What Should I Be Making An Hour, I Feel Way Underpaid

Little

Currently for my uncle's company I am making $18/hr with full benefits. I've described what i can do in another thread. To recap, last year i ran a
4 million dollar site job and i was the acting super. My next job i worked with my father on a job and he was acting super and i was in charge or running the pipe crews. I'm pretty damn good on any machine and i also do the estimating with the chief estimator, doing the take-offs and some of the pricing. I also have a Class A CDL. What is the goin rate for these positions?? I feel like my uncle just takes advantage of my abilities and me being his nephew. I'm using it all as a huge learning experience. One of the reasons i have mentioned before about wanting to leave.

Peladu

To be fair, have you asked him for a raise lately?

Peladu

Does he know you feel this way?

dougchips

When times are good, few employers offer raises. On the flip side, when times are bad, few employees offer to take less pay.

jojo

Have you tryed calling around to other companys or operators in your area and see what the are paying or getting paid,,remember your full benny's and how much an hour do you think they are worth,,,

Nac

I am assuming you are non-union? Well the whole problem is you are working for family it never works they want the world from you and want to pay you the least. I also worked for my uncle before going on my own. The last year i worked for him he did pay me my rate Union Carpenter foreman about 39.00/ hour but stiffed me out of 2,000 in benifits.

tgeb

You may have to "jump ship" to get more money.

I don't pay benefits but pay my operator (only have 1 guy) more than that per hour.
He does not have a cdl so he is useless in that respect, but a pretty decent guy.

Working w/family can be difficult from what I have seen(no experience in that dept). Don't really know what to tell ya. Go on a few interviews and see what is available to you.

You have to market yourself. Sounds as if you are well qualified, check around. Let some of the other contractors you bump into know that you are looking.

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

mdshunk

Sometimes all it might take is a call to your present employer from a perspective employer for a reference check to get you a raise.

Little

lol, damn, it always comes around. Working for family is sickening, haha. Yea when we get our next job and get pretty busy I'm gonna have my last sit down with him regarding this manner. If we don't come to terms this time i'm gonna have to go. Appreciate your input once again fellas.

PipeGuy

I'd say for the market your're in $18/hr with 'full' benefits (whatever 'full' means) is an 'OK' deal for an experienced, non-union, pipe crew equipment operator or low-boy driver. Less benefits would = more per hour.
For a 'super' I'd say there's plenty of room for you to earn more working elsewhere. I was making more than 3 times that (plus a good 401K plan, decent health benefits, vehicle and generous personal leave package) in a job that was similar to what you described with a <$10M per year pipe contractor. Before jumping ship however, you might be careful to consider the full range of benefits you enjoy as 'family' and whether or not losing such benefits (by becoming just another employee elsewhere) is something you can live with.

Good luck.

PS-My decision to try the self-employed route meant taking a huge cut in pay. It also currently remains at the expense of the various fringe-benefits I enjoyed as a 'key emplyee'. I none-the-less remain optimistic that in the LONG RUN the decision is a good one.

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dirtdiggencat

i agree with PipeGuy, and would add, not knowing the description of "full bennies" in your case, or the circumstances you consider negative in the "family" setting, i would chance saying that your rate is "ok". how long u been with your uncle? did you start flat footed with him? i mean, did he train you or employ you while you trained? is a tenure in his service at a slightly lower rate than some others might pay not an acceptable trade for your training? good luck with your decision, and the result of it.

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SiD
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