Journeyman sheet metal workers under SMART Local 26 in Reno, NV earn $42.13/hr in base wages, or $44.63/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 26 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 26 pay scale is $42.13 per hour for journeymen in Reno, NV, or about $84,260 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $44.63 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 26 journeyman hourly wage | $42.13 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $44.63 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $84,260 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $18.96–$21.07 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/21/22 |
A Local 26 apprentice in Reno, NV starts at roughly $18.96 an hour — about 45% of the $42.13 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.60 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 26 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $18.96 / hour | $37,917 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $23.17 / hour | $46,343 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $27.38 / hour | $54,769 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $31.60 / hour | $63,195 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $35.81 / hour | $71,621 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $42.13 / hour | $84,260 |
SMART Local 26 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (775) 352-9226 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 26 represents the skilled sheet metal workers across Northern Nevada and parts of California, operating primarily out of the Reno market. As a chartered affiliate of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local manages the labor supply for architectural sheet metal, HVAC installation, and industrial fabrication. The Reno territory has seen significant industrial growth due to the influx of technology and manufacturing hubs, which requires a highly trained workforce capable of executing complex ductwork and ventilation systems. Members of Local 26 are essential to the regional construction economy, providing the specialized craftsmanship necessary for both high-density residential developments and large-scale commercial infrastructure throughout the High Desert region.
The jurisdiction of Local 26 is defined by its commitment to rigorous training and safety standards, ensuring that signatory contractors have access to the most productive labor in the region. Because Northern Nevada serves as a logistics and manufacturing corridor, the demand for sheet metal professionals often fluctuates with major industrial capital projects. This market is characterized by a mix of traditional commercial HVAC work and specialized architectural metal cladding. For tradespeople, Local 26 offers a structured career path through its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), while providing contractors with a scalable workforce that meets the specific demands of Nevada’s evolving building codes and environmental regulations. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this labor market since 2014 to assist in identifying qualified talent.
Based on the data effective October 21, 2022, the journeyman hourly rate for SMART Local 26 is $42.13, contributing to a total package of $44.63 when including fringe benefits. The wage structure is designed to reflect the technical skill required for precision fabrication and field installation. Apprentices entering the program start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically beginning 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 a high percentage of the full scale, ensuring a predictable climb toward the journeyman tier. These rates are negotiated through collective bargaining to keep pace with the cost of living and the industrial demand in the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.
Based on the data effective October 21, 2022, the journeyman hourly rate for SMART Local 26 is $42.13, contributing to a total package of $44.63 when including fringe benefits. The wage structure is designed to reflect the technical skill required for precision fabrication and field installation. Apprentices entering the program start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, typically beginning 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 a high percentage of the full scale, ensuring a predictable climb toward the journeyman tier. These rates are negotiated through collective bargaining to keep pace with the cost of living and the industrial demand in the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.
The jurisdiction for SMART Local 26 covers a vast portion of Northern Nevada, centered in Reno and extending through the Tahoe-Truckee region and into several neighboring California counties. Work under this agreement includes the fabrication, assembly, and installation of all HVAC ductwork, commercial roofing components, and industrial air handling systems. The charter also encompasses architectural metalwork such as siding, decking, and specialized kitchen equipment installation. Members may be dispatched to projects ranging from urban high-rises in downtown Reno to remote industrial facilities in the surrounding counties. Contractors operating within these boundaries must adhere to the dispatch rules and labor standards set forth by the Local 26 business office and the multi-employer bargaining unit.
The signatory contractor landscape for SMART Local 26 is comprised of a diverse mix of specialty mechanical firms and architectural metal specialists. Many of these organizations are long-standing members of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA). The market includes large-scale mechanical primes who handle massive industrial ventilation projects for the region's tech sector, alongside mid-sized shops focused on commercial tenant improvements and residential HVAC service. Hiring typically follows project cycles, with significant demand surges during the construction of data centers and manufacturing plants. Signatory contractors benefit from a referral system that ensures workers have completed standardized OSHA training and technical certifications before arriving on the job site.
Newly indentured apprentices are generally expected to provide a basic set of hand tools, including snips, hammers, and measuring tapes. A specific 'tool list' is outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which specifies what the worker must provide versus what the contractor is responsible for supplying, such as power tools and heavy equipment. You should consult the JATC orientation guide for the exact list required for your first day on a job site.
Yes, the Local 26 training center provides members with access to AWS-accredited welding certifications and specialized training in CAD/BIM software. These certifications are critical for industrial work and high-spec architectural projects common in the Reno market. Maintaining these credentials often leads to increased employability and opportunities for foreman-level positions on complex job sites. Members are encouraged to utilize the JATC for ongoing skill advancement throughout their careers.
Local 26 operates a referral hall where members out of work sign an 'out-of-work list.' Signatory contractors request manpower based on their project needs, and the hall dispatches workers according to their skills and position on the list. This system ensures fair distribution of work and guarantees that contractors receive workers who are properly trained and safety-certified for the specific tasks required, whether in a shop or the field.
Travelers and members seeking a permanent transfer must follow the protocols established in the SMART Constitution. Typically, this involves checking in with the Business Manager, providing proof of good standing from their home local, and ensuring there is enough work in the jurisdiction to support additional manpower. Permanent transfers, or 'depositing a travel card,' usually require a period of working in the jurisdiction and approval from the Local 26 executive board.
SMART Local 26 is seated in Reno, Nevada (NV). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Nevada — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Reno and the rest of Nevada, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 26. 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 26 pay scale is $42.13 per hour for journeymen in Reno, NV, or about $84,260 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $44.63 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 26 agreement make $42.13 an hour in base wages, or $44.63 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.
$42.13 per hour base wage and $44.63 per hour total package for a journeyman in Reno, NV, effective 10/21/22. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $84,260 before overtime.
A Local 26 apprentice in Reno, NV starts at roughly $18.96 an hour — about 45% of the $42.13 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $31.60 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 26 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $18.96 an hour, or roughly $37,917 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $42.13 journeyman rate effective 10/21/22. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $27.38 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $31.60 an hour in the fourth period and $42.13 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 26 training center.
The current SMART Local 26 journeyman rate is $42.13/hour, with a total package of $44.63/hour including fringe benefits, effective 10/21/22. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $84,260 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 26 business office before relying on the figure.
The $42.13/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $44.63/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 26 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 $42.13/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $18.96–$21.07/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
SMART Local 26 is headquartered in Reno, NV 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 26 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 26 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 26 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 26 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 26 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 26 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 26 hall is at P O Box 26 Sparks NV 89432, serving Reno, NV and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (775) 352-9226.
SMART Local 26 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (775) 352-9226 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 26 can be reached at (775) 352-9226. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.