UA Local 98 represents plumbers & pipefitters in Detroit, MI. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
UA Local 98 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.
UA Local 98 has not published a current journeyman wage sheet we can source, so no contract rate is shown for this local. For reference only, the reporting-wide average for plumbers & pipefitters locals is $47.51/hr ($69.19 total package) — a benchmark, not this local's rate. Confirm the current rate with the hall's business office. We publish the local's own rate, package and effective date as soon as it is available.
UA Local 98 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 248-307-9800 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 98 represents highly skilled plumbers and pipefitters serving the greater Detroit metropolitan area and surrounding Michigan counties. Established as a cornerstone of the regional construction industry, the local provides a stabilized labor pool for large-scale commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Members are trained in high-purity piping, medical gas systems, and complex sanitary installations, ensuring that the infrastructure supporting Detroit’s automotive and healthcare sectors meets rigorous safety codes. By maintaining a centralized dispatch and training system, Local 98 ensures that signatory contractors have access to a workforce capable of executing sophisticated mechanical designs while adhering to strict project timelines.
The market for plumbing and pipefitting in Southeast Michigan is driven by a mix of institutional renovations and new industrial developments. Local 98 maintains a strong presence in the regional labor market through its rigorous Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) programs, which prepare the next generation of tradespeople. For contractors, partnering with this local offers a scalable labor solution that mitigates the risks associated with the skilled labor shortage. For the tradesperson, the local provides a structured career path with collectively bargained protections and benefits that typically exceed non-union standards. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this specific labor landscape since 2014 to assist in matching qualified talent with the region's leading mechanical contractors.
Because specific hourly rates are subject to periodic adjustments through collective bargaining, those seeking the current UA Local 98 pay scale or pipe fitter pay rate should contact the union’s business office directly for the most recent wage circular. The pay rates for journeymen are established in the master agreement, while apprentices earn a progressive percentage of that scale. Typically, an apprentice starts at a base percentage and receives incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. The total package includes the hourly base wage plus significant employer contributions to fringe benefits, which are not deducted from the gross hourly check but paid on top of it.
Because specific hourly rates are subject to periodic adjustments through collective bargaining, those seeking the current UA Local 98 pay scale or pipe fitter pay rate should contact the union’s business office directly for the most recent wage circular. The pay rates for journeymen are established in the master agreement, while apprentices earn a progressive percentage of that scale. Typically, an apprentice starts at a base percentage and receives incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. The total package includes the hourly base wage plus significant employer contributions to fringe benefits, which are not deducted from the gross hourly check but paid on top of it.
The jurisdiction of UA Local 98 is centered in Detroit and extends across several key counties in Southeast Michigan. This territory encompasses a diverse range of work sites, from downtown high-rises and sports stadiums to suburban hospitals and manufacturing facilities. The local’s charter covers the installation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing systems, process piping, and related mechanical components. Members dispatched within this region operate under a clear set of travel and subsistence rules defined in the collective bargaining agreement. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the local’s work rules, ensuring consistent quality and safety standards across all projects in the tri-county area and beyond.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 98 consists of a robust mix of national mechanical primes and specialized local firms. These entities focus heavily on the institutional sector, including major healthcare networks and higher education facilities. There is also a significant concentration of contractors dedicated to the automotive manufacturing supply chain, where precision piping and industrial plumbing are critical. Hiring trends in this market often fluctuate based on large-scale municipal projects and private industrial investments. Signatory firms rely on the local’s hall to scale their crews rapidly for shutdowns or accelerated build-outs, benefiting from the standardized training provided to every dispatched member.
Because collective bargaining agreements are updated periodically, the most accurate way to obtain the current pay scale is to contact the UA Local 98 business office directly at their Madison Heights headquarters. They can provide a wage and fringe benefit breakdown that outlines the base hourly rate, vacation fund, and retirement contributions currently in effect for journeymen and apprentices.
Apprentice pay rates are calculated as a percentage of the journeyman rate. As an apprentice progresses through the five-year program, their percentage increases annually. These steps are contingent upon completing a minimum number of work hours and successfully passing their technical classroom modules. This structured progression ensures that pay remains commensurate with the individual's growing skill set and value to the contractor.
When discussing union pay rates, it is important to distinguish between the 'taxable wage' and the 'total package.' The taxable wage is what appears on your paycheck, while the total package includes employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. For UA Local 98 members, these benefits add significant value to the base rate, often representing a substantial percentage above the hourly take-home pay.
UA Local 98 may have different classifications or addendums within their agreement for specific types of work, such as residential service or light commercial projects. However, the majority of large-scale industrial and commercial work in Detroit falls under the standard building trades agreement. You should verify with a business agent if a project-specific or market-recovery rate applies to your particular job site.
UA Local 98 is seated in Detroit, Michigan (MI). We hold published wage sheets for 22 locals across Michigan — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Detroit and the rest of Michigan, including contractors signatory to UA Local 98. 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.
UA Local 98 is headquartered in Detroit, MI 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 98 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 98 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 98 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 98 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.
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 98 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 98 hall is at 555 Horace Brown Dr Madison Heights, MI 48071, serving Detroit, MI and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 248-307-9800.
UA Local 98 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 248-307-9800 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 98 can be reached at 248-307-9800. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.