Last updated 2026 Davis-Bacon determinations
Median union journeyman scale across the 12 California UA locals with a published 2026 determination is $67.53/hr — 46% above the national median. Below: every local's own rate, apprentice pay where it's published, and which California locals are taking applications now.
Journeyman base and total package for every California local with a 2026 union wage determination. For a union classification the Davis-Bacon rate is the local's negotiated CBA rate, because DOL adopts collective bargaining rates wholesale — these are real scales, not estimates.
| Local | Journeyman | With benefits | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local 38 — San Francisco | $91.00 | $140.40 | CA20260007 |
| Local 467 — Burlingame | $87.75 | $129.19 | CA20260018 |
| Local 483 — Hayward | $81.54 | $122.89 | CA20260018 |
| Local 342 — Concord (Bay Area) | $80.50 | $130.95 | CA20260018 |
| Local 393 — San Jose | $68.76 | $115.39 | CA20260018 |
| Local 159 — Martinez | $67.68 | $116.72 | CA20260018 |
| Local 447 — Sacramento | $55.58–$67.37 | $97.37 | CA20260007 |
| Local 709 — Whittier | $58.60 | $92.25 | CA20260022 |
| Local 442 — Modesto | $58.45 | $97.19 | CA20260018 |
| Local 62 — Castroville | $57.75 | $101.35 | CA20260018 |
| Local 246 — Fresno | $13.00–$54.50 | $97.04 | CA20260018 |
| Local 228 — Marysville | $52.75 | $94.14 | CA20260007 |
13 more California locals in the directory with no published union rate: Local 78 (Los Angeles), Local 114 (Buellton), Local 230 (San Diego), Local 250 (Gardena (Los Angeles)), Local 343 (Vallejo), Local 345 (Duarte), Local 364 (Colton), Local 398 (Rancho Cucamonga), Local 403 (San Luis Obispo), Local 460 (Bakersfield), Local 484 (Ventura), Local 582 (Orange), Local 761 (Burbank). Their counties are covered by DOL wage surveys rather than union agreements, and a survey rate is not union scale — so we show their application windows and leave the wage blank rather than print a number we can't defend.
Status as re-verified by our daily cron across all 25 California locals. A window can close on short notice — always confirm on the local's own site before making plans.
| Local | Trades | Status | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local 38 — San Francisco | Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Window scheduled | October 25, 2026 |
| Local 62 — Castroville | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Window scheduled | October 24, 2026 |
| Local 78 — Los Angeles | Plumber | Always accepting | October 23, 2026 |
| Local 114 — Buellton | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Always accepting | October 22, 2026 |
| Local 159 — Martinez | Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Closed | October 23, 2026 |
| Local 228 — Marysville | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Window scheduled | October 22, 2026 |
| Local 230 — San Diego | Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Always accepting | October 23, 2026 |
| Local 246 — Fresno | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Closed | October 28, 2026 |
| Local 250 — Gardena (Los Angeles) | Pipefitter, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Open now | October 26, 2026 |
| Local 342 — Concord (Bay Area) | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Closed | October 25, 2026 |
| Local 343 — Vallejo | Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Closed | October 24, 2026 |
| Local 345 — Duarte | Pipefitter | Always accepting | October 24, 2026 |
| Local 364 — Colton | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Closed | October 22, 2026 |
| Local 393 — San Jose | Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Always accepting | October 24, 2026 |
| Local 398 — Rancho Cucamonga | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Always accepting | October 23, 2026 |
| Local 403 — San Luis Obispo | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Open now | October 24, 2026 |
| Local 442 — Modesto | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Closed | October 25, 2026 |
| Local 447 — Sacramento | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Window scheduled | October 22, 2026 |
| Local 460 — Bakersfield | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter | Always accepting | October 23, 2026 |
| Local 467 — Burlingame | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Window scheduled | October 24, 2026 |
| Local 483 — Hayward | Sprinkler Fitter | Closed | October 23, 2026 |
| Local 484 — Ventura | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Window scheduled | October 25, 2026 |
| Local 582 — Orange | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter | Closed | October 23, 2026 |
| Local 709 — Whittier | Sprinkler Fitter | Closed | October 25, 2026 |
| Local 761 — Burbank | Plumber, Pipefitter | Always accepting | October 24, 2026 |
Across the 12 UA locals in California with a published 2026 union wage determination, the median journeyman base is $67.53 an hour — roughly $140,500 a year at 2,080 hours. Rates run from $52.75 to $91.00 an hour depending on the local, which is 46% above the $46.10 national median across all 170 rated UA locals.
UA Local 38 Plumbers, Steamfitters & HVAC/R in San Francisco carries the highest published journeyman base in California at $91.00 an hour, $140.40 with fringe benefits. The lowest of the 12 rated locals is Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVACR UA Local Union 228 in Marysville at $52.75. Pay follows the local's collective bargaining agreement, so it tracks the cost of construction in that jurisdiction rather than the state as a whole.
25 UA locals in our directory cover California, of which 12 publish a union journeyman rate through a Davis-Bacon determination. The other 13 sit in counties whose determinations are wage surveys rather than union agreements, so we don't publish a rate we can't stand behind.
Yes — 10 of the 25 California locals are accepting applications as of our last check: Local 78 (Los Angeles), Local 114 (Buellton), Local 230 (San Diego), Local 250 (Gardena (Los Angeles)), Local 345 (Duarte), Local 393 (San Jose), Local 398 (Rancho Cucamonga), Local 403 (San Luis Obispo), Local 460 (Bakersfield), Local 761 (Burbank). Windows can close on short notice, so confirm on the local's own site.
Compare against national union plumber pay, the full 170-local pay table, or UA apprentice pay scales.
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