Journeyman sheet metal workers under SMART Local 19 in Southeastern, PA earn $62.62/hr in base wages, or $105.86/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Dec 2025.
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SMART Local 19 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 19 pay scale for 2026 is $62.62 per hour for journeymen in Southeastern, PA, or about $125,240 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $105.86 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 12/6/25.
| Local 19 journeyman hourly wage | $62.62 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $105.86 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $125,240 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $28.18–$31.31 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 12/6/25 |
A Local 19 apprentice in Southeastern, PA starts at roughly $28.18 an hour — about 45% of the $62.62 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $46.96 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 19 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $28.18 / hour | $56,358 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $34.44 / hour | $68,882 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $40.70 / hour | $81,406 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $46.96 / hour | $93,930 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $53.23 / hour | $106,454 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $62.62 / hour | $125,240 |
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Local 19 wages: $62.62 an hour on the journeyman scale, $105.86 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 12/6/25. That is the most recent Southeastern, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 41% of the SMART Local 19 package is employer-paid benefits and fringes rather than wages, which is why the package figure and a take-home hourly rate are not the same number.
Unverified: crowd-sourced figure (unionpayscales.com), not confirmed against the local's own wage sheet
Download the SMART Local 19 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective December 6, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $43.24/hr | Derived: total package minus base wage. This is the employer's combined hourly contribution to the funds, not take-home pay. |
|---|---|---|
| What the contributions fund | Health & welfare, pension, annuity, training and industry funds | Standard fund categories in mechanical and electrical agreements. The exact split between funds is set in the local's agreement — the hall or fund office publishes the schedule. |
| Paid on | Every hour worked | Fringe contributions are made per hour worked, so they scale with dispatched hours and are paid to the funds rather than to the member. |
The rates above are the SMART Local 19 scale used across the Southeastern, PA area. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial HVAC sheet metal, duct fabrication and installation, architectural sheet metal and test and balance for signatory contractors throughout the Southeastern metro, so a sheet metal wage quoted locally is normally this scale plus the fringe package shown in the table.
Gulfstream recruits sheet metal talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Southeastern. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 19 rates. For current Southeastern scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
SMART Local 19 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (215) 952-1999 to confirm dispatch procedure, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
SMART Local 19 represents sheet metal workers across Southeastern Pennsylvania, providing a highly skilled labor force for some of the most complex mechanical and architectural projects in the region. As a central pillar of the building trades in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, this local ensures that HVAC systems, industrial ventilation, and architectural metalwork meet rigorous safety and efficiency standards. The market is defined by its density of healthcare institutions, higher education facilities, and large-scale commercial developments, all of which require the precision fabrication and installation capabilities that Local 19 members provide. Signatory contractors rely on this union for a consistent pipeline of journeymen trained in CAD/BIM, welding, and advanced air balancing.
Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor dynamics within the Southeastern Pennsylvania sheet metal trade to assist contractors and tradespeople in navigating the regional economy. The influence of Local 19 extends beyond simple installation; its members are integral to the fabrication shops that drive the area’s industrial capacity. With a focus on sustainable building practices and modern indoor air quality standards, the local remains a critical partner for mechanical primes and specialty subcontractors. The stability of the Philadelphia market, paired with strong collective bargaining, makes this jurisdiction a benchmark for labor costs and technical proficiency in the Mid-Atlantic region, affecting how projects are bid and staffed across the state line.
Effective December 6, 2025, the journeyman hourly rate for SMART Local 19 is established at $62.62, contributing to a comprehensive total package of $105.86 per hour. This significant fringe benefit spread covers essential protections including health coverage and multi-tiered retirement plans. Apprentices entering the program typically begin at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting around 40-45% and advancing in scheduled increments as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These pay increases occur at six-month or yearly intervals, ensuring that as a worker's technical proficiency in layout, fabrication, and hoisting increases, their compensation reflects their growing value to the signatory contractor. All members should verify their specific classification and any recent cost-of-living adjustments with the Local 19 business office to ensure payroll accuracy for upcoming project cycles.
The chartered jurisdiction for SMART Local 19 primarily covers the Southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, centered around the Philadelphia metropolitan area and extending into the Lehigh Valley and surrounding suburban counties. The agreement governs all work involving the manufacture, assembly, and installation of sheet metal products, including HVAC ductwork, commercial roofing components, and specialized industrial exhaust systems. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from high-rise residential towers in Center City to industrial facilities in the outlying regions. The local maintains strict oversight of work rules within these boundaries, ensuring that signatory mechanical firms adhere to the established trade craft lines while allowing for the mobility of labor across the various counties included in the charter.
The contractor landscape for SMART Local 19 is comprised of a diverse mix of large-scale mechanical primes, specialized architectural metal firms, and dedicated service and testing contractors. These signatory employers range from massive regional entities capable of handling billion-dollar stadium or hospital projects to boutique shops focused on custom stainless steel fabrication and ornamental work. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major capital improvement cycles in Philadelphia's institutional sectors. Because Local 19 provides the workforce for both field installation and shop fabrication, the signatory landscape is deeply integrated into the local manufacturing economy, providing a stable environment for tradespeople seeking diverse project experience and long-term career growth.
Members have access to training for AWS welding certifications, Fire Life Safety (FLS) technician status, and TABB certification for air balancing. These credentials are often required for high-spec projects in the Philadelphia healthcare corridor and can lead to foreman or specialty lead roles within signatory companies, providing higher job security and career advancement opportunities.
The local operates a referral list system where members report their availability when a project concludes. Signatory contractors request labor through the hall, and members are dispatched based on their skills and position on the list. This ensures a fair distribution of work and allows contractors to scale their crews rapidly for large-scale Southeastern Pennsylvania developments.
Yes, Local 19 has a strong architectural presence, covering the installation of metal roofing, wall panels, and ornamental trim. Contractors specializing in the 'skin' of buildings often seek members with specific expertise in soldering and custom metal forming, which are core components of the apprenticeship curriculum and journeyman upgrade classes offered at the Philadelphia training center.
Transferring, or 'traveling', is governed by the SMART International Constitution. Generally, a member in good standing must contact the Local 19 business manager to inquire about work availability and reciprocity. If the local is at full employment, they may accept travelers. Permanent transfers usually require a specific period of residency and work within the jurisdiction before a formal card transfer is processed.
SMART Local 19 is seated in Southeastern, Pennsylvania (PA). We hold published wage sheets for 24 locals across Pennsylvania — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Southeastern and the rest of Pennsylvania, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 19. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 19 pay scale for 2026 is $62.62 per hour for journeymen in Southeastern, PA, or about $125,240 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $105.86 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 12/6/25.
Journeyman sheet metal workers under the SMART Local 19 agreement make $62.62 an hour in base wages, or $105.86 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 12/6/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$62.62 per hour base wage and $105.86 per hour total package for a journeyman in Southeastern, PA, effective 12/6/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $125,240 before overtime.
A Local 19 apprentice in Southeastern, PA starts at roughly $28.18 an hour — about 45% of the $62.62 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $46.96 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 19 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $28.18 an hour, or roughly $56,358 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $62.62 journeyman rate effective 12/6/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $40.70 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $46.96 an hour in the fourth period and $62.62 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 19 training center.
Local 19 wages: $62.62 an hour on the journeyman scale, $105.86 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 12/6/25. That is the most recent Southeastern, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published SMART Local 19 journeyman rate is $62.62 an hour ($105.86 total package), effective 12/6/25 — roughly $125,240 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable SMART Local 19 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/smart-local-19-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $62.62 hourly scale, the $105.86 total package and the 12/6/25 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current SMART Local 19 journeyman rate is $62.62/hour, with a total package of $105.86/hour including fringe benefits, effective 12/6/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $125,240 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 19 business office before relying on the figure.
The $62.62/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $105.86/hour total package adds employer-paid fringes — health and welfare, pension, annuity, apprenticeship training, and industry funds. Contractors bid work off the total package, so that is the number that matters when comparing sheet metal workers labor costs across locals.
Apprentices under the SMART Local 19 agreement are paid a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting near 40–50% in the first period and stepping up each six-month or annual period until reaching 100% at turnout. Against the current $62.62/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $28.18–$31.31/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
SMART Local 19 is headquartered in Southeastern, PA and dispatches sheet metal workers manpower throughout its chartered jurisdiction. Work performed inside that territory falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement and wage schedule, even when the contractor is based elsewhere and travels in.
Most locals require applicants to be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., hold a high school diploma or GED, pass a basic math/aptitude assessment and a drug screen, and be physically able to perform sheet metal workers work. Some Local 19 programs give preference to applicants inside the jurisdiction or to veterans. Eligibility rules are set by the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), so confirm the current criteria with the hall before applying.
Apprenticeship applications go through the SMART Local 19 JATC, not through a contractor or a recruiter. Applications typically open in defined intake windows each year: you submit the application with proof of age, education, and residency, sit for an aptitude test, and then interview. Ranked applicants are placed on an eligibility list and indentured as signatory contractors call for apprentices. Gulfstream Strategic Placements does not process apprenticeship applications — contact the Local 19 training center directly.
Sheet Metal Workers apprenticeships generally run four to five years — roughly 8,000–10,000 hours of on-the-job training plus several hundred classroom hours per year. Apprentices earn a paycheck the entire time, stepping up through the wage periods until they turn out as journeymen at 100% of scale.
Signatory contractors hire through the local's hiring hall, so working under the SMART Local 19 agreement generally means being a member or being organized in through the local's process. Journeymen from other locals can travel in by signing the out-of-work book, subject to the local's referral rules and manpower needs. Non-union sheet metal workers professionals are usually placed with open-shop contractors instead — we recruit for both.
Rates move with the collective bargaining agreement, typically on a fixed anniversary date each year of a three- to five-year contract, with negotiated increases split between the base wage and the fringe package. The figures on this page reflect the 12/6/25 schedule; check with the Local 19 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
Wage rates vary widely by local and market. Use the Union Pay Scale Explorer to sort every UA and SMART local by hourly wage, total package, and annualized pay so you can benchmark Local 19 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 19 hall is at 1301 S Columbus Boulevard Philadelphia PA 19147, serving Southeastern, PA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (215) 952-1999.
SMART Local 19 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (215) 952-1999 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in — Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
SMART Local 19 can be reached at (215) 952-1999. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
$62.62/hr in base wages for journeyman, or $105.86/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective December 6, 2025 per the unionpayscales.com wage sheet.
December 6, 2025. Pulled from the local's current published CBA wage sheet on unionpayscales.com and cross-checked at build time. High confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $62.62/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $43.24/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $105.86/hr package.
No. Gulfstream Strategic Placements is a private mechanical construction recruiting firm. We are not affiliated with the local, we do not run dispatch, and we do not set or negotiate union rates. We publish the local's own sourced figures as a reference for members and contractors.
High confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Sep 23, 2026 (7 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.