Last updated 2026 Davis-Bacon determinations
Median union journeyman scale across the 5 Kentucky UA locals with a published 2026 determination is $41.00/hr — 11% below the national median. Below: every local's own rate, apprentice pay where it's published, and which Kentucky locals are taking applications now.
Journeyman base and total package for every Kentucky 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 184 — Paducah | $44.26 | $64.54 | KY20260099 |
| Local 248 — Ashland | $42.75 | $68.51 | KY20260038 |
| Local 452 — Lexington | $41.00 | $62.66 | KY20260037 |
| Local 633 — Owensboro | $38.41 | $60.67 | KY20260099 |
| Local 502 — Louisville | $32.00 | $52.13 | IN20260004 |
Status as re-verified by our daily cron across all 5 Kentucky 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 184 — Paducah | Plumber, Steamfitter | Watching | August 25, 2026 |
| Local 248 — Ashland | Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R | Watching | August 23, 2026 |
| Local 452 — Lexington | Plumber, Pipefitter, Sprinkler Fitter, HVAC/R | Closed | August 23, 2026 |
| Local 502 — Louisville | Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R | Open now | September 4, 2026 |
| Local 633 — Owensboro | Plumber, Pipefitter | Watching | August 25, 2026 |
Across the 5 UA locals in Kentucky with a published 2026 union wage determination, the median journeyman base is $41.00 an hour — roughly $85,300 a year at 2,080 hours. Rates run from $32.00 to $44.26 an hour depending on the local, which is 11% below the $46.10 national median across all 170 rated UA locals.
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 184 in Paducah carries the highest published journeyman base in Kentucky at $44.26 an hour, $64.54 with fringe benefits. The lowest of the 5 rated locals is UA Local 502 Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVACR in Louisville at $32.00. 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.
5 UA locals in our directory cover Kentucky.
Yes — 1 of the 5 Kentucky locals is accepting applications as of our last check: Local 502 (Louisville). 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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