Here's a ad I found check the pay - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Frankawitz · 04-07-2009, 06:55 AM

I have read a lot of posts about wages, so here a ad I found, yeah it was craigslist. but when you got companys hiring at these wages, were does that put the rest of the pay scale?

Date: 2009-04-06, 11:33PM EDT

NOW HIRING AN EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL PAINTER. Persons without commercial painting experience need not apply.

This Position is for a union apprentice
Pay starts at approximately $14.00 per hour for the first 6 months
Full union benefit package is included
Must have knowledge and verifiable experience in the following:
*Brush and roll drywall and block walls and ceilings
*Freehand cutting-in of ceilings, walls, frames, trim, etc.
*Spraying of drywall, block, and exposed ceiling surfaces
*All phases of surface prep
*All types of paint products and applications
Must be able to pass an employment drug test along with random drug screenings
Must have reliable transportation
Must be able to start in the next few weeks

Please reply with list of experience, previous employer contact info, and professional references (NO PERSONAL REFERENCES).
EOE

Location: ypsilanti/metro detroit
Compensation: $14.00 per hour for 1st 6 months, plus full benefits
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Mike Finley · 04-07-2009, 07:52 AM

How much is the union benefit package worth per hour?

The wages seem low, but the market will dictate them. If he gets 300 responses the wages are market right now.

Question becomes what's the employers mind set? If he gets 300 desparate responses and hires one today at a wage acceptable to desparate painters and not a professional one, what happens in 6 months? Grass will be greener somewhere else and all the training and expense put into the hire will have been a waste of time.

Of course they could be more like the majority of companies and not give a rats ass and just keep plugging the holes with crappy people and not care, and always be wondering why their employees suck.

WisePainter · 04-07-2009, 09:02 AM

I have had to suffer the local economy before.
It wasn't the best of times, but it sure beats selling drugs, pimping my pretty face on the corner, or stealing.

oh yeah, or working for bathroom remodel contractors...

zing!

macatawacab · 04-07-2009, 02:10 PM

If $14.00/hr plus benefits seems low for Colorado.............I'm moving west. Wages in MI must really _____ when compared to the rest of the country. I don't know tho cause in TX it seems the pay scale is as low as MI but for differenct reasons.

WisePainter · 04-07-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macatawacab

If $14.00/hr plus benefits seems low for Colorado.............I'm moving west. Wages in MI must really _____ when compared to the rest of the country. I don't know tho cause in TX it seems the pay scale is as low as MI but for differenct reasons.

I lived and worked in Ludington MI for 6 years doing commercial and industrial, $14 an hour as an apprentice for the Union is good anywhere.

gbryant1 · 04-07-2009, 05:10 PM

"Must be able to pass an employment drug test along with random drug screenings"

no need for me to apply. With out my meds. the whole world will go insane.

Frankawitz · 04-13-2009, 05:58 AM

Here's why painters are making less look what the help is getting to start with this guy

Date: 2009-04-13, 6:35AM EDT

Strong Drywall hanging and finishing skills a must.

Must have a valid Michigan driver license with less than 3 points.
Dependable, and have reliable transportation.

Please Fax resume and contact information. 586-786-7577

No Sub-Contractors please.

Location: Macomb
Compensation: $12.50 - $16.00 hourly
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Tahoe Painter · 04-14-2009, 06:26 PM

I've got $14 an hour guys that cannot do any of the job qualifications they are asking for!

MikeCox · 04-18-2009, 07:20 AM

Back when I was working for a family member I was making 17.00 an hour. I think 14.00 sounds a little low to me.

Frankawitz · 05-08-2009, 05:54 AM

I was reading ads on craigslist again and I found this is, the spelling could be better, But I like what he wants in a Painter

Date: 2009-05-07, 7:17PM EDT

Painters Needed: Only experience need to respond. Painters that have worked in procuction with other painters. must be versitile with all aspects of painting and maintance. Must know his tools, paints, varnished " or clear coatings." Must know spray applications. "No fellons" must be neet and clean. No drugs or alcohol. Must have basic painters tools. Will need a copy of drivers licenses front and back. We will know if you a painter the first day you work. WE do not want a guy that thinks anybody can paint. WE work in high end properties and are one of the best out their. Your first few days will determine your pay.

Location: Detroit Metro
Compensation: will pay according to experance.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

StefanC · 05-08-2009, 08:01 PM

Haha, I've put out craigslist ads exactly like that. It's amazing how many "painters with 20yrs experience" are also convicted felon drug addicts...

Celtic · 05-08-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankawitz

.... when you got companys hiring at these wages, were does that put the rest of the pay scale?

This Position is for a union apprentice
Pay starts at approximately $14.00 per hour for the first 6 months
Full union benefit package is included

Is that low for an apprentice w/some experience?

StefanC · 05-09-2009, 08:57 AM

$14 is high for a first year apprentice in Philly (according to my 2 year old information, probably has gone up). They were getting $11.80 + $10.65 in benefits.

josey wales · 05-10-2009, 11:49 AM

Up here in Canada our first years start at $14 after 1200 hrs they get a $4 raise i beleive. Another 1200 gets you another pay jump. There are 3 levels of school to complete, you must complete each level to get you raise. EG you could not work for three years starait get 3600 hrs and get third year rate school must be in there as well too. Total apprenticeship hrs is 5200 for industrial and 5600 for commercial.

Frankawitz · 05-29-2009, 05:55 AM

I get a kick out of these Contractors and their start pay, with these wages. Well when I started out back in 1980 my pay was $10.00 an hour, now here we are 2009 and the pay has gone up $2.00 to $5.00 in 29 years, it's no wonder workers can't get ahead

Date: 2009-05-28, 9:32PM EDT

Experienced residential painter [interior and exterior]. Must have valid driver lic. own transportation and hand tools. Hard working, good attitude and neat in appearance and work, physically fit and able to work on ladders up to 40 feet. Able to do quality prep work, sanding, caulking, glazing, and patching with bondo and durabond. Able to use oil and latex. HVLP and airless experience a plus. Must be willing to drive to Grosse pointe, Bloomfield , Rochester , New Baltimore. Able to pass a back ground check. Non smoker a plus. If you are unable to follow directions, do quality prep and finish work DO NOT APPLY! Please send full name contact number a breif description of experience and companys you have worked for and how long.

Compensation: $12.00 to $15.00 depending on exp.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 1194170777

DavidNTX · 05-29-2009, 09:39 AM

I was a union apprentice starting in 1974. My wage then was $5.40 + benefits which in those days was only a couple of dollars. It was a 3 year program with school 1 time a week during the school year and a raise every 6 months. They did check with the teacher before giving you the raise to be sure you had attended (or made up) all of your classes.

I don't see $14.00 as being low at all. How much do you pay a kid (or anyone else) that is on a job for his very first time? 14 bux an hour?

The ad says first 6 months apprentice but the qualifications are for an experienced journeyman. He is trying to base the pay on someone not experienced at all.

Kuba · 06-01-2009, 08:43 AM

There isnt a contractor in a 100 mile radius around Reading PA. that will pay a skilled if not pro painter more than 11-12 an hr. And they all wonder why they cant keep good people, OR guys become their competition. Its a no brainer man....

Hell, one GC interviewed me as a foreman to run his residential side - 5 man crew... He said my 16$hr request was astronomical and unrealistic.....

LOL

I try to laugh when i see contractors crying about not having good workers, or "white guys" have no work ethics.. 100% Fact is, they dont want to pay for good help.

Back west in Idaho its the same story... Owner with a massive house, 4 harleys, boats, race cars, and burning money to lite their cigs....

employees with barely enough money to maintain reliable transportation. None skilled get 9-10, skilled get 10-12 (13 if they're lucky)...it makes all the sense tho, every GC leans on eachother out there... They know the employee has a limited market of employment in that industry and doesnt have much room to jump ship. Thus, its a great profit area for contractors to keep their expenses low and profits up.

Now, as for myself.. I would pay a guy 9hr if he was SLOW as hell and I couldnt RELY on him, keep in mind he would know it too! I dont play games with my guys... If i havea quick guy that I can rely on that knows his **** - expecially if im off site - damn right im gona take care of him. But, Im going to let him set that bar (hes gotta ask for it

)

sean26 · 06-01-2009, 12:57 PM

Pay scale for experienced painters in my area (Hamilton - Niagara, Ontario) ranges from about 9.00 - 12.00 per hour. I'm with Kuba on this one: contractors have no right complain about their production rates when they're not paying their guys a living wage. It's a mystery to me how these companies actually get guys to work for them for those rates in the first place. My 17 year old nephew is making 10.00/hr sitting behind the counter of the neighbourhood variety store this summer -Hell of a lot easier than climbing up and down 40 footers 100 times a day, and infinitely less dangerous as well.

Frankawitz · 06-04-2009, 07:04 AM

These contractors figure with little to no work in some places they can get guys to work for nothing, this just goes to show you that the GREED is still out there. As bad as it is here in Michigan I am booked for the next three months. But I aint hiring anyone, I need to get my butt out of debt. now after that if I have work I might hire a helper which would start at $10.00 an hour, I like to pay guys by the job, that way they can set their own hourly wage. I look at CL almost every day and these ads are every where. I have yet to see anyone of them offer $20.00 to $25.00 an hour. which would help people working for $10.00 to $12.00 an hour is what I made back in 1983.

Frankawitz · 06-07-2009, 04:53 AM

I just love these people who have no clue

Date: 2009-06-06, 10:56AM EDT

Wanted : Someone with experience with painting kitchen cabinets. I started this project & need someone experienced and talented enough to make this look GREAT... $50 - $75. I have been using BEHR interior satin enamel, white. Must have references. Please only respond if you have experience and Talent. I am looking for someone that really knows what they are doing. House is in Dearborn, Michigan Ave. near Greenfield. Message me with your name & phone #. I want to get this done soon...
Thanks. I wonder why he can't get this done

Location: Dearborn
Compensation: $50 - $75
This is a contract job.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.