.06/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective September 1, 2022 per the UA Local 91 wage rate sheet 9/1/22–8/31/23 wage determination.
September 1, 2022. UA Local 91 wage rate sheet 9/1/22–8/31/23 still carries this rate, but the negotiated line is over three years old and a new CBA cycle is almost certainly in force. Treat it as a floor, not a quote — call the local for the current step.
No — the $30.50/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $14.56/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $45.06/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private mechanical construction recruiting firm. We are not affiliated with the local, we do not run dispatch, and we do not set or negotiate union rates. We publish the local's own sourced figures as a reference for members and contractors.
Stale — verify — last cross-checked against the source on Sep 28, 2026 (2 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.