HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Boston
Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 537, effective March 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.
Wage figures reflect all HVAC and refrigeration mechanics across all employment types, union and non-union, residential and commercial, apprentice through master.
UA Local 537 and Massachusetts prevailing wage anchor the Boston pipefitter market.
The Boston metro's pipefitter market runs through UA Local 537, a 3,000+ member local distinct from UA Local 12 which covers plumbers. Massachusetts prevailing wage law covers public projects, and the region's concentration of biotech, life sciences lab construction, and dense urban commercial work sustains above-average demand.
- →UA Local 537 — 3,000+ members, covers pipefitting, welding, and HVAC-R
- →Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law on public projects
- →Biotech and life sciences construction sustains specialty demand
UA Local 537 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate
Union scale reflects the UA Local 537 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 | Pipefitters Local 537 Training Center |
| Address | 40 Enterprise Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 |
| Phone | (617) 825-3777 |
| Website | pipefitters537.org |
| Minimum Score | No minimum |
| Application Window | Annual. 2026 application period was January 5–29, in person only. Check pipefitters537.org for next cycle. |
Applying to UA Local 537?
The aptitude test is required for all applicants to UA Local 537. See what to expect and how to prepare.
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 | $78,530 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $79,890 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $37.75 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $38.41 |
| Total Employed | 6,050 |
| Area Type | Metropolitan Area |
Journey-level rates below are sourced from Davis-Bacon wage determinations, state prevailing wage determinations, or, where a local publishes one directly, its own collective bargaining agreement. Union density and market conditions vary significantly by region.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - SOC 49-9021 (HVAC and Refrigeration Mechanics) - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
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.