Journeyman base rates at the 4 union locals based in San Diego, CA run $54.32 to $61.73 an hour on the 3 published sheets we hold — roughly $117,900 a year at the midpoint, before the fringe package. HVAC union pay in San Diego — the sheet metal and pipefitting locals that cover commercial mechanical work — runs $54.32 to $61.73 an hour on those sheets. Each figure below shows its source and effective date.
| Local | Trade | Hall | Journeyman / hr | Total package | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA Local 230 rates in San Diego | Plumbers & Pipefitters | San Diego, CA | $61.73 | $90.19 | 8/22/25 |
| IBEW Local 569 rates in San Diego | Electricians | San Diego, CA | $58.95 | $76.93 | 10/20/25 |
| SMART Local 206 rates in San Diego | Sheet Metal Workers | San Diego, CA | $54.32 | $86.44 | 1/1/26 |
| SMART Local 398 rates in San Diego | Railroad Mechanical Workers | San Diego, CA | 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 San Diego, CA. Competitive pay depending on experience — unsubscribe in one click. See open roles in San Diego, CA or get them emailed to you.
First candidates within 10 business days, confidential search, no fee to post or review candidates. Request candidates.
$54.32 an hour journeyman base at SMART Local 206, before fringes.
$61.73 an hour journeyman base at UA Local 230, before fringes.
$58.95 an hour journeyman base at IBEW Local 569, before fringes.
SMART Local 398 — no published wage sheet on file; contact the hall for current scale.
Union wages in San Diego sit at a $58.95 an hour median journeyman base across the 3 published sheets we hold for San Diego, CA — 31.6% above the $44.79 median across every local sheet on this site, and 4.5% below the $61.73 California median. Base rates only — health, pension, annuity and training are paid on top.
Published union pay rates for San Diego, CA run $54.32 to $61.73 an hour on journeyman base scale — about $117,900 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlingame, CA union wages | $87.75 | $87.75–$87.75 | 1 | +48.9% |
| San Francisco, CA union wages | $83.40 | $62.76–$95.75 | 8 | +41.5% |
| San Jose, CA union wages | $83.40 | $76.86–$95.53 | 6 | +41.5% |
| Oakland, CA union wages | $83.40 | $83.40–$83.40 | 1 | +41.5% |
| San Mateo, CA union wages | $79.41 | $79.41–$88.00 | 2 | +34.7% |
| Vallejo-Napa, CA union wages | $71.60 | $71.60–$71.60 | 1 | +21.5% |
| Castroville, CA union wages | $70.41 | $70.41–$70.41 | 1 | +19.4% |
| Martinez, CA union wages | $68.26 | $68.26–$68.57 | 2 | +15.8% |
| Market | Median journeyman / hr | Range | Sheets | vs. this city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA union wages | $70.32 | $66.22–$73.73 | 3 | +19.3% |
| Boston, MA union wages | $66.53 | $66.17–$70.80 | 4 | +12.9% |
| Seattle, WA union wages | $65.30 | $58.47–$76.95 | 6 | +10.8% |
| Jersey City, NJ union wages | $60.82 | $60.82–$64.96 | 2 | +3.2% |
| Portland, OR union wages | $60.77 | $54.99–$65.50 | 3 | +3.1% |
| Chicago, IL union wages | $59.11 | $53.05–$64.16 | 8 | +0.3% |
| Las Vegas, NV union wages | $58.83 | $50.00–$60.00 | 3 | −0.2% |
| New York, NY union wages | $57.08 | $42.84–$76.30 | 9 | −3.2% |
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 San Diego rate updates
Not journeyed out yet? See San Diego union apprenticeships — the halls running each program, entry requirements and apprentice pay by period.
Across the 3 San Diego-area locals with a published wage sheet, journeyman base rates run $54.32 to $61.73 an hour, midpoint near $58.95 — about $117,900 a year at 2,000 hours. Fringes (health, pension, training) are paid on top of that base.
Of the sheets we hold, UA Local 230 (Plumbers & Pipefitters) shows the highest journeyman base rate at $61.73 an hour, effective 8/22/25. Rates reset each agreement cycle, so confirm with the hall before relying on the figure.
Commercial HVAC work in San Diego, CA is covered by the sheet metal and pipefitting locals — SMART Local 206 at $54.32/hr (effective 1/1/26), UA Local 230 at $61.73/hr (effective 8/22/25). That puts HVAC union pay in San Diego between $54.32 and $61.73 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 San Diego, CA 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 San Diego 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.
San Diego's median published journeyman base is $58.95 an hour, 31.6% 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.
Journeyman base rates in San Diego, CA run $54.32 to $61.73 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.
Union locals and open roles in San Diego · Jobs in San Diego · All California union rates · Union rates by local · Compare local wages