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UA Local 281 jobs — Chicago, IL
Hall: Chicago, ILFire Sprinkler Fitters708-597-1800
Direct-hire fire sprinkler fitters openings a UA Local 281 member can work in and around Chicago, IL, with the local's published journeyman scale, apprentice steps and salary benchmarks for the trade in IL.
Current fire sprinkler fitters openings in IL
How to apply for UA Local 281 fire sprinkler fitters jobs
- Pick an opening above and open the full job description to check the duties, requirements and location.
- Click Apply on the job page and send your name, phone, email and resume. It takes about two minutes and a resume is optional to start.
- A Gulfstream recruiter reviews every application and calls qualified candidates, and we will follow up personally.
- Union status stays with you. Keep your card current with UA Local 281 and confirm dispatch rules with the hall (708-597-1800).
UA Local 281 pay scale
Journeyman base wage $60.00/hr ($94.35/hr total package with fringes) effective 4/19/25 — roughly $120,000 a year at full-time hours. Rates change each CBA cycle; confirm with the hall before relying on them.
UnverifiedCrowd-sourced figure — reported on a third-party site and not yet checked against the local's own wage sheet. Source: unionpayscales.com(opens in a new tab) — external resource: unionpayscales.com published wage sheet, opens in a new tab, effective Apr 19, 2025(opens in a new tab) — external resource: unionpayscales.com published wage sheet, effective Apr 19, 2025, opens in a new tab. High confidence (checked Oct 5, 2026). Reference data only — not a Gulfstream Strategic Placements offer, quote, or guarantee of pay. How we source this— How we collect wage references, opens an explanation panel
Local 281 apprentice pay scale
A Local 281 apprentice in Chicago, IL starts at roughly $27.00 an hour — about 45% of the $60.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $45.00 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 281 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| Period | Share of scale | Hourly | Annualized |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $27.00 / hour | $54,000 |
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $33.00 / hour | $66,000 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $39.00 / hour | $78,000 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $45.00 / hour | $90,000 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $51.00 / hour | $102,000 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $60.00 / hour | $120,000 |
Standard percentage steps applied to the journeyman rate effective 4/19/25 — some programs run four periods rather than five, and fringe contributions differ by period. Apprenticeship applications go through the local's JATC, not through Gulfstream. See national union wage research.