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HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Minneapolis

Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with collectively bargained journey-level scale from UA Local 539, effective May 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 539 anchors the Minneapolis and St. Cloud pipefitter market.

The Minneapolis pipefitter market runs through UA Local 539, which covers Minneapolis and St. Cloud pipefitters and HVAC/R service across 22 counties in central Minnesota. Local 455 covers Saint Paul, and Local 15 covers Minneapolis plumbers. The Minneapolis Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee runs two five-year apprenticeship programs, Construction Pipefitting and HVAC/R Service Technician, with the HVAC/R Service Technician track most relevant to pipefitters and HVAC techs in this market. Minnesota's prevailing wage law applies to public construction, and the metro's mix of healthcare, industrial, and commercial construction sustains consistent demand.

UA Local 539 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate

Journey-Level Hourly
$51.03
Effective May 2025
Base wage: $51.03/hr
Benefit contribution: $39.61/hr
Total package: $90.64/hr
Journey-Level Annual
$106,142
Based on 2,080 hrs / year
vs. BLS Area Median
+$28,652
Union scale vs. all-worker median

Union scale reflects the UA Local 539 journeyman pipefitter journey-level rate under the current collective bargaining agreement. The BLS area median reflects all HVAC and refrigeration mechanics across all employment types and experience levels.

Training CenterMinneapolis Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, Local 539
Address6200 Lakeland Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
Phone(763) 533-5514
Websitetraining539.com
Minimum ScoreNo minimum

Applying to UA Local 539?

The aptitude test is required for all applicants to UA Local 539. See what to expect and how to prepare.

What to expect →

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

Median Annual
$77,490
+$16,480 vs. national
Median Hourly
$37.25
vs. Minnesota
+$5,337
vs. state average
Total Employed
2,420
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$77,490
Annual Mean Wage$76,270
Hourly Median Wage$37.25
Hourly Mean Wage$36.67
Total Employed2,420
Area TypeMetropolitan 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.

UA Local 38
San Francisco
$85.50/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 32
Seattle
$75.21/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 420
Philadelphia
$72.52/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 638
New York
$70.36/hr
Journey-level
UA Local 537
Boston
$66.58/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 250
Los Angeles
$61.73/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 230
San Diego
$61.73/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 290
Portland, OR
$60.77/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 533
Kansas City
$57.51/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 597
Chicago
$55.00/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 602
Washington, DC
$55.00/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 189
Columbus, OH
$53.00/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 562
St. Louis
$52.60/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 469
Phoenix
$51.15/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 449
Pittsburgh
$50.20/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
Pipefitters Local 120
Cleveland, OH
$49.17/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 449
Erie
$48.15/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 486
Baltimore
$47.78/hr
Journey-level · State prevailing wage determination
UA Local 208
Denver
$45.40/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 725
Miami
$43.38/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 392
Cincinnati
$43.30/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 211
Houston
$42.09/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 636
Detroit
$41.96/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 72
Atlanta
$41.18/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination
UA Local 100
Dallas
$39.76/hr
Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination

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.