Journeyman sheet metal workers under SMART Local 219 in Rockford, IL earn $52.14/hr in base wages, or $90.20/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2024.
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SMART Local 219 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 219 pay scale is $52.14 per hour for journeymen in Rockford, IL, or about $104,280 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $90.20 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 6/1/24.
| Local 219 journeyman hourly wage | $52.14 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $90.20 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $104,280 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $23.46–$26.07 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/1/24 |
| Classification | Building Trades Journeyman |
A Local 219 apprentice in Rockford, IL starts at roughly $23.46 an hour — about 45% of the $52.14 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $39.11 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 219 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $23.46 / hour | $46,926 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $28.68 / hour | $57,354 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $33.89 / hour | $67,782 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $39.11 / hour | $78,210 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $44.32 / hour | $88,638 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $52.14 / hour | $104,280 |
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Local 219 wages: $52.14 an hour on the journeyman scale, $90.20 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/1/24. That is the most recent Rockford, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 42% of the SMART Local 219 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.
Verified from official source: SMART Local 219 wage rate sheet with SMACNA of Northern Illinois
Download the SMART Local 219 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 1, 2024.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $38.06/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 219 scale used across the Rockford, IL 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 Rockford 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 Rockford. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 219 rates. For current Rockford scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
SMART Local 219 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (815) 874-6641 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 219 represents the professional sheet metal workers and air balancer technicians serving the Rockford, Illinois metropolitan area and the surrounding northern counties. As a charter of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local provides the skilled labor force necessary for complex architectural sheet metal, industrial ventilation, and commercial HVAC systems. The Rockford market serves as a critical hub for regional manufacturing and healthcare infrastructure, necessitating a highly trained workforce capable of meeting strict building codes and performance standards. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this region as a strategic intersection for skilled trades in the Midwest.
The membership of Local 219 is comprised of journey-level craftspeople who have completed rigorous training in fabrication, installation, and maintenance. By maintaining a deep bench of qualified sheet metal workers, the local supports a variety of projects ranging from high-precision laboratory exhaust systems to large-scale retail ductwork installations. For signatory contractors, the local offers a predictable labor pipeline that mitigates the risks associated with the regional skilled labor shortage. For the individual tradesperson, membership provides access to collective bargaining power, ensuring that compensation packages remain competitive within the northern Illinois economic corridor while maintaining high standards for workplace safety and craftsmanship.
Journeyman wages at SMART Local 219 are established through collective bargaining agreements between the union and regional contractor associations. While specific hourly rates are not publicly broadcasted, they consist of a base taxable wage plus a comprehensive fringe benefit package. Apprentices typically begin their careers at a set percentage of the journeyman rate—often starting around 40% to 50%—and receive incremental raises every six to twelve months as they progress through the five-year program. These increases are contingent upon successful completion of classroom hours and documented on-the-job training. To obtain the most current wage scale and total package breakdown for the current contract year, applicants or contractors should contact the Local 219 business office in Rockford directly for the latest wage circular.
The chartered jurisdiction of SMART Local 219 covers the northern Illinois territory centered around Rockford, extending through several key counties bordering the Wisconsin state line. This geographic area includes major industrial zones, commercial centers, and residential developments where sheet metal work is regulated by union standards. The jurisdiction encompasses all phases of the trade, including the fabrication of ductwork in signatory shops and the field installation of HVAC systems, architectural metal roofing, and stainless steel kitchen equipment. Members dispatched within this territory are subject to the specific travel and subsistence rules outlined in the Local 219 Master Agreement, which governs how labor is moved across county lines to meet project demands.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 219 is characterized by a mix of long-standing family-owned sheet metal shops and larger mechanical primes that operate across the Illinois-Wisconsin border. These firms specialize in diverse market sectors, including specialized healthcare ventilation, public school modernizations, and industrial dust collection systems for the region's manufacturing plants. Hiring activity in this market is often tied to large-scale institutional projects and the recurring maintenance needs of Rockford’s industrial base. Signatory contractors benefit from a centralized dispatch system, allowing them to scale their workforce rapidly in response to seasonal peaks or large contract awards while maintaining consistent quality standards across all job sites.
Members of Local 219 work on a wide array of projects, including the installation of high-efficiency HVAC systems in hospitals, custom metal fabrication for food processing plants, and architectural metal for municipal buildings. They are also heavily involved in the maintenance and retrofitting of existing industrial facilities to meet modern environmental and air quality standards.
No prior experience is required for the apprenticeship program. The JATC is designed to take individuals with a strong work ethic and mechanical aptitude and train them through a combination of classroom instruction and paid on-the-job training. However, any previous experience in construction or welding can be beneficial during the interview and ranking process.
Local 219 utilizes a referral list system where members out of work can register their availability. Signatory contractors contact the union hall when they need additional manpower, and the local refers qualified members to those contractors. This system ensures that labor is distributed fairly and that contractors receive workers with the specific skills required for their projects.
Yes, welding is a core component of the sheet metal trade. The Local 219 training program includes instruction in various welding processes such as MIG, TIG, and Stick welding. Apprentices and journeymen have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications through the AWS or the International Training Institute, which are essential for industrial and structural sheet metal applications.
SMART Local 219 is seated in Rockford, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 32 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Rockford and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 219. 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 219 pay scale is $52.14 per hour for journeymen in Rockford, IL, or about $104,280 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $90.20 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 6/1/24.
Journeyman sheet metal workers under the SMART Local 219 agreement make $52.14 an hour in base wages, or $90.20 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/1/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$52.14 per hour base wage and $90.20 per hour total package for a journeyman in Rockford, IL, effective 6/1/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $104,280 before overtime.
A Local 219 apprentice in Rockford, IL starts at roughly $23.46 an hour — about 45% of the $52.14 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $39.11 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 219 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $23.46 an hour, or roughly $46,926 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $52.14 journeyman rate effective 6/1/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $33.89 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $39.11 an hour in the fourth period and $52.14 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 219 training center.
Local 219 wages: $52.14 an hour on the journeyman scale, $90.20 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/1/24. That is the most recent Rockford, IL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Yes — a one-page printable SMART Local 219 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/smart-local-219-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $52.14 hourly scale, the $90.20 total package and the 6/1/24 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current SMART Local 219 journeyman rate is $52.14/hour, with a total package of $90.20/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/1/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $104,280 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 219 business office before relying on the figure.
The $52.14/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $90.20/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 219 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 $52.14/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $23.46–$26.07/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
SMART Local 219 is headquartered in Rockford, IL 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 219 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 219 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 219 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 219 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 6/1/24 schedule; check with the Local 219 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 219 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 219 hall is at 3316 Publishers Drive Rockford IL 61109, serving Rockford, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (815) 874-6641.
SMART Local 219 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (815) 874-6641 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 219 can be reached at (815) 874-6641. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
$52.14/hr in base wages for building trades journeyman, or $90.20/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 1, 2024 per the SMART Local 219 wage rate sheet with SMACNA of Northern Illinois wage determination.
June 1, 2024. The negotiated rate on this primary source (SMART Local 219 wage rate sheet with SMACNA of Northern Illinois) is dated more than 18 months back, so a mid-term raise may already be in effect. Confirm the current step with the local's business office before extending an offer.
No — the $52.14/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $38.06/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $90.20/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.
Moderate confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Sep 28, 2026 (2 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.