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HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Seattle

Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 32, effective June 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.

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 32 is the union local for pipefitters and plumbers in the Seattle area, and it publishes an identical plumber and pipefitter rate. Union apprentices train at the Seattle Area Pipe Trades Joint Apprenticeship Training Center in Renton. Washington's prevailing wage law applies to public construction.

UA Local 32 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate

Journey-Level Hourly
$75.21
Effective June 2025
Base wage: $75.21/hr
Benefit contribution: $33.88/hr
Total package: $109.09/hr
Journey-Level Annual
$156,437
Based on 2,080 hrs / year
vs. BLS Area Median
+$76,337
Union scale vs. all-worker median

Union scale reflects the UA Local 32 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 CenterSeattle Area Pipe Trades Joint Apprenticeship Training Center
Address595 Monster Rd SW, Suite 100, Renton, WA 98057
Phone(425) 271-5900
Websiteseattlepipetrades.org
Minimum ScoreNot published

Applying to UA Local 32?

Check with UA Local 32 for its current application requirements, including any aptitude test.

What to expect →

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

Median Annual
$80,100
+$19,090 vs. national
Median Hourly
$38.51
vs. Washington
+$10,803
vs. state average
Total Employed
3,940
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$80,100
Annual Mean Wage$85,420
Hourly Median Wage$38.51
Hourly Mean Wage$41.07
Total Employed3,940
Area TypeMetropolitan Area
All pre-apprenticeship options →

Up to six other metros in Washington, 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.

Union rates in every metro we cover →

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 49-9021). How we build these figures →