What do we make?

[Bogart]

What do the guys who aren't shop owners make? Please tell a little about what kind of work and what part of the country. Union/non-union. I will start.
Local 422-Joliet, Illinois part of the Chicago metro area
Foreman: $42.00 @ hour on the check
$17.00 @ hour benefit package.
I do industrial and commercial service. Very little residential service. At least 40 hours a week. The boss bills $115.00 residential, industrial/commercial it's 90-95 an hour plus a 10 buck an hour truck charge.

Jeff

[Aaron91]

Well I'm a 2 year (on paper) apprentice and only make $12 an hour.

I've really been working in the trade now for roughly 3 years.

I usually work 40 hours a week, and rarely work major over time or Saturdays.

I feel I'm under paid greatly and will leave it at that.

The local union pays 1st year apprentice's $17.98 an/hour to give you a bit of comparison.

[Service Guy]

Well I'm a 2 year (on paper) apprentice and only make $12 an hour.

I've really been working in the trade now for roughly 3 years.

I usually work 40 hours a week, and rarely work major over time hours or Saturdays.

I feel I'm under paid greatly and will leave it at that.

Thats really not a bad salary for your age and experience. You'll get more as you go along.

Region is big factor.

I moved from long island, New york to western North carolina about four years ago. I was making $22/hour in NY and was only offered $13/hour in NC! I was shocked but took what I could at the time.


It seems like Bogart started this thread to BRAG a little.:rolling-eyes::nyaa-nyaa4:

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

.

[Aaron91]

I did just edit my post. Did you notice what 1st year know nothing union apprentice's make?

I know they're union and do larger jobs.

This is not a cheap area, the average rate for a plumber is around $140 an hour.

[Service Guy]

Talking personal salaries can get very touchy. Its just as bad as talking religion or politics imo. Tread lightly guys.:have-fun:

[Drain Medic]

Talking personal salaries can get very touchy. Its just as bad as talking religion or politics imo. Tread lightly guys.:have-fun:



Agree

[HVAC HAWK]

i make good $ for the work i do but its not just the amount per hour it is the freedom i have to do what i want and how to do my work . i take home a van and dont pay for gas ,a tool fund each year ,3 weeks vac soon to go up .i dont pay a lot for insurance for my family .a $1.00 an hr raise a year for the past 8 yrs ,and a very good company to work for now going on 14 years and 4 years under a different name .

i have had offers from other non union co for a lot more $ but i like working where i dont have a boss watching over me all the time ,and i can work my own hr and take off when i want

[MrsSeatDown]

Talking personal salaries can get very touchy. Its just as bad as talking religion or politics imo. Tread lightly guys.:have-fun:

Or sewer machine preference:smack-head:

[OkieBill]

Sectional.... K60 for the win!!!


oh .... wrong thread :p

[gear junkie]

In the military so I make about $5 per hour.:D

Actually get paid a little more than that but it's in benefits. The pay out here goes from 14-30 per hour for plumbers and 10-25 for hvac.

[Aaron91]

So you must make $55 an/hour then, right? :confused: :D

[plumberscrack]

No way I post what I make here but if you can change a ballcock and flapper without breaking the toilet you can start at $15/hr. with a truck to take home. 40-45 hrs/wk

If you can take a set commercial restaurant prints from bid process to job completion without a diaper change you can make $35/hr + benefits


Other companies here offer the same. Some may offer commissions on sales. We don't.

[NHMaster3015]

A few years back I was making so much money that I used to wipe my butt with 100 dollar bills. Now I make so much I pay someone to wipe my but with 100 dollar bills.

Now if you will all excuse me the ash trays on the Rolls are full so I'm off to trade it in.:wave:

[SlimTim]

So, Bogart, your bio says "former owner of a plumbing shop". What did you pay your guys? Doesn't it bite to work for someone else now? It's hard to take orders after being the order-giver.

[mtnman1100]

I have worked for a national brand for 6 years. Commision all the way except for special projects. Their comm schedule starts at 21% and goes to 29% and add 1% for 5 years and 2% for license and 1% for training. So I would top out at 32%. But 32% of no calls is $0.00 paycheck. The last 2 years I worked for them I grossed $73k. Now I'm starting my own company and I will keep 100% after parts:D. I should atleast turn that 73 to a 173.

I'm going for that new rolls.

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

Do you work commision on a set price?

[DuckButter]

My hourly works out to between 3 and 4 times what I could comfortably live on working for a shop 40 hours with bennies, add mat'l markup and I get by.

I use my own flat rates based on what I need to make vs avg hours worked per week minus overhead, advertizing, liability & the works.

AS far as what that works out to, nope...ain't gonna say it.
I'll hint by saying my take is between $5 & $500 per hour after deductions.

[DuckButter]

I have worked for a national brand for 6 years. Commision all the way except for special projects. Their comm schedule starts at 21% and goes to 29% and add 1% for 5 years and 2% for license and 1% for training. So I would top out at 32%. But 32% of no calls is $0.00 paycheck. The last 2 years I worked for them I grossed $73k. Now I'm starting my own company and I will keep 100% after parts:D. I should atleast turn that 73 to a 173.

I'm going for that new rolls.

Dam straight, sounds like you were an employee without bennies....barely flying under IRS guidelines as a sub.
Just make absolutely sure you have a reliable marketing plan.

[AFM]

A few years back I was making so much money that I used to wipe my butt with 100 dollar bills. Now I make so much I pay someone to wipe my but with 100 dollar bills.

Now if you will all excuse me the ash trays on the Rolls are full so I'm off to trade it in.:wave:
The bull sh*t certainly flies on this forum.

Tony

[NHMaster3015]

The bull sh*t certainly flies on this forum.

Tony

watch it there fella, remember I'm filty rich, I put the law firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe on you.
Again, my apologies but the Butler has just brought my afternoon tea. Ta Ta....:cool:

[ToUtahNow]

Wait a minute you guys get paid for what you do? I've been doing this stuff just for the fun of it.

Mark

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

watch it there fella, remember I'm filty rich, I put the law firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe on you.
Again, my apologies but the Butler has just brought my afternoon tea. Ta Ta....:cool:

Mr. I. Fleesum is my rep.

[haycad]

Mr. I. Fleesum is my rep.
im represented by Ben Dover & Takeit

[papadan]

The bull sh*t certainly flies on this forum.

Tony This is a plumbing forum, I don't think there are any bulls here, but plenty of chit flyin round. I gots one of them Rolls too, as long as I push, it rolls!!!!:D

[aero1]

what do i make, sometimes a mess sometime not, but if i make it home each night as healthy as when i left but a bit more tired, and come home to my wife and our animals, then that makes me a very lucky and wealthy man.:)

[ThisOldPlumbersSon]

My dad made $129000 last year and he barely works weekends and only 9 hours a day.

[Drain Medic]

My dad made $129000 last year and he barely works weekends and only 9 hours a day.


Your dad is a hack


My equipment is worth more then $129,000

[NHMaster3015]

I spent 129 grand on buffalo wings and beer last month. 129 grand won't even pay the taxes on my chalet in colorado.
Once again it you will excuse me gentlemen, my Gulfstream 4 is waiting to fly me off the Paris for lunch.

[gear junkie]

My dad made $129000 last year and he barely works weekends and only 9 hours a day.
You got mental problems and I hope you're the same person. Otherwise that means you've spread your genes and dumbed down the human race. So much for evolution, I guess some slip through the cracks.

[Bogart]

When I owned my shop I paid myself $20.00 an hour to start, worked up to $30.00 after a couple of years. I took owner draws as well. I went back to work for an other because of what our scale is. No more billing or invoicing, I just spin wrenches. I am probably an ideal employee because I know what it's like from the owner's perspective. I guess I started this because I was thinking about moving to Arizona and wanted to know how much plumbers make out there, or to realize how good I have it here. I am not bragging on how much I make, it's the union that negotiates it. The hacks in my local make as much as me.

[NHMaster3015]

You got mental problems and I hope you're the same person. Otherwise that means you've spread your genes and dumbed down the human race. So much for evolution, I guess some slip through the cracks.

Yea, well my dad can beat up your dad....

[NHMaster3015]

Maybe this could be the start of the STUPIDEST thread of the year awards.

We don't plumb for the money. We plumb for the sheer thrill of it all.:rolleyes:

[lonestardrain]

I have worked for a national brand for 6 years. Commision all the way except for special projects. Their comm schedule starts at 21% and goes to 29% and add 1% for 5 years and 2% for license and 1% for training. So I would top out at 32%. But 32% of no calls is $0.00 paycheck. The last 2 years I worked for them I grossed $73k. Now I'm starting my own company and I will keep 100% after parts:D. I should atleast turn that 73 to a 173.

I'm going for that new rolls.


thats probally about right...i made about $150,000 last year working about 4-5 hours a day(about three jobs a day average).....which is VERY-LOW compared to alot of my other buddies on the Drain-Cleaning board....i just bought the trailor jetter last July and i can see the light!!!....i should top out around $200,000 at the end of this year!!....depends on how many maintence contracts i get with the jetter

[stecar]

first time poster here. great forum. Union member here out of jersey, think the rate is about 46 an hour not including fringes----total package about 70.

[MR.WRENCH]

can i borrow a dollar?

[wrongler]

I'm not really sure what my job title is anymore. Somewhere in the field of residential serviceman, the bosses helper, hvac helper, and I pretty much run the residential jobs. When I was doing commercial work, I made the mistake of telling another apprentice what I made. I know better now.
But as someone above mentioned, there is a lot to be said for health insurance, 401k, taking a truck home every night and working for a good boss. Sure, I don't make near as much as I should but for only being in it for 2-3 years, I think I do ok. I quit college in December and look at what other kids my age do for a living and ugh...

[Service Guy]

I'm only about one year into my business, so most of the money goes right back into it...still growing the baby business. My personal income was higher when I worked for someone else!:scratchhead:
But personal satisfaction is about a million times better running my own show. And I know eventually once its established it'll be worth it financially too.:happydance:

[hiler_411]

union plumber/pipefitter here in Colorado, 2nd year with 3 years experience. 14.36 and hour plus 5.00 an hour per diem if over sixty miles from the hall. not hard to do in colorado.

[HVAC HAWK]

union plumber/pipefitter here in Colorado, 2nd year with 3 years experience. 14.36 and hour plus 5.00 an hour per diem if over sixty miles from the hall. not hard to do in colorado.

thats not much at all
not a 100% sure but union here gets over 30 an hr

[Bogart]

He is a second year apprentice. That's not bad cabbage.