Anyone know what a project manager/carpenter should be paid per hour by a custom home builder who does 5-6 $450k – $999k homes a year?The person I am looking to hire has 20 yrs. experience,superb finishing skills,architectural technology graduate,has run crews of 4+ men.Location is southern Ontario.
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It's smart of you to try to find the best candidate and pay him well. Your challenge will be to pay him enough to keep him. With his skills, that will involve more than money.
It won't be uncommon for the guy to offer his services too low too. If you hire him in at too low of a price, he'll always be looking for a better opportunity. Thats not good because you eventually will be replacing him which isn't the best thing for your management structure.
I'm budgeting 5% for the project management duties and that figure does not include any money allocated for skilled labor as you are indicating that you intend to do. It's entirely a budget amount for the production of the jobs. That might not work for your system and our goals might be different. My goal is to allocate enough money in the projects so I don't have to supervise them anymore. I want someone to take the responsibilities and decide that they can do the job till they retire.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Help me with the math Jim. If we use his volume of 6 houses each $500k thats $3 mil a year. Would you pay 5% of that or $150,000? Is that his salary or the total cost to the company?"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Your numbers would be the same as my numbers. I doubt he's thinking anywhere near that number. My guess is that he's thinking somewhere around 50k per year and wondering if he's paying too much. I also think it's a mistake to combine a carpenter's job with the project managers job. That program might make sense for a small shop but I think I'd want a more committed manager if I was delivering 6 million dollars worth of homes. I suspect that the op really just wants a carpenter on staff and is going to create a job title that seems to be a step up from the occupation of "carpenter". Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
50k a year for a project manager? I made more than that as simply a lead carpenter. I'm thinking he's gotta be double that or at least close to it if he's gonna run the jobs.
I think you are right on about separating the carpenter and project supervision. Onky works on a one job at a time basis, and on a smaller scale. Unless he's more of an assistant. Who knows exact details OP has in mind.
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Edited 5/11/2008 1:29 am by alrightythen
I forgot to mention that I wouldn't see that as an hourly job. If you are running 6 jobs a year, you should be able to create a salaried position.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
My guess is that a guy with those qualifications is not going to want to swing a hammer unless he is desperate for a job.
100k + to start.
You cannot effectively manage multiple projects AND swing a hammer. It can't be done, at least not well.
This comes from personal experience.
Eric
[email protected]
I have notice alot get a base slary, a new truck, and a bonus program. so they can make as much as possible if producted. I notice at my age that alot of managers that I have known over the years are retiring at 55. Made their money and moving to the mountains.
At 50 now, I can only wish![email protected]
I will second that . I will also add if the single job is big enough or complex enough the site super isn't going to actually have any hammer swinging time that really amounts to anything. I wish the OP would define "Project manager" vs. "Project Site Super". Two different positions with two different jobs to do . I am unclear which he wants.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
I agree with your staement 100%.
Depending on our work load, I am constantly trying to do a balancing act. Not enough work, not enough to manage, time to swing the hammer.
More work, more to manage but possibly still caught up swinging the hammer AND trying to manage.
I'd rather just do one or the other and with the years creeping up, the management would be my choice for now.
Eric[email protected]
A "project manager" is such a misused term in this industry. As others have commented it looks like this guy might be a lead carp with the additional burden of managing jobs. Of the more successful companies I have worked with there has always been a dedicated non toolbelt wearing pm.
" I wish the OP would define "Project manager" vs. "Project Site Super". Two different positions with two different jobs to do .I am unclear which he wants."I think he wants a carpenter, not a manager. If he wanted a manager, he'd be touting the mangerial skills on the resume, not the carpenter skills. As you pointed out in another thread, those are two different animals. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Thanks to all who have replied to my question.
The person I am looking to hire would be the go to guy on site as well as the lead carp.His duties would include scheduling and supervising all subtrades,ordering all building supplies,maintaining production flow of the project.As the owner of the company,my job will remain as sales and customer liason.I am looking to clone me on site so that I can concentrate on the business operations and let my project manager/lead carp handle the site work.Most of the carpentry work would be handled by employees under him, but when the subs are on site whether it is the site he is on or another site that he has to go to ( ie when the excavation or footings/foundation is starting ), then he would be involved with them until he could "catch up" with the crew.Our projects are staggered so that when one is half way through another is just starting.
The wage I have in mind is $40 per hour.Just trying to get a feel for the market.
"Working Site Superintendent" is the usual term around here for that position.
(Although for the life of me I cannot figure out how they think being the super on a job of any size isn't enough "working" for anybody!) As to the wages, (being of course entirely regionally dependent) what you are thinking of offering would get you a good man here. I assume it comes with added benefits, gas card, or truck.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
ubotowat,I'm about an hour outside of Toronto. 40 an hour, 2000 hours a year, w a truck and w/c would start to get my attention.Hopefully your outfit also has an enjoyable work enviroment.It's amazing how busy it is in this area.Harry
sounds like you want a carpenter with management skills that doesn't work for themselves. i would think about salary plus commision. keeps everyone honest.
Every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present.
I don't see anything wrong with $40 per hour as an offer. I don't know your market, but in this market, that number would be an excellent offer, even if it was a gross pay figure with deductions for benefits and car allowances. You're not forcing anyone to take it. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I was paid 50% more than that to do that job in the SF Bay Area. Depends on your location.John
Will it be OK if this guy/gal wears his blue tight and red cape on the Job???
or does he have to remain as Clark Kent during business hours.
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