Journeyman sheet metal workers under SMART Local 399 in Charleston, SC earn $27/hr in base wages, effective Feb 2025.
The Local 399 pay scale for 2026 is $27.00 per hour for journeymen in Charleston, SC, or about $54,000 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/1/25.
| Local 399 journeyman hourly wage | $27.00 / hour |
|---|---|
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $54,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $12.15–$13.50 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 2/1/25 |
| Classification | Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker — Charleston, SC (official careers page states journeymen earn up to $27.00/hr plus benefits) |
Apply now — Gulfstream places sheet metal workers candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 399 apprentice in Charleston, SC starts at roughly $12.15 an hour — about 45% of the $27.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $20.25 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 399 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $12.15 / hour | $24,300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $14.85 / hour | $29,700 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $17.55 / hour | $35,100 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $20.25 / hour | $40,500 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $22.95 / hour | $45,900 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $27.00 / hour | $54,000 |
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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 does not post an online application we could verify; contact the hall by phone for dispatch or apprenticeship. To be considered for direct-hire roles with mechanical, electrical and sheet metal contractors in this area, apply to Gulfstream. This is not an application to the union.
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Local 399 wages: $27.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, effective 2/1/25. That is the most recent Charleston, SC sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
SMART Local 399's published wage determination does not break out fringes, so we show only the wage figures it prints.
Verified from official source: SMART Local 399 official careers page
Download the SMART Local 399 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective February 1, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | Not published | The wage determination does not separate fringes for this local. |
|---|---|---|
| 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 399 scale used across the Charleston, SC 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 Charleston 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 Charleston. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 399 rates. For current Charleston scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
SMART Local 399 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (843) 554-4418 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 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 3 locals across South Carolina — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a commercial mechanical 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.
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Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 399 pay scale for 2026 is $27.00 per hour for journeymen in Charleston, SC, or about $54,000 a year at 2,080 hours. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 2/1/25.
SMART Local 399 wages for 2026: journeyman Sheet Metal Workers rate of $27.00 per hour in Charleston, SC, effective 2/1/25. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 2/1/25 with the SMART Local 399 business office.
The SMART Local 399 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $27.00 per hour, effective 2/1/25, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the SMART Local 399 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 2/1/25 with the hall.
Local 399 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $27.00 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($12.15–$13.50 per hour) in the first period and stepping up each period to 100% at turnout. The exact percentage schedule is set by the SMART Local 399 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman sheet metal workers under the SMART Local 399 agreement make $27.00 an hour in base wages, per the wage sheet effective 2/1/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$27.00 per hour base wage for a journeyman in Charleston, SC, effective 2/1/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $54,000 before overtime.
A Local 399 apprentice in Charleston, SC starts at roughly $12.15 an hour — about 45% of the $27.00 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $20.25 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 399 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $12.15 an hour, or roughly $24,300 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $27.00 journeyman rate effective 2/1/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $17.55 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $20.25 an hour in the fourth period and $27.00 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 399 training center.
Local 399 wages: $27.00 an hour on the journeyman scale, effective 2/1/25. That is the most recent Charleston, SC sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published SMART Local 399 journeyman rate is $27.00 an hour, effective 2/1/25 — roughly $54,000 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable SMART Local 399 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/smart-local-399-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $27.00 hourly scale and the 2/1/25 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current SMART Local 399 journeyman rate is $27.00/hour, effective 2/1/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $54,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 399 business office before relying on the figure.
Apprentices under the SMART Local 399 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 $27.00/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $12.15–$13.50/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
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.
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 2/1/25 schedule; check with the Local 399 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 399 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current sheet metal workers roles near Charleston, SC, and you can apply directly through the apply form on this page. These are direct-hire positions with mechanical contractors that Gulfstream recruits for, not union dispatch or hall referrals. For the hall's out-of-work list, contact the Local 399 business office.
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.
Apply through the local's joint apprenticeship training committee (JATC). Most programs open applications on a set schedule and require an aptitude test and interview. For SMART Local 399's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (843) 554-4418.
Each Sheet Metal Workers local sets its own intake process, and it varies. The common paths: apprenticeship through the JATC; organizing in as an experienced worker, since journeymen and technicians already working in the trade can usually apply directly to the hall for membership; or transferring from another local of the same international with a transfer card from your current hall. For fees and requirements, contact the hall at (843) 554-4418.
We haven't found an official source for SMART Local 399's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (843) 554-4418.
We haven't found an official source for SMART Local 399's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (843) 554-4418.
SMART Local 399's sourced journeyman sheet metal worker — charleston, sc (official careers page states journeymen earn up to $27.00/hr plus benefits) union rate is $27.00/hr in base wages, effective February 1, 2025. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$27.00/hr in base wages for journeyman sheet metal worker — charleston, sc (official careers page states journeymen earn up to $27.00/hr plus benefits), effective February 1, 2025 per the SMART Local 399 official careers page wage determination.
February 1, 2025. The negotiated rate on this primary source (SMART Local 399 official careers page) 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.
The published wage determination for this local prints wages without a separate fringe line, so we do not show a benefit figure. The hall's fund office can provide the contribution schedule.
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 Oct 11, 2026 (8 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.