Journeyman sheet metal workers under SMART Local 206 in San Diego, CA earn $45.66/hr in base wages, or $73.51/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Oct 2022. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
SMART Local 206 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 206 pay scale is $45.66 per hour for journeymen in San Diego, CA, or about $91,320 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.51 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 206 journeyman hourly wage | $45.66 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $73.51 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $91,320 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $20.55–$22.83 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/21/22 |
A Local 206 apprentice in San Diego, CA starts at roughly $20.55 an hour — about 45% of the $45.66 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.25 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 206 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $20.55 / hour | $41,094 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $25.11 / hour | $50,226 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $29.68 / hour | $59,358 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $34.25 / hour | $68,490 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $38.81 / hour | $77,622 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $45.66 / hour | $91,320 |
SMART Local 206 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (619) 265-0501 to confirm dispatch hours, 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 206 represents highly skilled sheet metal workers, air balance technicians, and architectural metal specialists across the San Diego region. As a charter of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local manages the labor supply for major commercial and industrial projects in the Southwestern United States. The membership performs specialized work including HVAC duct installation, precision fabrication, testing and balancing (TAB), and stainless steel kitchen work. Because San Diego is a hub for biotechnology, military infrastructure, and high-density residential development, Local 206 maintains strict training standards to meet the technical demands of these specialized sectors.
The market for sheet metal in San Diego is heavily influenced by energy efficiency mandates and the massive presence of naval and medical facilities. Signatory contractors within Local 206's jurisdiction rely on a steady pipeline of journey-level talent to execute large-scale mechanical contracts. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has tracked the movement of sheet metal professionals through this market, observing how the local's apprenticeship and continuing education programs support the evolving needs of regional contractors. For the individual tradesperson, Local 206 provides a framework for consistent wage growth, portable benefits, and the collective bargaining power necessary to maintain a middle-class career in a high-cost coastal environment.
As of October 21, 2022, the journeyman hourly rate for SMART Local 206 is set at $45.66, with a total taxable and fringe package reaching $73.51. This spread reflects the significant investment in the health, welfare, and retirement security of the membership. Apprentices enter the program at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting around 40% to 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. By the final year of the five-year apprenticeship, workers earn approximately 80% to 90% of the scale. This tiered structure ensures that labor costs for signatory contractors remain competitive while providing a clear, merit-based path for new entrants to reach full prevailing wage status in the San Diego market.
The chartered jurisdiction for SMART Local 206 covers the entirety of San Diego County and extends to the international border. This territory includes major urban centers, military installations, and inland suburban developments where large-scale mechanical projects are concentrated. Members dispatched through the hall are expected to provide their own transportation to job sites within this geographic footprint. The work covered under the Local 206 agreement includes the fabrication, assembly, and installation of all sheet metal work, as well as specialized tasks like architectural copper roofing, siding, and the installation of complex air handling systems. Dispatch priority is managed via the local's out-of-work list, ensuring fair distribution of opportunities among qualified journey-level members.
The contractor landscape for SMART Local 206 consists of a diverse mix of large-scale mechanical primes, specialized architectural metal firms, and industrial fabrication shops. These signatory contractors range from national mechanical entities to locally owned plumbing and HVAC firms that maintain sheet metal divisions. The hiring environment is characterized by a need for technicians who can handle complex BIM coordination and pre-fabrication workflows. Most hiring occurs through the local referral hall, though contractors often maintain core crews for long-term service and maintenance contracts. This mix provides members with opportunities in both new construction and the high-demand service and retrofit market for existing San Diego commercial office space.
The journeyman wage of $45.66 is the gross hourly pay appearing on your paycheck before taxes. The total package of $73.51 includes that wage plus an additional $27.85 per hour paid by the contractor into your benefits. These benefits cover your health insurance, two separate pension funds, and training, which are not deducted from your hourly pay but are paid on top of it.
No prior experience is required to apply for the apprenticeship, as the program is designed to train you from the ground up. However, having a background in construction, shop classes, or mechanical drafting can be beneficial during the interview process. The JATC provides all the technical instruction and facilitates the on-the-job training hours required to become a journeyman sheet metal worker.
Yes, members in good standing from other SMART locals can typically transfer via a travel card or by following the specific reciprocity rules in the SMART Constitution. You must first contact the Local 206 business manager to inquire about the current work outlook and the specific requirements for depositing your card in the San Diego jurisdiction.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, journeymen and apprentices are usually required to provide a basic set of hand tools, such as snips, hammers, and measuring tapes. The signatory contractor is responsible for providing all power tools, ladders, and specialized heavy equipment. A specific tool list is provided to new apprentices when they are dispatched to their first job site.
SMART Local 206 is seated in San Diego, California (CA). We hold published wage sheets for 46 locals across California — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving San Diego and the rest of California, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 206. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements, 4160 Temescal Canyon Road, Suite 401, Corona, CA 92883. Phone (951) 208-7780. Email hello@gulfstreamsp.com. Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific.View our verified Google Business Profile
Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 206 pay scale is $45.66 per hour for journeymen in San Diego, CA, or about $91,320 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $73.51 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman sheet metal workers under the SMART Local 206 agreement make $45.66 an hour in base wages, or $73.51 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 10/21/22. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$45.66 per hour base wage and $73.51 per hour total package for a journeyman in San Diego, CA, effective 10/21/22. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $91,320 before overtime.
A Local 206 apprentice in San Diego, CA starts at roughly $20.55 an hour — about 45% of the $45.66 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $34.25 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 206 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $20.55 an hour, or roughly $41,094 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $45.66 journeyman rate effective 10/21/22. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $29.68 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $34.25 an hour in the fourth period and $45.66 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 206 training center.
The current SMART Local 206 journeyman rate is $45.66/hour, with a total package of $73.51/hour including fringe benefits, effective 10/21/22. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $91,320 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 206 business office before relying on the figure.
The $45.66/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $73.51/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 206 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 $45.66/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $20.55–$22.83/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
SMART Local 206 is headquartered in San Diego, CA 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 206 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 206 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 206 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 206 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 10/21/22 schedule; check with the Local 206 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 206 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 206 hall is at 4594 Mission Gorge Place San Diego CA 92120, serving San Diego, CA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (619) 265-0501.
SMART Local 206 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (619) 265-0501 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 206 can be reached at (619) 265-0501. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.