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I’m just getting started in the business and have gotten busy enough that I really need some help. I have a lot of folks who have excepted bids, but I can’t even give them a start date. I’m looking for someone to help out on a part time bais, but have no idea what to offer for $$
I have two thoughts:
First would be just some general labor help…moving materials… decosturction work…filling dumpsters…an extra set of hands. What is a fair wage for this.
Second thought would be more of an apprentise. Someone who could do the above, but could also be tasked with some small job while I was on site. What is fair for this?
I’m located in South Eastern PA. Either of these would only be part time.. 2-3 days per week
Thanks!!
Replies
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Peter -
I would say a laborer here in SE Pennsylvania makes between $7-$9 /hr., and a carpenter's helper makes probably $10-$12 / hr. That's just my 2 cents but I think it's fairly accurate.
You may have a hard time finding someone willing to work only 2 or 3 days a week. And, as with anything, you get what you pay for.
*Find a fireman that has more talent. He'll want more and if he's worth it his schedule might coincide with yours. Oh and hope there's no fires the night he works.Or hit the trade schools and interest a young guy that still wants a summer vacation.Or weed out the jobs for the good ones and work longer hours and weekends. Learn to use jigs, clamps and whatever else you can dream up to take the place of the other guy. That way it's all yours, or not.Best of luck.
*Pay them the same amount that you'd be willing to do the job for.blue
*I've gotta stop reading this right before I go to bed! I thought you both wrote South West PA! Time for bed. Jeff
*Jeff-I kinda figured as much.....thanks for the offer though!pm
*I've always thought that a "helper" should start about 1/2 of what a journyman earns. I wouldn't want anyone on the job who wasn't progressing towards becoming a carpenter though. I just don't have enough of that kind of work to have a "laborer". Even with a teenager, you can tell right off how comfortable they are with tools and I'm not sure that is something that can be learned. One thing for sure, if you do find a good hand, who is good company, they are worth their weight in gold. Do whatever you have to do to make them feel appreciated. Good help is mighty hard to find.
*Jim-Amen to that! Right now I have a 16 y/o kid who I'm paying $7. He is happy as a clam with it. I'll be honest...From labor stand point, he'll work harder than most men. He is a really good kid too. Never a bitch about anything. Always on time or early.He seems to be Ok w/ tools. I'm trying to slowly transision from move this and that to some semi-skilled tasks, and see how he does.I find sometime it slows me down a bit, as I try to explain why we do things, not just show him how. I want him to learn...I figure the extra time invested may pay both of us in the long run.Thanks for the input..pm
*Darn, Messi, you had to go and say 16 years old. Check out the rules in your area for age limitation on construction sites.
*I had my nephew as a helper on a few jobs last summer. He never did any type of construction work before, never used a circular saw as far as I know. The first job was a big porch/roof tear off/down and rebuild even bigger. I wanted him mainly to sweep up/ stack debris / and clean up at the end of the day. He helped me tear down, and I had him cut up all the framing. Showed him how to use a saw and keep his fingers, and told him I needed the cuts to all be a certain lenght and square. He "practiced" cutting on the scrap for a while, and went from never using a saw to cutting rafters from my pattern. His hammering was weak, so I had him pull most of the nails in the scrap, and made him nail 2 sticks of scrap together before it went onto the scrap pile. After that, he was very useful helping nail the sheathing with very few bent nails. I just used him a few hours a day, and the scrap work kept him busy when I didn't need him to hold something or sweep, and made him more productive for me in the end. Jeff
*Ralph's right. I wouldn't let a 16 year old employee touch a power tool or go on a roof until I was i sureit was legal.Rich Beckman
*It's not legal here unless the minor is related.blue
*Good point to look into. I'll get that taken care of. I started this way at about that age...but those laws do have a way of changing, however your eligible for farm labor here at 14.Thanks again for all the great feedback
*eighteen in NY...near the stream,aj
*Just browsing, first time on the internet, however, just to add my two cents, I have had the most success hiring quality subs and splitting the profits (minus a finder's fee and management costs). Everyone is investing their future reputation as well as being productive (equals more money). We work as a team, whoever finds the job , runs the job, pays the help, keeps a little extra.hope this helps.
*Welcome Jay JOnes, hope you stay awhile.Yours is an interesting arrangement. Sounds a little like a commune.Are you a born again hippy?blue
*Blue eye, No hippies here, just subs wanting nice work, decent money, and low risks. seems to be working. later
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I'm just getting started in the business and have gotten busy enough that I really need some help. I have a lot of folks who have excepted bids, but I can't even give them a start date. I'm looking for someone to help out on a part time bais, but have no idea what to offer for $$
I have two thoughts:
First would be just some general labor help...moving materials... decosturction work...filling dumpsters...an extra set of hands. What is a fair wage for this.
Second thought would be more of an apprentise. Someone who could do the above, but could also be tasked with some small job while I was on site. What is fair for this?
I'm located in South Eastern PA. Either of these would only be part time.. 2-3 days per week
Thanks!!