Last updated October 22, 2026
UA Local 597 journeyman scale is $55.00/hr ($93.62/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 597 (Chicago, IL) is $55.00/hr base, $93.62/hr with benefits — about $114,400/yr at 2,080 hours.
Building Trades Apprentice schedule, printed in dollars with no percentages stated. Local 597 separately publishes a percentage table for a Residential/Light-Commercial HVAC *Trainee* classification — a different job, not this ladder.
2026 Davis-Bacon union determination IL20260001 (pipefitter), observed in 3 counties. Source: SAM.gov wage determination ↗
Compare all 170 UA pay scales →The next application window opens November 4, 2026.
Window opens: November 4, 2026
Official application page ↗Status last verified October 22, 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 Chicago’s application status and email you the moment it opens — so you apply on day one, not day last.
UA Local 597 is based in Chicago, Illinois. It represents and trains: Pipefitter, HVAC/R.
Union hall: (312) 829-4191
How applications work: Applicants register online for scheduled Application Days at the Mokena training center ($20 application fee); the exam date is then sent by certified mail.
From our last verification: $20 non-refundable application fee (cash or money order only), birth certificate, HS diploma/GED (or letter for seniors on track to graduate), valid driver's license required. Application must be completed on-site; aptitude testing via third-party company ($20 study guide fee). Accepted candidates must pass urine and hair follicle drug test. Registration must be reserved via online form, opens first Wednesday 7:00am, slots limited and close when full.
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 October 22, 2026: The next application window opens November 4, 2026. 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.
Applicants register online for scheduled Application Days at the Mokena training center ($20 application fee); the exam date is then sent by certified mail. Applications go through the local's apprenticeship/training program (https://www.pftf597.org/). 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 597 (Chicago, Illinois) represents Pipefitter, 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 597 is $55.00/hr base, $93.62/hr including fringe benefits — roughly $114,400 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the 2026 union wage determination IL20260001, which is the local's own negotiated scale because the Department of Labor adopts collective-bargaining rates wholesale.
UA Local 597 runs a 5-year apprenticeship. Its published schedule starts at $23.40/hr and rises to $58.50/hr. You earn from day one — 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 Illinois local side by side: union plumber pay in Illinois.
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.
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