Sprinkler Fitter
UA Local 669
Install and maintain fire suppression sprinkler systems in commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings.
Starting Pay
$22.05/hr
1st year apprentice
Journeyman Pay
$45.93/hr
~$92k/year
Apprenticeship
5 years
earn while you learn
Total Package
$125,000+
wages + benefits
Overview
The Work
Sprinkler fitters from UA Local 669, District 28 install, maintain, and inspect fire suppression systems across all of Minnesota outside the Twin Cities metro (where Local 417 has jurisdiction). Local 669 is a national sprinkler fitter local with 16,000+ members — District 28 covers outstate Minnesota from Duluth to Mankato. Day-to-day work includes laying out and installing wet, dry, pre-action, and deluge sprinkler systems in commercial buildings, warehouses, industrial facilities, and schools. You'll read fire protection drawings, cut and thread pipe, hang hangers, and test completed systems to code.
Day One as an Apprentice
Your first day on the job you'll report to a job site and meet your journeyman partner. Expect to spend the first weeks learning job-site safety, how to read fire protection drawings, and basic pipe fitting for sprinkler systems. You'll start with physical work — carrying pipe, drilling holes for hangers, cutting and threading — while learning layout and installation from experienced fitters.
This trade is
Pay Scale
Pay increases each year of the apprenticeship as a percentage of the journeyman rate. All rates are hourly; estimated annual at 2,000 hrs/year.
| Year | Stage | Hourly | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Year Apprentice | $22.05/hr | ~$44k |
| 2 | 2nd Year Apprentice | $27.56/hr | ~$55k |
| 3 | 3rd Year Apprentice | $33.07/hr | ~$66k |
| 4 | 4th Year Apprentice | $38.58/hr | ~$77k |
| 5 | Journeyman Sprinkler Fitter | $45.93/hr | ~$92k |
Benefits Package
Full health insurance for you and your family, a defined-benefit pension plan, annuity savings account, and paid vacation. National local means your benefits follow you if you travel for work.
Apprenticeship Program
5 years
Program Length
800 hrs
Classroom Hours
9,000 hrs
On-the-Job Hours
How to Apply
Apply through the national JATC at sprinklerfitters669.org during the open application window. You'll need a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, and solid math skills. Be prepared for travel — outstate work covers a large geographic area.
Application Windows
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the national JATC. Check sprinklerfitters669.org for current information.
Requirements
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- Strong math skills (algebra and geometry)
- At least 18 years old at time of application
- Reliable transportation for travel across outstate Minnesota
- Drug-free workplace — pre-employment drug test required
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs
- Comfortable working at heights on ladders and lifts
- Ability to work overhead for extended periods
- Good manual dexterity for pipe fitting and threading
Tools You'll Need
- Basic hand tools (provided list at orientation): pipe wrenches, channel locks, tape measure
- Work boots (steel-toed required)
- Hard hat and safety glasses (often provided by employer)
Physical Demand
3/5
Technical Level
3/5
Union Hall
Market Outlook
High Demand
Sprinkler fitters are included within BLS SOC 47-2152 (plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters), projected at 5% national growth 2024–2034 (faster than average) and 6% MN growth 2022–2032. Fire-protection code updates and commercial retrofits drive steady demand.
Next Steps
Ready to learn more or apply? Here's what to do right now.
Wage source: Journeyman base hourly rate is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Commercial Prevailing Wage Schedule (effective 2025-12-22), which is derived from the prevailing collective bargaining agreement for All Minnesota Outside Twin Cities Metro. Total package (with fringe benefits) is higher than the base rate shown. Apprentice progression rates are calculated as standard percentages of journeyman scale and may differ slightly from the actual CBA. This page is not affiliated with UA Local 669 or any union. Verify all information — including current pay rates, application windows, and requirements — directly with UA Local 669.