HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Chicago
Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 597.
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 597 is the union local for pipefitters in Chicago. Union apprentices train at the Pipe Fitters' Training Center Local Union 597 in Mokena. Illinois prevailing wage law applies to public construction.
UA Local 597 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate
The effective date for this Davis-Bacon determination is not recorded. Contact the local directly for current negotiated scale.
Union scale reflects the UA Local 597 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 Center | Pipe Fitters' Training Center Local Union 597 |
| Address | 10850 W. 187th Street, Mokena, IL 60448 |
| Phone | (708) 326-9240 |
| Website | pftf597.org |
| Minimum Score | Not published |
Applying to UA Local 597?
Check with UA Local 597 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 | $77,960 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $79,340 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $37.48 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $38.14 |
| Total Employed | 7,210 |
| Area Type | Metropolitan Area |
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Up to six other metros in Illinois, 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 →