UnionInsulators Local 5 wages 2026 (California)
The hourly rates, overtime, shift, vacation and per diem rules of Insulators Local 5 in California, read from the two agreements built into the Insulator app. An independent guide: the agreement and your hall have the final word.
Southern California, new construction
Heat and Frost Insulators Local 5 agreement (Southern California), per California DIR determination SC-3-5-1-2026-1: new construction
$63.76an hour
Journeyman, Southern California, new construction
From July 6, 2026. Next step $63.57 on January 1, 2027.
| Classification | From July 6, 2026 | From January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman (mechanic)base rate | $63.76 | $63.57 |
| Fire stop technician | $39.94 | $39.94 |
| Hazardous material handler mechanic | $36.47 | $36.47 |
- Overtime
- Overtime on new construction (DIR notes d, e): the first 2 overtime hours on a weekday are time and a half, then double time; Saturday is time and a half for the first 8 hours, then double; Sundays and holidays are double time; Labor Day work, only in emergencies, is triple time.
- Per diem and travel
- Beyond the free zone, staying away from home: $130 per diem a day worked.
Southern California, maintenance and abatement projects
Heat and Frost Insulators Local 5 agreement (Southern California), per California DIR determination SC-3-5-1-2026-1: maintenance and abatement projects
$63.76 an hour, journeyman (mechanic), from July 6, 2026; $63.57 from January 1, 2027.
| Classification | From July 6, 2026 | From January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman (mechanic)base rate | $63.76 | $63.57 |
| Fire stop technician | $39.94 | $39.94 |
| Hazardous material handler mechanic | $36.47 | $36.47 |
- Overtime
- Overtime on maintenance and abatement projects (DIR notes f, g): all daily overtime and every Saturday hour is time and a half, and Sundays and holidays may be worked at time and a half.
- Per diem and travel
- Beyond the free zone, staying away from home: $130 per diem a day worked.
One 40-hour week, worked out
Week of October 25, 2026Journeyman (mechanic), Southern California, new construction
Example| Day | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Earnings | |
| Regular40 h × 63.76 | 2,550.40 |
| Gross pay | 2,550.40 |
| Deductions | |
| Field dues5.5% of gross wages | −140.27 |
| Supplemental duesper hour | −10.00 |
| Social Security6.2% | −158.12 |
| Medicare1.45% | −36.98 |
| CA SDI | −33.16 |
| Federal income taxestimate (W-4) | −395.44 |
| California income taxestimate | −174.31 |
What's missing
Where the app can't follow a rule to the letter yet, its notes say so, and say how to allow for it when you enter your hours. From this page's agreements:
- Southern California, new construction. DIR doesn't print the step dates, so the app starts each July step on the first Monday of July, DIR's pattern. The fire stop technician's $39.94 is the 2024 federal rate, the newest published, so it's used for every week (the real rate is probably higher). The package goes up $4.75 on July 5 2027, $4.80 on July 3 2028 and $4.95 on July 2 2029, to be allocated: the app keeps $63.57 until your new rate is out.
- Southern California, new construction. The app has no triple-time rate, so Labor Day hours show at double time, a third short of what's owed.
- Southern California, new construction. The provisions don't say whether a weekend holiday moves, so the app keeps each on its date.
- Southern California, new construction. The supplemental dues are counted on hours worked, and the hazardous material handler and fire stop technician are taken to pay the same. The vacation and holiday contribution ($4.80 an hour from July 2026) is paid by the employer to a fund, not on your check.
- Southern California, new construction. The provisions don't say how it's taxed: the app treats it as a tax-free per diem when you stay away from home overnight and as taxable wages when you drive home each day; mileage and parking aren't added (type them in the week's reimbursement box).
- Southern California, maintenance and abatement projects. DIR doesn't print the step dates, so the app starts each July step on the first Monday of July, DIR's pattern. The fire stop technician's $39.94 is the 2024 federal rate, the newest published, so it's used for every week (the real rate is probably higher). The package goes up $4.75 on July 5 2027, $4.80 on July 3 2028 and $4.95 on July 2 2029, to be allocated: the app keeps $63.57 until your new rate is out.
- Southern California, maintenance and abatement projects. The determination doesn't say when Sundays and holidays are paid more, so the app pays them at time and a half, the lower choice (Labor Day, emergencies only, stays at double time; it's triple on construction). If your job pays double time on Sundays and holidays, pick the new construction setup.
- Southern California, maintenance and abatement projects. The provisions don't say whether a weekend holiday moves, so the app keeps each on its date.
- Southern California, maintenance and abatement projects. The supplemental dues are counted on hours worked, and the hazardous material handler and fire stop technician are taken to pay the same. The vacation and holiday contribution ($4.80 an hour from July 2026) is paid by the employer to a fund, not on your check.
- Southern California, maintenance and abatement projects. The provisions don't say how it's taxed: the app treats it as a tax-free per diem when you stay away from home overnight and as taxable wages when you drive home each day; mileage and parking aren't added (type them in the week's reimbursement box).
Enter your own hours in the Insulator app: it applies these rates, the overtime and holiday rules, dues and tax, and keeps a year of paychecks. Free for a month.
Your agreement isn't here, or a number is wrong? Send us your agreement from the app's Settings tab. If the app doesn't have it yet, you get a free year when it's added.
Questions
What does a Local 5 journeyman (mechanic) make in 2026?
$63.76 an hour under the Heat and Frost Insulators Local 5 agreement (Southern California), per California DIR determination SC-3-5-1-2026-1: new construction, from July 6, 2026. The other agreements on this page: Southern California, maintenance and abatement projects $63.76.
When is the next Local 5 raise?
The next step in the Southern California, new construction schedule is $63.57 an hour on January 1, 2027.
Does Local 5 pay a per diem?
Beyond the free zone, staying away from home: $130 per diem a day worked.
How is Local 5 overtime paid?
Overtime on new construction (DIR notes d, e): the first 2 overtime hours on a weekday are time and a half, then double time; Saturday is time and a half for the first 8 hours, then double; Sundays and holidays are double time; Labor Day work, only in emergencies, is triple time.
What is the take-home on a 40-hour week?
About $1,602.12 for a journeyman (mechanic) on 5×8 Mon–Fri, after Social Security, Medicare and income tax, with no overtime, shift premium or per diem. An example from the app: your own paycheck depends on your deductions.
Sources
The agreements and schedules these numbers were read from. Built October 15, 2026 from the Insulator app, version 0.1.0.
Independent. Not affiliated with any union. Check your agreement.