SMART Local 399 represents sheet metal workers in Charleston, SC. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
SMART Local 399 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.
SMART Local 399 has not published a current journeyman wage sheet we can source, so no contract rate is shown for this local. For reference only, the reporting-wide average for sheet metal workers locals is $43.65/hr ($61.86 total package) — a benchmark, not this local's rate. Confirm the current rate with the hall's business office. We publish the local's own rate, package and effective date as soon as it is available.
SMART Local 399 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (843) 554-4418 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 399 represents skilled sheet metal workers across a broad jurisdiction centered in Charleston, South Carolina. As an affiliate of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local provides the specialized labor force necessary for high-stakes mechanical projects throughout the coastal and inland regions of the state. The market is defined by a mix of heavy industrial applications, aerospace manufacturing support, and large-scale commercial HVAC installations. Members are trained in various disciplines including fabrication, architectural sheet metal, and testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) of environmental systems, ensuring that regional infrastructure meets strict performance and safety standards.
The Charleston market is a critical hub for sheet metal professionals due to the concentration of port-related industry and federal installations. Local 399 plays a vital role in coordinating the skilled manpower required for sophisticated ductwork and ventilation systems that sustain these facilities. While South Carolina is a right-to-work state, the union maintains its influence by offering a superior training pipeline and a reliable pool of certified journeymen for signatory contractors. This dynamic creates a competitive environment where the quality of craftsmanship and the depth of the safety programs directly impact the success of major mechanical bids and long-term facility maintenance contracts.
Because SMART Local 399 does not publicly publish a universal wage scale, tradespeople must contact the Charleston business office directly to confirm current hourly rates. Typically, sheet metal agreements in this region utilize a total package model where the base rate is supplemented by employer-paid fringes. Apprentices begin at a fixed percentage of the journeyman rate, often starting between 40% and 50%, and receive incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases provide a clear pathway to the full scale, rewarding the acquisition of specialized skills in welding, CAD drafting, and precision field installation.
The jurisdiction of SMART Local 399 covers a significant portion of South Carolina, with a primary focus on the Lowcountry and surrounding coastal counties. The charter includes the fabrication and installation of all sheet metal components for HVAC systems, architectural roofing, and industrial exhaust. Work performed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement includes everything from shop-based plasma cutting and assembly to field-side rigging and hoisting of large air handling units. Members may be dispatched to diverse sites ranging from military bases and hospital expansions to automotive manufacturing plants, depending on the current project backlog of the signatory mechanical primes.
The contractor landscape for SMART Local 399 consists of specialized sheet metal firms and integrated mechanical primes that handle large-volume ductwork fabrication. These employers often maintain their own production shops equipped with advanced machinery to support field operations. Hiring activity is generally driven by major capital projects in the industrial and institutional sectors. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this market, noting that signatory contractors rely on the union to provide a scalable workforce that can meet the high quality-control demands of sophisticated ventilation and architectural projects across the Charleston metro area.
Members of SMART Local 399 specialize in the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of sheet metal products. This includes HVAC ductwork for commercial buildings, industrial exhaust systems for manufacturing plants, and architectural elements like metal roofing and siding. They also handle the balancing of air and water systems to ensure building efficiency.
The apprenticeship is a multi-year program combining paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apprentices work under the supervision of journeymen during the day and attend classes in the evenings or on weekends. As they progress through the curriculum and gain field experience, they receive scheduled wage increases until they reach journeyman status.
Journeymen from other locals or experienced non-union workers may be eligible to organize in or transfer. This typically requires an evaluation of skills and work history by the Local 399 business manager. Testing may be required to verify competency in welding, layout, and installation before being placed at a specific journeyman tier.
Wage rates for sheet metal workers in Charleston are determined by the local collective bargaining agreement. Since these rates are not usually published online, you should contact the SMART Local 399 business office directly or consult with a signatory contractor. They can provide the specific breakdown of the base check and the total benefit package.
SMART Local 399 is seated in Charleston, South Carolina (SC). We hold published wage sheets for 2 locals across South Carolina — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Charleston and the rest of South Carolina, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 399. 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.
SMART Local 399 is headquartered in Charleston, SC 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 399 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 399 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 399 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 399 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.
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 399 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 399 hall is at 5453 Paulson Street North Charleston SC 29406, serving Charleston, SC and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (843) 554-4418.
SMART Local 399 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (843) 554-4418 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 399 can be reached at (843) 554-4418. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.