Pay Scale........ Not Making What I Want

mikeybobo

Hi, I'm a carpenter in the Hudson Valley, NY area (southern NY). I wanted to ask you guys who own the buisness what the going rate is for a 7-8 year carpenter, mostly working in putnam, and upper westchester counties, sometimes lower westchester county. We do residential renovation/additions. I'm proficiant in most phases of carpentry, framing to finish. I lack a little experience in kitchens I guess you could say, I've only done 2 "unsupervised", which came out imaculate, its just the higher ups tend to enjoy that work so they call the shots. Any of the kitchen work I've done I havent had a complaint about a single thing, so I'm fully confident in doing them I guess you could say. I just wanted a rough idea if anyone knows. I'm not making what I want to be making in this point of my life, but I really do like the company I work for. I haven't a clue unfortunatly how to price jobs or I would love to start my own company. Maybe someday though. Thanks for your input.

nadonailer

You'd get about $20-25 per hr out in SoCal

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orson

You'd make 17-20 in my area but the amish mess up the payscale here


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Ruby Construction LLC
Lancaster Kitchen Remodeling
Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

philner

Around SE Mass. you would probably get $20-22/hr but there's alot of other factors that could increase/decrease that. Attendance? Punctuality? Own Truck? Tools? Attitude? Do you dress the part or show up looking like a Slob? My advice is make yourself as valuable as possible to your current employer, find out the pay scale in your area (like you're doing)and then discuss this in a professional way with your boss. If you are still underpaid then look around, some companies think they make more profit by under paying thier guys, some will overpay to get the best, Be the best, then go find the company that will pay you what you're worth.

Norrrrrrrrrrrrm

A couple of years ago I was playing on the computer and I was on Monster.com and one of the other job finder websites. There was a section where you could type your zip code,field of work,years in the field and a few other simple q's. It would compute the data and give you a number to go by. Now I know there are still variables but it is a foundation to start from. Good luck. around $20 sounds fair. Do you supply tools? Get benefits? Truck?

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Norman Sharp
http://www.sharpimprovements.com

XanadooLTD

In Northeastern Ohio $25-$30 per hour.

XanadooLTD

Union also. sorry

Shellbuilder

Instead of just asking for a raise, ask your boss if you could look at cost sheets and see how you can improve them. This gets you tied in to profitability of the company allowing you to have much more meaningful discussions about the business and your wages.

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Tscarborough

My Daddy always said, "if you are happy with what you are earning, you probably aren't working hard enough, and if you are not earning what you think you are worth, then you certainly are not working hard enough".

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orson

Someone should have told your daddy that some people work to their ethic, not to their wage.

www.rubycon.us
Ruby Construction LLC
Lancaster Kitchen Remodeling
Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

wackman

Very good idea. Any time someone shows they're thinking about making/saving me money they move up in the rankings.

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Chris Johnson

Nor Cal Carpenters

Crew Lead - 35-40/hr
Lead Hand - 28-35/hr
Guy that can swing a hammer and has 1/2 a brain - 22-30/hr
Guy that has tried for a couple years and can operate a saw and read a tape - 16-25/hr
Guy that can unload the truck, roll up the hoses at end of day, put fuel in the compressor, hold the dumb end of the tape measure - 14-18/hr

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Chris

copusbuilder

Fascinating? The amish mess it up? That just struck me as weird

Sorry but I suffer the illegal nightmare.....I guess I didn't know there was an Amish nightmare

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AkA Richard Cranium

copusbuilder

Oh, I could be wrong but I think this guy is wondering what they earn where he lives? I didn't get the feeling he was planning on moving?

Not trying to be mean, but, unless I misread?

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AkA Richard Cranium

curapa

Those rates are very high for my area.

Lead man - $20 - $25
anything lower $8 - $18

Usually if you make $20 or higher in the construction industry you should have the experience to make more money on your own.

Shellbuilder

Edited

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orson

Because of their religion the Amish and some of the Old order Mennonites are able to opt out of both FICA and Workmen's comp, not only for themselves but for any amish employees as well. Its hard to compet w/ someome who pays 30bucks less for every 100 in wages. Luckily not all the amish reduce their pricing, many just make higher profits.

www.rubycon.us
Ruby Construction LLC
Lancaster Kitchen Remodeling
Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

Brock

Clutching my heart.......1600 week? That would pay for 2 leads and Boss man here. Wow I need to treat my men better. You would need an engineering degree and about 5 yrs. exp. to beat that here.

Chris Johnson

Out here, you have to be good to get top wage, basically run a job without any help from the owner. Custom Homes are a nightmare here, just because you got the house up means nothing, you can spend a week or better going thru engineer details for siesmic connections.

Housing is ridiculously expensive (Still), Milk is overpriced, Fuel, that's a story in itself. You're not eating lunch out here for under $ 12.00 unless you go to the maggot wagon . So, those wages look good in Kansas, but survivable in CA.

Recent newspaper article...

Napa, CA

Cost of living for married with 2 kids - $ 75k/year

Avg. income for married with 2 kids - $ 62k/year

2 years ago I knew guys whos houses appreciated more than their income yearly. Not no more.

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Chris

GSE

Those rates are pretty much on target, or maby a bit low for some areas.