HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Portland, OR
Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 290, effective April 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 290 and Oregon prevailing wage anchor the Portland pipefitter market.
Portland pipefitting work runs through UA Local 290, the same local covering plumbers in this market. That shared local publishes an identical plumber and pipefitter rate. Oregon's prevailing wage law applies to public construction, and semiconductor manufacturing facilities and data centers in the broader metro sustain industrial pipefitting demand above what commercial work alone would generate.
- →UA Local 290 — combined plumber/pipefitter local, broad jurisdiction
- →Oregon Prevailing Wage Act on public construction
- →Semiconductor and tech manufacturing sustain industrial demand
- →Plumber and Pipefitter classifications share one CBA rate
UA Local 290 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate
Union scale reflects the UA Local 290 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 | UA Local 290 Training Center |
| Address | 20210 SW Teton Avenue, Tualatin, OR 97062 |
| Phone | (503) 691-5700 |
| Website | ua290.org |
| Minimum Score | No minimum |
Applying to UA Local 290?
The aptitude test is required for all applicants to UA Local 290. 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 | $65,260 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $72,700 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $31.38 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $34.95 |
| Total Employed | 2,580 |
| 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.