Last updated September 1, 2026
UA Local 38 journeyman scale is $91.00/hr ($140.40/hr with benefits) on the 2026 union determination. Below: the full pay scale, apprentice steps, whether applications are open right now, and a free alert the moment the next window opens.
Journeyman scale at UA Local 38 (San Francisco, CA) is $91.00/hr base, $140.40/hr with benefits — about $189,300/yr at 2,080 hours.
UA Local 38 has not published an apprentice wage schedule we could verify. UA locals do not share a national percentage ladder — each local negotiates its own — so we don't estimate one. See the 10 verified ladders for what the steps typically look like.
2026 Davis-Bacon union determination CA20260007 (plumber, plumber, steamfitter, refrigeration fitter), observed in 2 counties. Source: SAM.gov wage determination ↗
Compare all 170 UA pay scales →Applications are closed right now — next application date is June 2027; application forms downloadable from the website in May 2027 (exact date TBD); written examinations conducted every two years.
Official application page ↗Status last verified September 1, 2026. Source: official local/JATC site. Windows can change on short notice — always confirm details with the local before making plans.
Windows at competitive locals can cap out in days. We watch San Francisco’s application status and email you the moment it opens — so you apply on day one, not day last.
UA Local 38 is based in San Francisco, California. It represents and trains: Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R.
Union hall: (415) 626-2000
How applications work: Application windows are infrequent — the site states the next opportunity to apply for the apprenticeship is in 2027.
From our last verification: UA Local 38 runs a periodic (biennial) application cycle rather than continuous intake; applications and written exams are only offered every two years. Prospective applicants should check the Training Department page in the months leading up to the next window (expected May 2027 for forms, June 2027 for applications) for exact dates, required documents, and any fees.
Most UA locals rank applicants by aptitude-test score and fill seats from the top down. The applicants who get in prepped early — start with a free GAN-style practice test or the GAN aptitude test guide.
As of September 1, 2026: Applications are closed right now — next application date is June 2027; application forms downloadable from the website in May 2027 (exact date TBD); written examinations conducted every two years. Application schedules are set by the local and its training fund and can change on short notice — always confirm on the local's own site before making plans.
Application windows are infrequent — the site states the next opportunity to apply for the apprenticeship is in 2027. Applications go through the local's apprenticeship/training program. The usual process: submit the application with your HS diploma or GED and ID, take the aptitude test, then complete a scored interview that sets your rank on the eligibility list.
UA Local 38 (San Francisco, California) represents Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R — its apprenticeship program trains those trades. If you want a different pipe trade, check the neighboring UA locals in the directory.
Journeyman scale at UA Local 38 is $91.00/hr base, $140.40/hr including fringe benefits — roughly $189,300 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the 2026 union wage determination CA20260007, which is the local's own negotiated scale because the Department of Labor adopts collective-bargaining rates wholesale.
UA Local 38 has not published an apprentice wage schedule we could verify. UA locals do not share a national percentage ladder — each local negotiates its own — so we don't estimate one from the $91.00/hr journeyman rate. Ask the local for its current schedule. What is true everywhere: you are paid from day one and there is no tuition.
Most UA locals test applicants with the GAN aptitude battery — reading comprehension, numerical computation and reasoning, problem solving, paper folding, and mechanical comprehension — and rank candidates by score. Your test score plus interview decide your ranking, so prep before the window opens.
Or compare every California local side by side: union plumber pay in California.
Applying is step one — the aptitude battery and the scored interview decide your rank. Set this local in the app and your study plan gets paced to its deadline.
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PipePrep AI is an independent directory and study tool — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the United Association (UA), any UA local, any JATC or training fund, or GAN Human Resources. Application windows, fees, and requirements change constantly; always verify details on the local's own website before you act on anything here.