Journeyman sheet metal workers under SMART Local 48 in Birmingham, AL earn $30.50/hr in base wages, or $50.99/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Jun 2025.
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The Local 48 pay scale for 2026 is $30.50 per hour for journeymen in Birmingham, AL, or about $61,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $50.99 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/1/25.
| Local 48 journeyman hourly wage | $30.50 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $50.99 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $61,000 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $13.73–$15.25 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 6/1/25 |
| Classification | Sheet Metal Worker (incl. HVAC duct work) — Davis-Bacon public-work rate, Lawrence County, AL |
Apply now — Gulfstream places sheet metal workers candidates with mechanical contractors. These are direct-hire contractor roles, not union dispatch.
A Local 48 apprentice in Birmingham, AL starts at roughly $13.73 an hour — about 45% of the $30.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.88 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 48 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $13.73 / hour | $27,450 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $16.78 / hour | $33,550 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $19.83 / hour | $39,650 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $22.88 / hour | $45,750 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $25.93 / hour | $51,850 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $30.50 / hour | $61,000 |
Active Gulfstream trade listings in the local's state, with Birmingham listings first when available. Jobs elsewhere in the state are not necessarily near this hall. Union status is not verified for these jobs; confirm with your recruiter.
SMART Local 48 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 48 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 48 wages: $30.50 an hour on the journeyman scale, $50.99 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/1/25. That is the most recent Birmingham, AL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
Roughly 40% of the SMART Local 48 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. DOL Davis-Bacon General Decision AL20260088 (Building), union rate line SHEE0048-005
Download the SMART Local 48 pay scale (PDF) — one-page printable rate sheet, effective June 1, 2025.
| Benefit & fringe contributions | $20.49/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 48 scale used across the Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 48 rates. For current Birmingham scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
SMART Local 48 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (205) 322-9016 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 48 represents the skilled sheet metal workers across Alabama, headquartered in Birmingham. As a charter of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local manages the labor supply for critical infrastructure, commercial HVAC installation, and industrial fabrication. The Birmingham market serves as the hub for the state's metallurgical and construction sectors, requiring a workforce trained in advanced drafting, CNC operation, and architectural metalwork. By organizing labor under a collective bargaining agreement, Local 48 ensures that signatory contractors have access to a pool of journey-level talent capable of meeting rigorous safety and quality standards on high-density projects.
The sheet metal trade in Alabama is distinct for its dual focus on traditional mechanical systems and high-precision industrial applications. Members of Local 48 are responsible for the fabrication and installation of ductwork, siding, decking, and specialty metal systems. Because Alabama serves as a regional center for manufacturing and healthcare, the demand for specialized airflow systems and cleanroom environments drives much of the local's man-hours. For the tradesperson, joining this local provides a pathway to standardized benefits and a structured career ladder that is often unavailable in the non-union open shop sector common throughout the Southeastern United States.
The wage structure for SMART Local 48 is established through collective bargaining between the union and signatory employers. While specific hourly rates are not publicly broadcast and fluctuate based on the current contract term, the total package consists of a base taxable hourly rate plus employer-paid fringes. Apprentices typically start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often beginning around 40-50% and increasing in 5% or 10% increments as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. To obtain the current Journeyman scale or the specific apprentice pay schedule for the Birmingham area, applicants and contractors must contact the Local 48 business office directly to request the most recent wage and fringe benefit bond.
The jurisdiction of Local 48 is extensive, covering the majority of Alabama with a heavy concentration in the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area and extending into northern and central regions of the state. This territory encompasses diverse work environments ranging from urban commercial high-rises to rural industrial facilities. The local maintains jurisdiction over all aspects of sheet metal work, including HVAC duct installation, architectural metal roofing, stainless steel kitchen equipment, and industrial blowpipe systems. Members are dispatched from the Birmingham hall to job sites across these counties, and the agreement governs travel pay, subsistence, and per diem for projects located outside the immediate dispatch zone.
The signatory contractor landscape for SMART Local 48 is composed of several distinct tiers, ranging from large-scale mechanical primes to specialized architectural firms. These contractors rely on the local for a scalable workforce during peak construction periods, particularly for large industrial shutdowns or major hospital expansions in the Birmingham medical district. The relationship between the union and its signatory partners is managed to ensure that labor costs remain predictable for bidding purposes. Hiring is typically managed through the union's referral hall, where members are dispatched to contractors based on current project needs and their standing on the out-of-work list.
The primary difference lies in the standardized training and benefit structure. SMART Local 48 members receive a total package that includes employer-funded health insurance and multiple retirement vehicles, whereas non-union sheet metal workers in Alabama typically negotiate individual rates with fewer long-term fringes. Furthermore, Local 48 members complete a five-year Department of Labor certified apprenticeship that covers advanced geometry and metallurgy.
If you are located in central or northern Alabama, SMART Local 48 is the primary representative for the sheet metal trade. You can locate their headquarters in Birmingham. For those in the southernmost parts of the state, jurisdiction may fall under a different regional local. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has tracked the signatory landscape in this region since 2014 to help tradespeople identify union opportunities.
Yes, through the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), members have access to AWS-accredited welding certification programs. These certifications are essential for industrial work and structural sheet metal applications. Signatory contractors often require specific certifications for TIG, MIG, and stick welding on stainless steel or aluminum, and the union provides the facilities for members to maintain these credentials.
Experienced workers may be able to enter as a 'journeyman' or 'organized' member through a process called 'testing in.' The local will evaluate the applicant's prior work history, mechanical knowledge, and hands-on skills. If the applicant meets the criteria, they can be dispatched at the full journeyman rate without completing the five-year program, though they may still be required to take specific safety or code classes.
SMART Local 48 is seated in Birmingham, Alabama (AL). We hold published wage sheets for 10 locals across Alabama — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements recruits mechanical construction and service staff for contractors nationwide, union and open shop. These are markets where we run the most searches: Inland Empire mechanical recruiter · Portland mechanical recruiter · Dallas–Fort Worth mechanical recruiter · Los Angeles mechanical recruiter. Post a role.
We are a commercial mechanical construction recruiting firm serving Birmingham and the rest of Alabama, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 48. 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 48 pay scale for 2026 is $30.50 per hour for journeymen in Birmingham, AL, or about $61,000 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $50.99 per hour. That is the rate in force for 2026, effective 6/1/25.
SMART Local 48 wages for 2026: journeyman Sheet Metal Workers rate of $30.50 per hour in Birmingham, AL, with a total package of $50.99 per hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/1/25. Apprentices are paid a graduated percentage of that rate. Confirm any increase since 6/1/25 with the SMART Local 48 business office.
The SMART Local 48 wage sheet on this page lists the journeyman scale of $30.50 per hour ($50.99 per hour total package), effective 6/1/25, plus the apprentice percentage steps. The official sheet is published by the SMART Local 48 business office; figures here come from that published schedule, so confirm any increase dated after 6/1/25 with the hall.
Local 48 apprentices earn a graduated percentage of the $30.50 per hour journeyman rate — typically starting near 40–50% ($13.73–$15.25 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 48 JATC, so confirm the current apprentice sheet with the training center.
Journeyman sheet metal workers under the SMART Local 48 agreement make $30.50 an hour in base wages, or $50.99 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 6/1/25. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$30.50 per hour base wage and $50.99 per hour total package for a journeyman in Birmingham, AL, effective 6/1/25. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $61,000 before overtime.
A Local 48 apprentice in Birmingham, AL starts at roughly $13.73 an hour — about 45% of the $30.50 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $22.88 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 48 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $13.73 an hour, or roughly $27,450 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $30.50 journeyman rate effective 6/1/25. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $19.83 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $22.88 an hour in the fourth period and $30.50 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 48 training center.
Local 48 wages: $30.50 an hour on the journeyman scale, $50.99 an hour with fringe benefits added, effective 6/1/25. That is the most recent Birmingham, AL sheet we can source; rates move with each contract cycle, so confirm with the hall before quoting.
The current published SMART Local 48 journeyman rate is $30.50 an hour ($50.99 total package), effective 6/1/25 — roughly $61,000 a year at 2,080 hours before overtime. Confirm the effective agreement with the local.
Yes — a one-page printable SMART Local 48 rate sheet is available at /rate-sheets/smart-local-48-pay-scale.pdf, showing the $30.50 hourly scale, the $50.99 total package and the 6/1/25 effective date, with the source it was read from. It is a free download — no sign-up needed.
The current SMART Local 48 journeyman rate is $30.50/hour, with a total package of $50.99/hour including fringe benefits, effective 6/1/25. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $61,000 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 48 business office before relying on the figure.
The $30.50/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $50.99/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 48 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 $30.50/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $13.73–$15.25/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
SMART Local 48 is headquartered in Birmingham, AL 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 48 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 48 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 48 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 48 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 6/1/25 schedule; check with the Local 48 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 48 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
Yes — the openings section on this page lists current sheet metal workers roles near Birmingham, AL, 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 48 business office.
The SMART Local 48 hall is at 1108 29th Street N Birmingham AL 35234, serving Birmingham, AL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (205) 322-9016.
SMART Local 48 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (205) 322-9016 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 48 can be reached at (205) 322-9016. 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 48's current application window and requirements, contact the hall at (205) 322-9016.
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 (205) 322-9016.
We haven't found an official source for SMART Local 48's dues or membership rules. To confirm, contact the hall at (205) 322-9016.
We haven't found an official source for SMART Local 48's member benefits. To confirm, contact the hall at (205) 322-9016.
SMART Local 48's sourced sheet metal worker (incl. hvac duct work) — davis-bacon public-work rate, lawrence county, al union rate is $30.50/hr in base wages and $50.99/hr for the total package, effective June 1, 2025. The rate applies to the listed classification and source area; apprentice, foreman and specialty classifications may differ.
$30.50/hr in base wages for sheet metal worker (incl. hvac duct work) — davis-bacon public-work rate, lawrence county, al, or $50.99/hr counting employer-paid benefits and fringes, effective June 1, 2025 per the U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon General Decision AL20260088 (Building), union rate line SHEE0048-005 wage determination.
June 1, 2025. Read directly from the primary source (U.S. DOL Davis-Bacon General Decision AL20260088 (Building), union rate line SHEE0048-005) and cross-checked at build time. Highest confidence for offer benchmarking.
No — the $30.50/hr base is wages only. Employers contribute roughly $20.49/hr more per hour worked to health and welfare, pension, annuity and training funds, which is the difference between the base and the $50.99/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.
High confidence — last cross-checked against the source on Oct 1, 2026 (18 days ago). Always confirm the current step with the hall before relying on it for an offer.