virginia pay scale

[greenhornetn]

what is the pay scale for a journeyman in virginia?

[bustawrench1]

Call one of these numbers and ask them.

http://www.vabuildingtrades.org/affiliates/plumbers_and_pipefitters/

[greenhornetn]

thank you I didnt know that they had unions that close to us

[lipsoffurry]

The great thing about the Commonwealth is we are a right-to-work state. You can sell yourself for a bundle of money, or take what everyone is making....Look at the entire package. A large hourly wage is a waste if you have to pay $500 a month for health insurance. Dang, maybe that scale isn't too bad after all...

[greenhornetn]

right now i am only making 16/hr and paying 400 / mth for insurance

[greenhornetn]

i deserve more $$$ how do i get it

[klrogers]

Virginia like most states will have a huge pay spread based on location, Northern VA will pay about double to Southwestern VA. To get any idea on payscale you need to narrow down the area.

[greenhornetn]

i LIVE IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY

[MichaelPaladin]

i LIVE IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY

I would say 15-20, it might be a little higher depending on who you work for.

[greenhornetn]

Do You Live There

[MichaelPaladin]

I used to live in Harrisonburg.

[r404a]

Scale is 22.60 and going up soon out of local 110. Above scale is quite often the case at good shops and some experience.

[greenhornetn]

$15 to $ 20 for commercial?

[rlpayne]

I work for the city of va.beach i'm at 36,000 annually, it's ok but my responsibility is enormous 2800 tons of cooling, 123vav's,49 ahu's,and it goes on, it's not enough pay for the responsibility and it;s not up to scale for the region.

[atmosphere]

If your confidence level is nothing more than a greenhorn, you will indeed command greenhorn wages when you negotiate your wages.

[greenhornetn]

It Doesnt Stand For Greenhorn It Is Greehornet From The Movie Grumpy Old Men, It Was The Fishing Pole That Caught More Fish Than The Big Poles,

Assume Makes An Ace Out Of Those That Do It

[lipsoffurry]

Dang, scale is that low? How much is the benefit package? Dang on the Beach's yearly, too! I do appreciate you keeping my kids cool!

[acfixit]

If you are ever in the Atlanta area, I am looking for a good Tech.

[atmosphere]

If you are looking at NOVA, be aware that the employers union here holds as much or more weight than the labor unions do.

My eyes are not what they used to be. sorry for the misread.

Best of luck.

[lipsoffurry]

Employer's unions? What? Your local has to bargin with another union and not the business owner? How does that work? What am I missing? How was the commute on the beltway today?

[atmosphere]

Right. The employers, who you would think would all be in competition with each other, actually have a rather benign relationship with one another.
They cuss and discuss how they can keep wages low and keep profitable employees on board. Just try leaving where you are and see what can happen...

You really don't think they take the demands of the Unions sitting down, do you?

[r404a]

I work for the city of va.beach i'm at 36,000 annually, it's ok but my responsibility is enormous 2800 tons of cooling, 123vav's,49 ahu's,and it goes on, it's not enough pay for the responsibility and it;s not up to scale for the region.

Sad thing is that you are right...cost of living here in Tidewater is getting real bad.


r404a

[r404a]

Dang, scale is that low? How much is the benefit package? Dang on the Beach's yearly, too! I do appreciate you keeping my kids cool!

Can't remember the numbers off the top but with retirement and annuity and insurance, I am thinking about 32 when it is all said and done. Again, scale is a starting point and I see a lot of guys just coming out of there time and getting a little above scale.


r404a

[green jumper]

is that near staunton, I've considered moving to that area myself, and while everyhome looks afforadble based on my pay in california, I wondered how much of a loss per hour i'd take as well.

[r404a]

This is in South East VA, Hampton Roads area, about 4 or 5 hours from Staunton.


r404a

[acmech06]

Greenhorn,

I'm not sure what level you're at as a VA residential Journeyman ?? $16/hr and you have to pay health insurance $400/month family ? $16/hr is low plus paying health insurance is even lower, if you are a good journeyman you should be making more than that, a helper around here in northern VA, MD, DC is probalby making that much. A good journeyman (10+ yrs) around here should be making at least $25-30+ non union scale, some company might pay you up high but you'll have to pay the insurance and have your own tools :eek: and require you to be able to sale a minimum sales/week /month last year I was a residential and light commercial journeyman(15y+) making 32 top not alot of company would pay this high, I'm now a MD master but making less than that :( i'm working for the gov now with all the benefits, got tired of running around and sick of high pressure sales and stress dealing with crazy home owners :D ......

[duke of earl]

The owners keep the wages down so you are forced to work overtime. Most companies pay their bills from a 40 hour week so any money earned after that is profit. It's a shame you have to move around to get a raise in this trade. I've never worked union but it seems to be a better deal than non-union as far as retirement and bennies.

[boat racer]

I don't think it is the owners as much as competition from plumbers and other hacks who WANT to work for less ... its the customers who are keeping pay down, not the owners

[r404a]

The owners keep the wages down so you are forced to work overtime. Most companies pay their bills from a 40 hour week so any money earned after that is profit. It's a shame you have to move around to get a raise in this trade. I've never worked union but it seems to be a better deal than non-union as far as retirement and bennies.



I keep hoping you will see the light!!!!

r404a

[r404a]

I don't think it is the owners as much as competition from plumbers and other hacks who WANT to work for less ... its the customers who are keeping pay down, not the owners

I think that this is a fair statement

r404a

[lipsoffurry]

It takes a good salesman to sell the value, an excellent boss to leave you alone and let you do the job, and a customer with deep pockets to pay in a timely manner. Get all that together and you got something.

[atmosphere]

The man who knows his stuff can name his price and pick his customers.

[acmanhoney]

The man who knows his stuff can name his price and pick his customers.

i agree, a buudy just got 28hr at ars for res install journeyman.

[boat racer]

Well, my boss just told me we are topped out on pay ... the salesmen can't squeeze out any more from the customers, there will be no pay increases, it doesn't matter how good you are. I'd like to have gotten a raise to cover inflation (4% is BS, inflation is much higher than 4%), but it looks like that does not exist. Checked around and found the same thing at other local shops in MD.

So long to this field being a good paying job. If you are really smart enough to do HVAC, go to college and get a degree instead. That way you'll be able to afford a house AND a car at the same time ... maybe a vacation every other year if you don't put money into a retirement plan.

I really can't understand this in a field that is becoming more technically complex and harder to do right each day.

[virginia tech]

Depnding on the (non union) company that is looking for techs. In Richmond, you would be looking at anywhere between 23-27 an hour. That is with a solid company who treats you well. Move on down the road to a company who only needs you to keep their operating ratios at the correct number and the price wil be slightly higher, but you may be jobless in a month or 2 when their ratios show they need less techs, unless you are better than some one else.
Get your masters and you can name your price.....$32+/hr.