Salary Data/HVAC & Pipefitter by State/Mid-Atlantic/New York/Buffalo

HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Buffalo

Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 22, effective April 2024.

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.

Market Context

UA Local 22 is the union local for pipefitters in Buffalo, a combined plumbers and steamfitters local with its hall and training department on Gardenville Parkway in West Seneca. New York's prevailing wage law applies to public construction.

→UA Local 22 represents plumbers, steamfitters and HVAC workers in the Buffalo metro

Union Scale

UA Local 22 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate

Journey-Level Hourly

$42.20

Effective April 2024

Rate reflects the most recent available Davis-Bacon determination (effective April 2024). Contact the local directly for current negotiated scale.

Base wage: $42.20/hr

Benefit contribution: $29.80/hr

Total package: $72.00/hr

Journey-Level Annual

$87,776

Based on 2,080 hrs / year

vs. BLS Area Median

+$25,596

Union scale vs. all-worker median

Union scale reflects the UA Local 22 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.

JATC Information

Training Center	UA Local 22 Training Department
Address	120 Gardenville Parkway, West Seneca, NY 14224
Phone	(716) 668-8500
Website	ualocal22.com
Minimum Score	Not published

Applying to UA Local 22?

Check with UA Local 22 for its current application requirements, including any aptitude test.

What to expect →

Area Wage Data

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

Median Annual

$62,180

+$1,170 vs. national

Median Hourly

$29.89

vs. New York

-$1,573

vs. state average

Total Employed

1,370

In this area

Full Wage Breakdown

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	$62,180
Annual Mean Wage	$65,320
Hourly Median Wage	$29.89
Hourly Mean Wage	$31.40
Total Employed	1,370
Area Type	Metropolitan Area

Pre-apprenticeship programs in New York

Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) - University at Buffalo
Buffalo
Visit site
[Centerstate CEO] Oswego Build & Pathways
Fulton
Visit site
[Centerstate CEO] Syracuse Builds
Syracuse
Visit site

All pre-apprenticeship options →

Other HVAC & Pipefitter Markets in New York

Southwest New York (Non-Metro)

View All New York Data →

Union Rates in New York and Within 300 Miles

Up to six other metros in New York, 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.

UA Local 13

Rochester, NY

$42.68/hr

Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination

Journey-level · Davis-Bacon determination

Effective May 2019 · More than two years old

UA Local 7

Albany, NY