HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in San Francisco
Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 38, effective July 2023.
The federal wage data on this page covers heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, work that is largely service, maintenance, and residential installation. The union scale shown is journeyman pipefitter, which covers refrigerant, chilled water, and hydronic piping on commercial construction and falls under a different federal occupation code than the wage data above. Duct fabrication and installation is sheet metal work, represented by a separate union called SMART (the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers), and is not reflected in either figure.
How to become an HVAC technician or pipefitter →Figures come from public sources and may not match the current contract; confirm with the local before making decisions.
In the Bay Area, UA Local 342 is the union local for pipefitters in Contra Costa and Alameda counties and UA Local 467 in San Mateo County; in San Francisco County, UA Local 38 represents pipefitters under a combined plumber and steamfitter agreement. Union apprentices train at the Joseph P. Mazzola Training Centers in San Francisco. California's prevailing wage law applies to public projects. California's statewide cost of living index is 140.5, against a U.S. average of 100.
UA Local 38 plumber, steamfitter, refrigeration Journey-Level Rate
Rate reflects the most recent available Davis-Bacon determination (effective July 2023). Contact the local directly for current negotiated scale.
Union scale reflects the UA Local 38 plumber, steamfitter, refrigeration journey-level rate from the applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination. The BLS area median reflects all HVAC and refrigeration mechanics across all employment types and experience levels.
| Training Center | Joseph P. Mazzola Training Centers |
| Address | 2660 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA 94124 |
| Phone | (415) 562-3838 |
| Website | ualocal38.org |
| Minimum Score | Not published |
Applying to UA Local 38?
Check with UA Local 38 for its current application requirements, including any aptitude test.
What to expect →All HVAC and refrigeration mechanics, union and non-union, all experience levels
All HVAC and refrigeration mechanics, union and non-union, all experience levels. Wage figures only, employer-paid benefits, pension contributions, and health and welfare are not included.
| Annual Median Wage | $78,490 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $86,540 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $37.73 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $41.61 |
| Total Employed | 3,980 |
| Area Type | Metropolitan Area |
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Up to six other metros in California, nearest first, then metros in other states within 300 miles. Journey-level rates are sourced from Davis-Bacon wage determinations, state prevailing wage determinations, or, where a local publishes one directly, its own collective bargaining agreement.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 49-9021). How we build these figures →
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.