TradePathHub

HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Atlanta

Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 72, effective August 2025.

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.

UA Local 72 is the union local for pipefitters in Atlanta, and its single rate applies to plumber, pipefitter and HVAC classifications. Union apprentices train at the Mechanical Trades Institute in Norcross.

UA Local 72 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate

Journey-Level Hourly
$41.18
Effective August 2025
Base wage: $41.18/hr
Benefit contribution: $17.01/hr
Total package: $58.19/hr
Journey-Level Annual
$85,654
Based on 2,080 hrs / year
vs. BLS Area Median
+$26,684
Union scale vs. all-worker median

Union scale reflects the UA Local 72 journeyman pipefitter 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 CenterMechanical Trades Institute (MTI-JATT)
Address6150 South Norcross Tucker Rd, Norcross, GA 30071
Phone(404) 373-5778
Websitemti-jatt.org
Minimum ScoreNot published

Applying to UA Local 72?

Check with UA Local 72 for its current application requirements, including any aptitude test.

What to expect →

All HVAC and refrigeration mechanics, union and non-union, all experience levels

Median Annual
$58,970
-$2,040 vs. national
Median Hourly
$28.35
vs. Georgia
+$7,853
vs. state average
Total Employed
7,060
In this area

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$58,970
Annual Mean Wage$60,460
Hourly Median Wage$28.35
Hourly Mean Wage$29.07
Total Employed7,060
Area TypeMetropolitan Area
All pre-apprenticeship options →

Up to six other metros in Georgia, 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.

Union rates in every metro we cover →

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 49-9021). How we build these figures →