Last updated August 23, 2026
Everything you need to get into UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 81: whether apprenticeship applications are open right now, how the process works, and a free alert the moment the next window opens.
We publish a journeyman rate only where the US Department of Labor has a union wage determination for the local — that figure is the local's own negotiated scale, because DOL adopts collective-bargaining rates wholesale. The counties covering Syracuse, NY are on wage surveys instead, which are not union scale, so there is no rate here we can stand behind.
For reference, the median journeyman base across the 170 UA locals that do publish one is $46.10/hr — about $95,900/yr at 2,080 hours. Ask UA Local 81 directly for its current scale.
Identical wage ladder across all three Local 81 sub-areas (Syracuse/Ithaca, Jefferson/St. Lawrence, Oswego/Cayuga); only fringe contribution rates differ by area.
Applications are OPEN now through March 31, 2027.
Window opens: May 11, 2026 · Window closes: March 31, 2027
Official application page ↗Status last verified August 23, 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 Syracuse’s application status and email you the moment it opens — so you apply on day one, not day last.
UA Local 81 is based in Syracuse, New York. It represents and trains: Plumber, Steamfitter, HVAC/R.
Union hall: (315) 437-7397
From our last verification: NYSDOL recruitment for 20 Plumber & Steamfitter apprentices and 4 HVAC Mechanic apprentices runs May 11, 2026 through March 31, 2027; new class starts in June. Requires age 17+, HS diploma/TASC/GED, residency within Local 81's jurisdiction, valid driver's license, passing the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test, negative drug screen, and a signed physical-performance affidavit. No application fee published.
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 August 23, 2026: Applications are OPEN now through March 31, 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.
Applications go through the local's apprenticeship/training program (https://ualocal81.org/apprentice-application.aspx). 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 81 (Syracuse, New York) 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.
UA Local 81 runs a 5-year apprenticeship. Its published schedule starts at 55% of journeyman scale and rises to 85% by the final period. 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 New York local side by side: union plumber pay in New York.
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.