Independent salary reference. Not affiliated with the BLS, United Association (UA), or any plumbing union. All wage figures cite the source; individual earnings vary by employer, certifications, and market.
Home/Union vs Non-Union
2026 Pay ComparisonBLS · OEWS May 2025

Union vs Non-Union Plumber Pay:
25-40% Total Compensation Difference

Updated 17 April 2026

The base wage gap is real, but the total compensation gap is where union membership truly separates itself. Here is the full picture.

Published union wage, 4 Locals

$62.00 - $94.00/hr

Their total package

$103.28 - $149.76/hr

All plumbers, US median

$30.67/hr

All plumbers, US 90th pct

$52.13/hr

Union figures are the four Locals with a published 2026 scale, listed with their sources below. National figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2152, covering union and non-union alike. The four Locals sit in high-cost metros, so the gap between the two is not a pure union premium.

Full Comparison Table

FactorUnion (UA)Non-Union
Journeyman base hourly$62.00 - $94.00/hr on the four published scalesNo published scale; set employer by employer
Health insuranceFull family coverage (employer-paid)Partial or none
PensionDefined benefit (guaranteed income)401(k) if offered
Defined-contribution pension$6.00/hr on the Chicago sheetNone
Training costFree through JATC (4-5 years)May cost $1,000 - $5,000
Apprenticeship pay24-75% of journeyman wage across the published laddersVaries, often lower
Overtime rulesStrictly regulated (1.5x weekdays, 2x holidays)FLSA minimum (1.5x weekdays)
Job securitySeniority-based layoff rulesAt-will employment
Geographic portabilityWork with any UA contractor nationallyDepends on contractor network
Member deductions$4.12/hr on the Chicago sheet (dues, target, building, PAC)None
Total package$103.28 - $149.76/hr on the four published scalesNo published equivalent
Wage gap summary+25-40% total comp vs non-unionBase comparison

UA Local Wage Scales (Representative Locals)

UA Local wage scales are set in multi-year collective bargaining agreements. The base wage is just the start; the total package includes health, pension, annuity, and training contributions that significantly exceed the base.

UA LocalLocationJourneyman BaseTotal Package
UA Local 38San Francisco, CA$94.00/hr$149.76/hr
UA Local 393San Jose, CA$83.57/hr$138.04/hr
UA Local 1New York City, NY$78.05/hr$124.45/hr
UA Local 130Chicago, IL$62.00/hr$103.28/hr

Each row is a single in-force published figure, not an estimate: UA Local 38 from California DIR, Determination SFR-2026-2, issued 22 Aug 2026, expires 30 Jun 2027; UA Local 393 from California DIR, Determination STC-2026-2, issued 22 Aug 2026, expires 30 Jun 2027; UA Local 1 from NYC Comptroller, Labor Law 220 construction schedule, 1 Jul 2026 to 30 Jun 2027; UA Local 130 from Plumbers Local 130 UA, PCA wage rate sheet, appendix C, 1 Jun 2026 to 31 May 2027. Only Locals with a published scale appear. Verify current rates with your Local before making decisions.

What "The Package" Actually Means

A plumber who compares a union base wage against a non-union hourly offer and reads the difference as the whole story is reading only the first line of the wage sheet. The employer contributions below it are itemised, and they are large. Here is Chicago Local 130's, line for line, off its published appendix C.

UA Local 130 Chicago journeyman, 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027

Basic hourly wage$62.00/hr
Welfare fund+ $18.15/hr
Retiree welfare fund+ $2.70/hr
Pension+ $12.00/hr
Pension, defined contribution+ $6.00/hr
JAC training fund+ $2.17/hr
Plumbing Council industry fund+ $0.26/hr
Total package$103.28/hr

Source: Plumbers Local 130 UA, PCA wage rate sheet, appendix C. The same sheet also lists dues check-off, target, building and PAC lines totalling $4.12 an hour, but those are payroll deductions from the member rather than employer contributions, so they are not part of the package. Chicago is the lowest of the four published scales on this page; San Francisco Local 38 adds $55.76 an hour to a $94.00 wage.

When Non-Union Makes Sense

Choose Union When...

  • +You are in a major metro where UA Locals are strong
  • +You value pension and healthcare security
  • +Commercial and industrial work is your career focus
  • +You want structured apprenticeship with free training
  • +You plan to stay in the trade for 20+ years
  • +You value defined overtime rules and job protections

Non-Union Often Works When...

  • -You are in a rural or suburban market with minimal UA presence
  • -You want to go self-employed quickly (master license + independence)
  • -You prefer residential service work with flexible scheduling
  • -Local union has a long waitlist and you need to start now
  • -You want to own a business within 5-7 years
  • -You prefer geographic flexibility across states

Frequently Asked Questions

Do union plumbers earn more than non-union plumbers?
Yes in total compensation, though how much depends on the market. The four UA Locals with a published 2026 scale run from $62.00/hr in Chicago Local 130 to $94.00/hr in San Francisco Local 38, against a $30.67/hr national median for all plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in BLS OEWS May 2025. Those Locals are all in high-cost metros, so that spread is not a pure union premium. The consistent structural difference is the employer contributions itemised on the wage sheet, $41.28/hr in Chicago and $55.76/hr in San Francisco, which a non-union plumber generally funds out of their own wage.
How much are union plumber dues?
It depends on the Local, and the working deduction is usually larger than the membership due people quote. Plumbers Local 130's published appendix C shows a dues check-off of $2.17 per hour worked, plus target fund $1.15, building fund $0.70 and PAC $0.10, which is $4.12 an hour deducted from the member. Separately, UA per-capita dues on that sheet are $32.00 a month. Ask your Local for its current schedule rather than relying on a national figure.
What does the package mean in union plumbing?
The package is the base wage plus the employer contributions itemised beneath it on the wage sheet. On Local 130 Chicago's appendix C that is welfare $18.15, retiree welfare $2.70, pension $12.00, pension defined-contribution $6.00, JAC training $2.17 and industry fund $0.26, which is $41.28 on top of a $62.00 wage for a $103.28 package. Payroll deductions taken from the member are not part of it.
How do I join a plumbers union?
Apply through your nearest UA JATC (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) at ua.org. Pass an aptitude test, get on the waiting list, and enter as an apprentice when accepted. Application windows vary by Local.
Can I switch from union to non-union or vice versa?
Yes. Leaving a union is straightforward, though leaving before pension vesting forfeits contributions. Going union from non-union typically requires applying through the JATC apprenticeship process or, if you are a journeyman, contacting your Local about joining.
Is the union pension worth it?
The contribution is large and it is paid by the employer on top of the wage: $12.00 an hour into the defined-benefit pension on Local 130 Chicago's sheet, plus a further $6.00 into a defined-contribution account. What that buys in retirement income depends entirely on your Local's fund formula, its funded status and your years of service, and no national figure describes it. Ask your fund office for a benefit estimate rather than working from a rule of thumb.
Journeyman Plumber SalaryHow union vs non-union rates compare at journeyman level, by state.Master Plumber SalaryWhy many union masters go independent and what they earn.Plumber Salary by StateStates with strongest union presence correlate directly with highest pay.Self-Employed Plumber IncomeWhy many plumbers leave unions to go independent, and what they gain and lose.

Updated 2026-06-19