Hi,
I am Journeyman apprenticed carpenter with over 25 years experience doing renos, cabinets, furniture, staircases and building some woodframe houses. I didn’t build the houses alone of course but we did everything (framing, insulation, drywall, doors, windows, trim, siding, etc.) from the foundation on up. In all the houses I also built the stairs (oak, beech, carolina pine) and in two of the houses I built the kitchen cabinets. I also have a degree in Education and taught high school woodwork and technology for 5 years in Vancouver. The catch is that I have done most of the building in Israel where I have lived for the last 12 years. I was recently visiting family in Van and learned that there is a lot of work there right now. Things have been slow for me here lately. What could I expect if I returned to the Vancouver area, with my qualifications and experience, in the way of wages and job availability?
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
Replies
tons of work in this area. wages i dont know exactly as i am self employed but because of the shortage of skilled labour, its pretty good. good luck.
Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
cheers. Ill buy.
i read your post. if i could find my way up there, what would a journeyman carpenter expect to make in that area? what is the cost of living up there? or could you maybe point to where i might find this sort of thing out?
thanx,
casey
To you and nagar1...
The wages for framing and most all other carp skills are all over the map up here....
We ARE all busy and potential clients and other contractors often come up and approach carp.s on -site, explain that they desperately need the skilled guys ,and then balk at proposed $$$$!
Some newspaper and jobfind websites also have wages everwhere...15-25$/hr with little or no experience req'd, and some with 5-10 years req'd at 20-30$/hr and up for example. Cost of living is high, but it IS B.C./ Vancouver with all it has to offer...
"If 'tis to be,'twil be done by me."
BC is booming. I'm just across the border and listen to radio out of Van and Victoria. They sometimes advertise for tradespeople on mainstream FM stations. Where have you ever seen that before??
After the '10 Olympics it might all grind to a halt, who knows.
Hi
I'm on Vancouver Island - near Vancouver. First question is, Why is having worked in Israel "a catch". Reason I ask is I hired a guy who was trained in Bahamas - metric - couldn't add fractions - didn't work out. Unless your Israel experience is this kind of problem, then what's the problem?
With your experience, and if your talented and efficient, look for $30 - $35 per hour (or the chance to prove your worth it). If you need to work tomorrow look for $25/hour +.
Happy hunting.