Journeyman base rates at the 4 union locals based in Indianapolis, IN run $45.45 to $57.53 an hour on the 3 published sheets we hold — roughly $100,000 a year at the midpoint, before the fringe package. HVAC union pay in Indianapolis — the sheet metal and pipefitting locals that cover commercial mechanical work — runs $50.00 to $57.53 an hour on those sheets. Each figure below shows its source and effective date.
| Local | Trade | Hall | Journeyman / hr | Total package | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA Local 440 rates in Indianapolis | Plumbers & Pipefitters | Indianapolis, IN | $57.53 | $77.37 | 7/25/26 |
| SMART Local 20 rates in Indianapolis | Sheet Metal Workers | Indianapolis, IN | $50.00 | $71.28 | 10/10/24 |
| IBEW Local 481 rates in Indianapolis | Electricians | Indianapolis, IN | $45.45 | $72.96 | 6/12/25 |
| SMART Local 179 rates in Indianapolis | Railroad Mechanical Workers | Indianapolis, IN | No sheet published | — | — |
Base rates only; fringes are paid on top. Sheet set last cross-checked 2026-09-23.
We email you when a direct-hire role opens around Indianapolis, IN. Competitive pay depending on experience — unsubscribe in one click. See open roles in Indianapolis, IN or get them emailed to you.
First candidates within 10 business days, confidential search, no fee to post or review candidates. Request candidates.
$50.00 an hour journeyman base at SMART Local 20, before fringes.
$57.53 an hour journeyman base at UA Local 440, before fringes.
$45.45 an hour journeyman base at IBEW Local 481, before fringes.
SMART Local 179 — no published wage sheet on file; contact the hall for current scale.
Union wages in Indianapolis sit at a $50.00 an hour median journeyman base across the 3 published sheets we hold for Indianapolis, IN — 11.6% above the $44.79 median across every local sheet on this site, and 7.2% above the $46.65 Indiana median. Base rates only — health, pension, annuity and training are paid on top.
Published union pay rates for Indianapolis, IN run $45.45 to $57.53 an hour on journeyman base scale — about $100,000 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.
| Market | Median journeyman / hr | Range | Sheets | vs. this city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Hammonds, IN union wages | $55.80 | $55.80–$55.80 | 1 | +11.6% |
| Hobart, IN union wages | $51.77 | $51.77–$51.77 | 1 | +3.5% |
| Evansville, IN union wages | $48.82 | $48.82–$49.11 | 2 | −2.4% |
| Terre Haute, IN union wages | $45.00 | $45.00–$46.65 | 2 | −10.0% |
| Kokomo, IN union wages | $44.20 | $44.20–$44.20 | 1 | −11.6% |
| Fort Wayne, IN union wages | $42.00 | $42.00–$42.00 | 1 | −16.0% |
| Lafayette, IN union wages | $42.00 | $42.00–$42.00 | 1 | −16.0% |
| Muncie, IN union wages | $40.18 | $40.18–$40.18 | 1 | −19.6% |
| Market | Median journeyman / hr | Range | Sheets | vs. this city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA union wages | $83.40 | $62.76–$95.75 | 8 | +66.8% |
| San Jose, CA union wages | $83.40 | $76.86–$95.53 | 6 | +66.8% |
| San Mateo, CA union wages | $79.41 | $79.41–$88.00 | 2 | +58.8% |
| Philadelphia, PA union wages | $70.32 | $66.22–$73.73 | 3 | +40.6% |
| Martinez, CA union wages | $68.26 | $68.26–$68.57 | 2 | +36.5% |
| Boston, MA union wages | $66.53 | $66.17–$70.80 | 4 | +33.1% |
| Seattle, WA union wages | $65.30 | $58.47–$76.95 | 6 | +30.6% |
| Jersey City, NJ union wages | $60.82 | $60.82–$64.96 | 2 | +21.6% |
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 Indianapolis rate updates
Not journeyed out yet? See Indianapolis union apprenticeships — the halls running each program, entry requirements and apprentice pay by period.
Across the 3 Indianapolis-area locals with a published wage sheet, journeyman base rates run $45.45 to $57.53 an hour, midpoint near $50.00 — about $100,000 a year at 2,000 hours. Fringes (health, pension, training) are paid on top of that base.
Of the sheets we hold, UA Local 440 (Plumbers & Pipefitters) shows the highest journeyman base rate at $57.53 an hour, effective 7/25/26. Rates reset each agreement cycle, so confirm with the hall before relying on the figure.
Commercial HVAC work in Indianapolis, IN is covered by the sheet metal and pipefitting locals — SMART Local 20 at $50.00/hr (effective 10/10/24), UA Local 440 at $57.53/hr (effective 7/25/26). That puts HVAC union pay in Indianapolis between $50.00 and $57.53 an hour on base scale, before the fringe package.
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 Indianapolis, IN is set per employer and varies with EPA and controls certifications, on-call and overtime. We recruit for both.
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.
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 Indianapolis contractors — the openings on this page are live.
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.
Indianapolis's median published journeyman base is $50.00 an hour, 11.6% above the $44.79 median across all local wage sheets we hold. Nearby Indiana markets: Gary Hammonds, IN $55.80/hr, Hobart, IN $51.77/hr, Evansville, IN $48.82/hr, Terre Haute, IN $45.00/hr.
Journeyman base rates in Indianapolis, IN run $45.45 to $57.53 an hour on the 3 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.
All Indiana union rates · Union rates by local · Compare local wages