I posted here a few months ago concerning my intention on starting a career in carpentry/construction. Well, one person suggested I wait ’til Spring when the crews start hiring more and look for a job. So, with Spring around the corner, I’m seeing more ads and such in the paper. My question now is…how to establish a starting wage. I have experience, though not professional, in most all aspects of construction, tools, truck, and heaps of ambition. I’m afraid to ask for too much and also afraid I’ll not get enough. I do have to pay for said truck, rent, food, etc. My current employer covers all health insurance and I know that isn’t cheap either, since it seems most outfits don’t cover insurance. Would it be OK to establish a middle of the road wage to start and ask the employer to evaluate my skills/wage after a month or so?
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Where are you?
You can job hunt and if the wages are not what you need, stay in your current career or get part time work to build up your resume'
Don't be suprised if they offer you the wage of a newbie. This is not a business of tell me what you can do, its a business of show me what you've got. Lead men don't walk on to crews without alot to show. Be prepared to start at the bottom. How fast you move from there is up to you. I wish you the best!
WAHD
I understand that nobody owes me anything and I must prove my worth. Sorry if I came off otherwise. I just wasn't sure how wages were set if they weren't laid out from the get-go. With the piece of mind that I'm finally heading in a direction I'm excited about, I guess newbie wages will be just fine. Thanks for the replies.
I just hired a guy with no experience to help me frame a custom home and gave him $12/ hr. Hope that helps you out.
For what it's worth, I pay new helpers (mostly college students) $10/hour.
Merk
I start the young bucks out at $8hr and the older guys at $10, and we take it from there. If they have shown progress after two weeks then I give them a two dollar raise, if not then they stay at that rate untill they do.
Dave
The thing to remember is:
How much you NEED is of interest only to you. It is really of no interest to your employer.An employer is interested in what you can DO.What can you PRODUCE?On some level your pay will be determined by your production----If you produce more--you earn more.We really don't care what your rent is or your truck payment is.----The basic economics of the employer/employee relationship---you may need $40,000/year----but you don't get it if you only produce $14,000.
Thanks again for the replies. $8 to $10 an hour was about what I figured. I live in W PA and it seems that most start at closer to the $8 range. I currently work in the finance dept. of a big telecomms co. One other person left a year ago, I took over their responsibilities...no raise. Another left, I took over their responsibilities as well....no raise. Lots of layoffs+no money=no raises. Been making about $9.50 an hour here the whole time. I'm excited that I'll be more or less in charge of my wage, once I find a job, and I'm determined to do just that. Produce more.....earn more. I like that!
Butlerbow,
Sounds like you've been sitting behind a desk for some time. Have you been working out at all? If not, you might want to start a regimen to get you back in shape for your new endeavor.......some running.........some iron.....and some study. Make both your body and your brain sweat a bit.
If your wages are linked to your output and you poop out half way thru the day..............
I wish you all the best. While the grunt end of the construction trades aren't an avenue to immediate overnight monetary wealth, I think you'll find that you'll grow rich in other ways that are just as important.
You sound to me like someone who has patience and reasonable expectations, but at the same time knows when he's being short-changed and is ready to do something about it. Be valuable and be paid. These are good qualities that should serve you well in life.
Hope you get a good boss and crew to work with and learn.
Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
I would suggest you follow the advice of keeping your current job and looking for someone who needs help on Sat. That way you get more experience to add to your resume. Hell, I worked for a guy part time for free just to get some experience!
Might not be a workable idea, The only way I'm having someone work on Saturday ios I know he's good and needs no supervision. Darned if I'm going in on the weekend to run a training cless for a temp or part timer.
I suspect others would view it similarly.
Maybe find weekend work with an individual carp who does his side work then...?.
Excellence is its own reward!
He should just go straight to starting a biz on the side, like so many others have done.
After all, what we do is simple enough.
I was gonna say, "Quit pickin' on the new guy" guys but if he can't take a little ribbin' here, he'll never last a week on site
Remember to let your chop saw reach full RPM before you chop!
(would that make a good tag line?).
Excellence is its own reward!
Didnt you know all you need to be a carpenter these days is a hammer a few nails and a saw.View ImageGo Jayhawks
If'n somebody of substance wanted Sat work with me right now... I would hire them. Different strokes I guess.
I am working lots of Sats and Sun and the regular guy would get overtime. The part timer would save me a bundle and give me a break from the other guy.
I don't remember where you are located. That will have an impact.
A whole lot of jobs in construction do not include health insurance - factor that in to the start.
I never had a job working for someone else where I didn't start out at less than I was worth. And I never had one where I didn't get a raise within a couple of weeks.
Mt stepson just moved out to Wyoming or Montana. He called last night. He had started on a framing crew at ten. After two weeks he is moved up to 11.50 with promise of more soon. He's got 3-4 years experience.
He was knocking down 15 here but this is high cost of living and small labor pool.
Excellence is its own reward!
If you show up with a pair of bibs and you have "ace carpenter Mike" embroidered on the front you should get top wages.
Not picking on you.It's an old joke around here. One plus you have going for you is desire. At the very worse you'll be easier to train. I wouldn't offer any more then hand tools though until the wages start going up. If you wind up using your own guns and power saws and the like, then you are due a few more dollars an hour. With the stipulation that they are yours and not community property. After you've been around a few months you'll see what I'm talking about. A big mistake a lot of new guys make is being too nice too fast. Just go with the flow for awhile. If you need me to explain the reasoning I can.
The one thing that makes a good helper is the ability to keep the job progressing forward. If you can stay one step ahead as far as layout or clean up goes, then your on your way to being a success.
Come on Gunner, the ace is trying. Let's give him a shot, ok?
ButBow, that wasn't about you, different ace.
You are right, he is trying. At this rate he'll be almost up to normal in another couple of years. I like progress! Keep it coming..
Excellence is its own reward!
Trying? It's the same old pattern he always uses. To the T. The only thing that's changed is he hasn't threatened to kill Piffins daughter again.
But that's not what this thread is about. It's about starting out and what to expect for pay.
I would try working on the weeekends, but that's what if done for the last two and a half years. Besides, I hate my job with a passion and the yuppies I deal with every day. Next week I'll be moving into an apartment built in the 1840's that my older brother, he's 40, I'm 25, have completely restored. We did everything but the heating ducts and most of the drywall. I'm kinda looking forward to having my weekends to fish, hunt, golf, etc. I have all my own handtools, plus access to everything from nailguns to whatever. I've learned tons...my biggest problem is confidence. I'm always asking and double checking before I do something. But I can read a tape.
Piffin-This place is getting to me...I was cutting a piece of base the other day and your words about letting the chop saw get up to speed started drifting into my head...like Luke and Obi Won.
And I can take plenty of ribbin'.....I got three older brothers.
I support you one hundred percent. If I had a business I would hire you based on desire alone. What I'm saying about the power tools is don't let them take advantage of you. If you supply your own then make them pay you extra for them. This is to cover wear and tear. It's standard practice. Good luck, I admire a man who can realize what he's meant to do and has the will to go after it.