Journeyman sheet metal workers under SMART Local 44 in Northeastern, PA earn $36.13/hr in base wages, or $66.45/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective May 2024.
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SMART Local 44 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 44 pay scale is $36.13 per hour for journeymen in Northeastern, PA, or about $72,260 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $66.45 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 5/1/24.
| Local 44 journeyman hourly wage | $36.13 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $66.45 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $72,260 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $16.26–$18.07 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 5/1/24 |
| Classification | Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker |
A Local 44 apprentice in Northeastern, PA starts at roughly $16.26 an hour — about 45% of the $36.13 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $27.10 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 44 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $16.26 / hour | $32,517 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $19.87 / hour | $39,743 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $23.48 / hour | $46,969 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $27.10 / hour | $54,195 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $30.71 / hour | $61,421 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $36.13 / hour | $72,260 |
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Local 44 wages: $36.13 an hour on the journeyman scale, $66.45 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 5/1/24. That is the most recent Northeastern, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 46% of the SMART Local 44 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: U.S. Department of Labor Davis-Bacon general wage determination PA20260044 (rev 2), building construction, SHEE0044-008 05/01/2024: base rate $36.13 plus printed fringes $30.32
Download the SMART Local 44 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective May 1, 2024.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $30.32/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 44 scale used across the Northeastern, PA 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 Northeastern 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 Northeastern. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 44 rates. For current Northeastern scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
SMART Local 44 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (570) 822-4781 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 44 represents the skilled sheet metal workers throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, serving a critical role in the region's industrial and commercial infrastructure. The local is headquartered in Wilkes-Barre and oversees the training and dispatch for craftspeople specializing in HVAC ductwork installation, architectural sheet metal, and precision fabrication. As a member of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Local 44 ensures that signatory projects meet rigorous standards for ventilation, indoor air quality, and structural integrity. This market is defined by a mix of historic industrial facilities, modern healthcare campuses, and growing logistics hubs that require specialized metalwork and complex air handling systems.
The trade jurisdiction for Local 44 encompasses a diverse geographic area where sheet metal professionals support both new construction and long-term facility maintenance. By maintaining a centralized training center and a rigorous apprenticeship program, the local provides a steady pipeline of journey-level talent to regional mechanical contractors. For the tradesperson, joining Local 44 offers access to collective bargaining power and a structured career path in a region with a relatively low cost of living compared to major East Coast metros. For contractors, the local provides a scalable, drug-tested, and highly certified workforce capable of handling large-scale commercial duct systems, heavy industrial exhaust, and intricate decorative metal applications across the Northeastern Pennsylvania corridor.
Based on the 2022 collective bargaining data, the journeyman hourly rate for SMART Local 44 is $33.62, which contributes to a total compensation package of $57.77 per hour when fringe benefits are included. Apprentices begin their careers 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 milestones. This progression ensures that as the worker's proficiency in welding, blueprint reading, and CAD increases, their compensation reflects their growing value to the signatory employer. The total package includes significant allocations for healthcare and retirement, which are paid by the contractor on top of the base hourly wage, providing a comprehensive safety net that far exceeds typical non-union sheet metal compensation in the region.
The jurisdiction of SMART Local 44 covers the broad expanse of Northeastern Pennsylvania, centered around the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton metropolitan areas. The territory extends to include the Pocono Mountains and reaches several surrounding counties, ensuring consistent labor standards for sheet metal work across the region. Members are dispatched to a variety of sites including regional hospitals, educational institutions, and manufacturing plants. The jurisdiction covers all aspects of the sheet metal trade, from the fabrication shop to field installation, including testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) of environmental systems. Travel requirements vary depending on the specific project location within the chartered territory, but the centralized dispatch system ensures that labor is efficiently allocated to meet the needs of regional signatory mechanical firms.
The contractor landscape for SMART Local 44 is comprised of a stable mix of local family-owned sheet metal shops and larger regional mechanical primes. These signatory employers range from specialized architectural metal firms to full-service HVAC contractors who manage the mechanical systems for the region's largest commercial developments. Hiring activity is generally tied to the cycle of institutional construction and industrial retrofitting within the Wyoming Valley and surrounding areas. Because the local maintains a highly skilled pool of welders and fabricators, signatory contractors are frequently selected for complex public works projects and private healthcare expansions where precision and adherence to building codes are paramount for project completion and safety.
The base wage of $33.62 is the gross hourly pay appearing on a member's paycheck. The total package of $57.77 includes an additional $24.15 per hour in employer-paid fringes, such as health insurance and pension contributions. These benefits are paid directly into funds by the contractor and are not deducted from the journeyman's hourly base pay.
Yes, while not always a prerequisite for entry, the apprenticeship program provides extensive training for AWS and SMACNA welding certifications. Journeymen are encouraged to maintain updated certifications in G-MAW, S-MAW, and T-IG welding, as many industrial and government contracts in Northeastern Pennsylvania require certified welders for structural supports and specialized ductwork.
Apprentices typically receive wage increases on an annual or semi-annual basis, provided they meet the minimum required work hours and successfully pass their related classroom instruction. These step-up raises are a percentage of the current journeyman rate, meaning that when the general membership negotiates a contract raise, the apprentices also see a proportional increase.
Travelers from other SMART locals may work in the Local 44 jurisdiction if there is a manpower shortage that the local hall cannot fill with its own members. Travelers must report to the Wilkes-Barre office to sign the out-of-work list and ensure their benefits are properly reciprocated back to their home local's funds.
SMART Local 44 is seated in Northeastern, Pennsylvania (PA). We hold published wage sheets for 24 locals across Pennsylvania — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Northeastern and the rest of Pennsylvania, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 44. 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 44 pay scale is $36.13 per hour for journeymen in Northeastern, PA, or about $72,260 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $66.45 per hour. That is the rate in force, effective 5/1/24.
Journeyman sheet metal workers under the SMART Local 44 agreement make $36.13 an hour in base wages, or $66.45 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 5/1/24. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$36.13 per hour base wage and $66.45 per hour total package for a journeyman in Northeastern, PA, effective 5/1/24. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $72,260 before overtime.
A Local 44 apprentice in Northeastern, PA starts at roughly $16.26 an hour — about 45% of the $36.13 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $27.10 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 44 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $16.26 an hour, or roughly $32,517 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $36.13 journeyman rate effective 5/1/24. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $23.48 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $27.10 an hour in the fourth period and $36.13 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 44 training center.
Local 44 wages: $36.13 an hour on the journeyman scale, $66.45 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 5/1/24. That is the most recent Northeastern, PA sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Yes — a one-page printable SMART Local 44 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/smart-local-44-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $36.13 hourly scale, the $66.45 total package and the 5/1/24 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current SMART Local 44 journeyman rate is $36.13/hour, with a total package of $66.45/hour including fringe benefits, effective 5/1/24. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $72,260 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 44 business office before relying on the figure.
The $36.13/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $66.45/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 44 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 $36.13/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $16.26–$18.07/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
SMART Local 44 is headquartered in Northeastern, PA 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 44 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 44 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 44 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 44 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 5/1/24 schedule; check with the Local 44 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 44 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 44 hall is at 270 North Sherman Street Wilkes-Barre PA 18702, serving Northeastern, PA and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (570) 822-4781.
SMART Local 44 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (570) 822-4781 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 44 can be reached at (570) 822-4781. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.
$36.13/hr in base wages for journeyman sheet metal worker, or $66.45/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective May 1, 2024 per the U.S. Department of Labor Davis-Bacon general wage determination PA20260044 (rev 2), building construction, SHEE0044-008 05/01/2024: base rate $36.13 plus printed fringes $30.32 wage determination.
May 1, 2024. The negotiated rate on this primary source (U.S. Department of Labor Davis-Bacon general wage determination PA20260044 (rev 2), building construction, SHEE0044-008 05/01/2024: base rate $36.13 plus printed fringes $30.32) 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 $36.13/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $30.32/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $66.45/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 23, 2026 (7 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.