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UA Local 421 Pay Scale & Apprenticeship — Charleston (both Carolinas), SC (2026)

Last updated August 28, 2026

UA Local 421 journeyman scale is $36.00/hr ($50.19/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.

UA Local 421 pay scale (2026)

Union scale

Journeyman scale at UA Local 421 (Charleston (both Carolinas), SC) is $36.00/hr base, $50.19/hr with benefits — about $74,900/yr at 2,080 hours.

Journeyman base$36.00/hr
Fringe benefits$14.19/hr
Total package$50.19/hr
Annualizedbase only, 2,080 hours$74,900/yr

UA Local 421 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 SC20260022 (pipefitter), observed in 1 county. Source: SAM.gov wage determination ↗

Compare all 170 UA pay scales →

Application status

Open now

Applications are OPEN now through May 14, 2027.

Window closes: May 14, 2027

Annual September enrollment; apply any time before the mid-May deadline for that year's class (miss it and you wait for the following term)

Official application page ↗

Status last verified August 28, 2026. Source: official local/JATC site. Windows can change on short notice — always confirm details with the local before making plans.

Get alerted when Local 421 opens

Windows at competitive locals can cap out in days. We watch Charleston (both Carolinas)’s application status and email you the moment it opens — so you apply on day one, not day last.

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About UA Local 421 Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVAC-R

UA Local 421 is based in Charleston (both Carolinas), South Carolina. It represents and trains: Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R.

PlumberPipefitterHVAC/R

Union hall: (843) 554-3655

From our last verification: Online application via the Join Us page (regular apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship). Current published deadline is May 14, 2027 for September 2027 enrollment — the Sept 2026 deadline has already passed. Requires copy of a valid NC or SC driver's license, SS card, birth certificate, HS diploma/GED, and Career Readiness Certificate test results Silver or higher. Local covers both Carolinas with four training centers. No fee mentioned.

Be ready before the window opens

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.

Frequently asked questions

When does UA Local 421 in Charleston (both Carolinas) accept apprenticeship applications?

As of August 28, 2026: Applications are OPEN now through May 14, 2027. 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.

How do I apply to UA Local 421?

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.

What trades does UA Local 421 train?

UA Local 421 (Charleston (both Carolinas), South Carolina) represents Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R — its apprenticeship program trains those trades. If you want a different pipe trade, check the neighboring UA locals in the directory.

How much does UA Local 421 pay?

Journeyman scale at UA Local 421 is $36.00/hr base, $50.19/hr including fringe benefits — roughly $74,900 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the 2026 union wage determination SC20260022, which is the local's own negotiated scale because the Department of Labor adopts collective-bargaining rates wholesale.

What does a UA Local 421 apprentice earn?

UA Local 421 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 $36.00/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.

What test does UA Local 421 use?

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.

Be ready before the window opens

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.