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Union wages in Bakersfield, CA — pay rates by local

Journeyman base rates at the 2 union locals based in Bakersfield, CA run $56.08 to $58.65 an hour on the 2 published sheets we hold — roughly $112,160 a year at the midpoint, before the fringe package. HVAC union pay in Bakersfield — the sheet metal and pipefitting locals that cover commercial mechanical work — runs $56.08 to $56.08 an hour on those sheets. Each figure below shows its source and effective date.

LocalTradeHallJourneyman / hrTotal packageEffective
IBEW Local 428 rates in BakersfieldElectriciansBakersfield, CA$58.65$79.903/1/26
UA Local 460 rates in BakersfieldPlumbers & PipefittersBakersfield, CA$56.08$82.196/13/25

Base rates only; fringes are paid on top. Sheet set last cross-checked 2026-09-23.

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Union pay by trade in Bakersfield

Plumbing & pipefitting (HVAC mechanical) union pay in Bakersfield

$56.08 an hour journeyman base at UA Local 460, before fringes.

Electrical union pay in Bakersfield

$58.65 an hour journeyman base at IBEW Local 428, before fringes.

Union wages in Bakersfield, CA compared with other markets

Union wages in Bakersfield sit at a $56.08 an hour median journeyman base across the 2 published sheets we hold for Bakersfield, CA — 25.2% above the $44.79 median across every local sheet on this site, and 9.2% below the $61.73 California median. Base rates only — health, pension, annuity and training are paid on top.

Union pay rates in Bakersfield, CA

Published union pay rates for Bakersfield, CA run $56.08 to $58.65 an hour on journeyman base scale — about $112,160 a year at the midpoint on 2,000 hours. Every rate below is taken from the local's own wage sheet and carries its effective date; confirm the current step with the hall before you rely on it for an offer.

Bakersfield union wages vs. other CA markets

MarketMedian journeyman / hrRangeSheetsvs. this city
Burlingame, CA union wages$87.75$87.75–$87.751+56.5%
San Francisco, CA union wages$83.40$62.76–$95.758+48.7%
San Jose, CA union wages$83.40$76.86–$95.536+48.7%
Oakland, CA union wages$83.40$83.40–$83.401+48.7%
San Mateo, CA union wages$79.41$79.41–$88.002+41.6%
Vallejo-Napa, CA union wages$71.60$71.60–$71.601+27.7%
Castroville, CA union wages$70.41$70.41–$70.411+25.6%
Martinez, CA union wages$68.26$68.26–$68.572+21.7%

Highest union pay rates in other markets

MarketMedian journeyman / hrRangeSheetsvs. this city
Philadelphia, PA union wages$70.32$66.22–$73.733+25.4%
Boston, MA union wages$66.53$66.17–$70.804+18.6%
Seattle, WA union wages$65.30$58.47–$76.956+16.4%
Jersey City, NJ union wages$60.82$60.82–$64.962+8.5%
Portland, OR union wages$60.77$54.99–$65.503+8.4%
Chicago, IL union wages$59.11$53.05–$64.168+5.4%
Las Vegas, NV union wages$58.83$50.00–$60.003+4.9%
New York, NY union wages$57.08$42.84–$76.309+1.8%

Medians are taken across the published journeyman base rates for locals based in each market. Cities differ in trade mix and agreement cycle, so compare like trades before drawing a conclusion.

Compare local union wages side by side · Union pay rates by local, nationwide · Search rate sheets by union and city · Email me Bakersfield rate updates

Apprenticeships in Bakersfield

Not journeyed out yet? See Bakersfield union apprenticeships — the halls running each program, entry requirements and apprentice pay by period.

Union rate questions — Bakersfield

What is union pay in Bakersfield?

Across the 2 Bakersfield-area locals with a published wage sheet, journeyman base rates run $56.08 to $58.65 an hour, midpoint near $56.08 — about $112,160 a year at 2,000 hours. Fringes (health, pension, training) are paid on top of that base.

Which Bakersfield local pays the most?

Of the sheets we hold, IBEW Local 428 (Electricians) shows the highest journeyman base rate at $58.65 an hour, effective 3/1/26. Rates reset each agreement cycle, so confirm with the hall before relying on the figure.

What is HVAC union pay in Bakersfield?

Commercial HVAC work in Bakersfield, CA is covered by the sheet metal and pipefitting locals — UA Local 460 at $56.08/hr (effective 6/13/25). That puts HVAC union pay in Bakersfield between $56.08 and $56.08 an hour on base scale, before the fringe package.

Do HVAC service techs in Bakersfield get union scale?

Only on signatory work. Sheet metal service and pipefitting/refrigeration service agreements are dispatched through the hall at the published scale; merit-shop HVAC service pay in Bakersfield, CA is set per employer and varies with EPA and controls certifications, on-call and overtime. We recruit for both.

Does the Bakersfield union rate include benefits?

No. The journeyman rate is the base hourly wage. Health and welfare, pension, annuity and training contributions are paid on top — that combined figure is the total package, shown where the sheet publishes it.

How do I get on with a Bakersfield local?

Apply to the local's apprenticeship or ask about journeyman organizing directly with the hall, and register on the out-of-work list if you already hold the ticket. We also place union-scale and merit-shop tradespeople with Bakersfield contractors — the openings on this page are live.

Where do these Bakersfield rates come from?

Each figure is read off that local's published wage sheet, with the source and effective date shown next to it. Our sheet set was last cross-checked 2026-09-23.

How do union wages in Bakersfield compare to other cities?

Bakersfield's median published journeyman base is $56.08 an hour, 25.2% above the $44.79 median across all local wage sheets we hold. Nearby California markets: Burlingame, CA $87.75/hr, San Francisco, CA $83.40/hr, San Jose, CA $83.40/hr, Oakland, CA $83.40/hr.

What are union pay rates in Bakersfield?

Journeyman base rates in Bakersfield, CA run $56.08 to $58.65 an hour on the 2 sheets published by locals based in the market, with the fringe package paid on top of that base. Apprentice rates are a set percentage of scale by period.

Union locals and open roles in Bakersfield · Jobs in Bakersfield · All California union rates · Union rates by local · Compare local wages

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