amount paid to a tech

[coldbluff]

what do you "the fourm" think is a fair % to be paid to a service tech?

and do you think that it is right to pay that way.

I ask, because one of the large companies has an ad out right now and I was looking into it.

Thanks

[Aaron91]

There's is a lot of factors that add into an hourly rate. The going rate in Ohio could be half of what it is in Florida.

Years or experience, if you have your own tools, any training/certificates/licenses you have, there's many things that factor into this.

[coldbluff]

I belive that they want to give 20% and that is on a regular pay check no matter what.

basic main line with a ground level clean out $193.00.

[gear junkie]

Not the highest or lowest price I've seen out there.

[Aaron91]

I would consider a company that pays hourly.

It also doesn't sound like they're paying you for your travel time.

So you might may $50 on a main stoppage that took an hour, but once you factor in the drive 30 minutes each way, 1 hour round trip, that cuts your hourly rate in half to $25 an hour.

What happens if a job is a *****, and takes 2-3x the 'normal' time?

[gear junkie]

I used to work for a commision based company and it's not worth it unless you rip people off. You can't give a good price and still make money for yourself.

[coldbluff]

thanks that is what I thinking. To hard to give a really good price.

and you are correct no travel time .

[PLUMBER RICK]

since you mention tech, i'll assume that means you don't have a journeyman's license.

so in this case i'll put you into the category of an apprentice.

depending on years of experience/ apprenticeship.

1st year 20% of hourly journeyman wages.

2nd year = 40%

3rd year= 60%

4th year=80%

5th year 90%

journeyman 100%

i don't believe a tech/ journeyman should be on a commission or split of the job.

i feel there is too much room for a tech/ journeyman to oversell a job.

the owner/ contractor should be the person selling the job.

in new construction plumbing, the rule of thumb is hourly, not piecework.

bonuses were handed out at the end of year based on job performance and profitability.

rick.

[coldbluff]

thanks rick

I have been cleaning drains since about 1991 when I started in a little place called DIAMOND BAR

[JERRYMAC]

i Have Worked On Percentages At Min. 30% With Your Years Of Exp. Level, Remember Their Is More To The Cost Of Running A Co. Then Just Your Labor Time ! !
depends If You Have To Pay For Your Own Truck And Or Gas ? ?
or If Extra Charges For Hard To Clear Drains ? ?

[JERRYMAC]

also Is Their Overtime Pay ? ?
most States Labor Boards Require That Your Percentages Must At Least Equal Min. Wage Standards For Your State,
ie; Your Pay At The End Of Week Divided By total Work Time From Time You Start Truck In Morning To Time You Shut Down At Night

[coldbluff]

so lets say I am required to answer the phone by 8 00 am and nornally untill 5 00 pm not counting on call stuff the amount that would be a normal 40 hrs so I should be receiving no less than min wage which would be 290 because min here is 7.25

This is a new company and calls are few, 1.5 calls per day.

Thanks for the help, owners seem to be nice but nice does not pay the rent.

hopefully when their adds hit things will pick up.

p.s I also thought that 30-35% was more realalistic.

[HouseOfAtlas]

Unless I missed it, you didn't mention if you need your own tools or if they are providing the machines and work vehicle. Who pays for gas??

[aero1]

also Is Their Overtime Pay ? ?
most States Labor Boards Require That Your Percentages Must At Least Equal Min. Wage Standards For Your State,
ie; Your Pay At The End Of Week Divided By total Work Time From Time You Start Truck In Morning To Time You Shut Down At Night
absolutely correct commissioned techs still have to punch a time clock and overtime is figured after the first 40 at time and a half based on your gross pay i believe,our payroll dept does that and we almost found out the hard way about all this. so very sound advice from jerrymac.

[westcoastplumber]

My company paid commisions, and there was no overtime, they had a way around it, it was called "Units"

we were paid in units, which was 30% a unit (hour)

no big deal, you can rip people off with commission or with hourly.

with commission you hussle, most if paid by the hour, lag and take their time, no incentative to get to the 2nd call if your comfortable with the scenery of your first call.

[PLUMBER RICK]

it's selling the job that's the issue.

technically the tech is not in a position to price and sell a job.

if they are getting paid on a commission, why would they sell a $150 cleaning when they can sell a $1000. clean out. at a 30% cut it's either a $50 job or a $333 job:rolleyes:

the hourly guy gets paid by the hour and there is no incentive to sell a job. he gets paid typically for billable hours at a higher rate than the guy who gets paid all day at a lower rate.

some guys like billable hours, some guys like the security of an 8 hour day.

commission guys are driven to sell jobs.

hourly guys don't need to sell. they get paid an hourly wage.

rick.

[Service Guy]

I smell an argument brewing....:smilewinkgrin:

[aero1]

does anybody remember simpler, times when i started it was either hourly or salary, and you worked for your pay just as you gained knowledge you kept your mouth shut thought about what you said before the crusty old timer made you look foolish and if there were people around he would let the world now just how green you were, but you learned and sucked it up, treat most like that today and they will quit cry run to the labor board throw themselves off a building, i dont know about you guys i learned tough but the work ethics it taught me i wouldnt trade for the world.:smile:

[JERRYMAC]

:wave2:
OK JUST TO START THIS DISCUSSION OFF ON THE RIGHT NOTE,

I HAVE WORKED HOURLY,SALARY, & COMMISSION I ALWAYS MADE THE MOST MONEY ON COMMISSION NEVER HAD TO SELL EXTRAS
JUST SELLING THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE RATHER IT WAS AUGER TOILET, OR JUST A NEW FLAPPER, UP TO A COMPLETE RE PIPE OR REMODEL AND I STILL MADE MONEY BUT I HAD :dance:INCENTIVE TO GET THE JOB DONE AND DONE RIGHT OR I LOST PAY IF SOMEBODY ELSE FROM COMPANY DID CALL BACK ON ME, ! ! ! :thud:
WHICH I THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO PAY PLUMBERS WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY/ EAT SOMEBODY ELSE TO CORRECT YOUR MISTAKE :finger:

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT ? IT IS THE WAY ALL PLUMBING SHOP OWNER'S GET PAID AFTER
EXPENSE'S YOU GET YOUR NET PAY ! ! :wave2:

:mcrider:

[Service Guy]

I'll stay out of this 'commission vs. hourly' debate. I have worked both ways and I'll admit both ways had their ups and downs. Right now I work for myself only, but someday I'll need reliable employees and I'll have to decide how to pay them fairly one way or another.

[All Clear Sewer]

I pay my "GOOD" help $20.00 an hour. The rest get 10.00

[coldbluff]

Just like to today I ran free camera inspection for owner. Granted they pay for gas, but I still think I should be paid for something.

Thanks for all the feed back.

[PLUMBER RICK]

Just like to today I ran free camera inspection for owner. Granted they pay for gas, but I still think I should be paid for something.

Thanks for all the feed back.

there is no such thing as a free camera inspection.

attached to your inspection was an estimate/ contract for a job.

the owner just didn't bite.

to me a free inspection is, doing the job with no strings attached.

such as for a friend or family member.

otherwise i bill for every inspection with no strings attached.

since it's not your company, and not your money for the camera and associated inspection equipment, i guess you do as the owner ask of you.

but i would seriously look for a job at a company that pays hourly so there is no free work. my buddy who had 20 guys all got paid either hourly/ helpers, or job tickets/ plumbers.

so even a 15 minute call would still pay them the hour ticket. they don't get paid travel time, but they they typically had enough calls to keep them busy all day. they didn't have to wait for the phone to ring.

the owner is making 70% plus material on you for answering the phone.

rick.

[Tyman]

If I have to sell to put bread on my table I'll become a used car salesman, better hours and cleaner.

Whatever happened to being a good employee, working hard and promoting the company goals.

[coldbluff]

thanks for the input.

[Service Guy]

Originally Posted by wrench spinner:
1 Billion Dollars!!!!:killingme:

[Masterplumb]

If I have to sell to put bread on my table I'll become a used car salesman, better hours and cleaner.

Whatever happened to being a good employee, working hard and promoting the company goals.


Like it or not, all service plumbers are or should be salesmen. Even if you are not paid on commision. If you are in a customers house, you have to keep your eyes open for things that are legitimately wrong. Theres nothing wrong with pointing out violations, dangers, and even mentioning to Mrs. Smith that her water heater is 18 years old. Dont use scare tactics just mention things the correct way.

[DuckButter]

I used to work for a commision based company and it's not worth it unless you rip people off. You can't give a good price and still make money for yourself.
Many Box stores like Sears, Home Depot, Lowes...it's the same for their subs, the profit margin is too low without pushing for extra's.

[DuckButter]

By far the most effective pay scale I've ever seen was when I worked for a lumber mill in Maine 20 years ago, right outta the Navy.
Hourly plus group incentives, we made up to $4 more per hour based on our productivity...I have never since worked so hard.
Not one guy in the company was slow, not one guy didn't care about busting his back for the team.
The boss didn't have to fire slackers, they "mysteriously" found encouragement to leave of their own accord.
This was heavy, repetitive labor handling green lumber...the moral was always high, we all depended on eachother to meet our weekly incentive.
The whole chemistry was awsome, forever playing pranks and laughing as we pushed on.

[Tyman]

Like it or not, all service plumbers are or should be salesmen. Even if you are not paid on commision. If you are in a customers house, you have to keep your eyes open for things that are legitimately wrong. Theres nothing wrong with pointing out violations, dangers, and even mentioning to Mrs. Smith that her water heater is 18 years old. Dont use scare tactics just mention things the correct way.

I think we agree then Masterplumb. Promoting the company goals involves meeting financial ones as well. I am proactive when I am in a customers home but I am also low pressure, and apply common sense. Just because someone has roots in their main does not mean it needs dug up and replaced immediately.

My distaste for commission based plumbing comes from the ones I know. They are trained almost monthly on selling tactics and have selling parties. If you call them for any water heater, faucet, garbage disposal or plugged drain you will be getting new, period. Don't forget the carbon monoxide detector that you need at a cost of 180.00 or your children will die.

Trust and integrity is something we must never loose sight of.

[Masterplumb]

I think we agree then Masterplumb. Promoting the company goals involves meeting financial ones as well. I am proactive when I am in a customers home but I am also low pressure, and apply common sense. Just because someone has roots in their main does not mean it needs dug up and replaced immediately.

My distaste for commission based plumbing comes from the ones I know. They are trained almost monthly on selling tactics and have selling parties. If you call them for any water heater, faucet, garbage disposal or plugged drain you will be getting new, period. Don't forget the carbon monoxide detector that you need at a cost of 180.00 or your children will die.

Trust and integrity is something we must never loose sight of.

Very well said!

[Cuda]

I think we agree then Masterplumb. Promoting the company goals involves meeting financial ones as well. I am proactive when I am in a customers home but I am also low pressure, and apply common sense. Just because someone has roots in their main does not mean it needs dug up and replaced immediately.

My distaste for commission based plumbing comes from the ones I know. They are trained almost monthly on selling tactics and have selling parties. If you call them for any water heater, faucet, garbage disposal or plugged drain you will be getting new, period. Don't forget the carbon monoxide detector that you need at a cost of 180.00 or your children will die.

Trust and integrity is something we must never loose sight of.

HOOAH