service tech pay

[lurch12]

It may not be my buisness but i manage a company not a big company just 4 guys, and i would like to know what everyone else is getting paid as service tech and rookies. So that i know if im being fair or not. keeping in mind that i am in a small town. Right now my guys get pais salery and get paid overtime when called out after hours. so on the slow days or months when they go home they get paid. to sit on there butts. but make up for when we are busy. And i dont care to hear about union pay. My guys work on rest equipment and hvac equipment little residential and small install jobs.

[Nicholas Rowan]

We are in Wash. Dc
Good Tech 45-55k
Good Helper 27-35k
Green 20k

[Nicholas Rowan]

but are labor rates may be different

[2sac]

Do you think they're overpaid? You're asking the question becuse you feel??? They're worth somewhere between what you think they are worth and what they think they are worth.
Union pay doesn't matter? In a "union" city, non union pay is similar to that of a union shop for quality techs. The union shops keep wages high. What if I told you the type of equiptment your guys work on can pay up to 100k a year depending on the tech? That # is based solely on hourly wages and OT. No commission, and no guarantee. It does in my neck of the woods.
A guaranteed 40 plus OT is nice though.

[lurch12]

I'm just wanting to see if im fair with them. The salery for a good tech is 40 but I have been supplying them with all there tools and pay them when ever they need off and 2 weeks vacation. i dont have enough guys to offer insurance or anything like that. For the most part we are pretty laxed around here and flexable. Some days i feel like i dont pay enough and others it seems to much. Also do you guys get any christmas bonus.

[Nicholas Rowan]

We give gifts. That way taxes don't eat up all the bonus. we can give more for less

[ascj]

I'm just wanting to see if im fair with them. The salery for a good tech is 40 but I have been supplying them with all there tools and pay them when ever they need off and 2 weeks vacation. i dont have enough guys to offer insurance or anything like that. For the most part we are pretty laxed around here and flexable. Some days i feel like i dont pay enough and others it seems to much. Also do you guys get any christmas bonus.

What's fair? That is an opinion. Are your guys happy with things? Is your company happy with things?

40k a year, only 2 weeks vac, no insurance, no Christmas bonus or 401k(retirement) and I'm a good tech......I would have major issues with the company.

[hvacpope]

Around here an average residential tech makes somewhere between $18 to $25/Hr, commercial/industrial techs make from $20 to $38/Hr with benefits, that's pretty much the norm.
Most residential outfits are charging $75/hr plus truck and diagnostic fee, commercial companies charge well over $100/Hr plus this,that and the other, there is plenty of work and good techs are in high demand.

[Nicholas Rowan]

We charge $104 for the first 1/2hr and $20 for every 15min after
overtime is $134 for the first 1/2hr and $39 every 15min after and the tech gets $25 for every weekend call and time and 1/2 over 40hrs.

[Tech Rob]

Couldn't get me to roll out of bed for $40k :whistle:

[indy2000]

$100K+ is the norm in our shop, we do mostly industrial/comm refrigeration.

$40K is second year apprentice type of money IMHO.

[dunkman]

We charge $85/hr. Senior light commercial/some residential/little refrigeration/ techs getting around 70k here.

[Retread]

Seems to me a good tech makes about 1/3 of what the company charges for labor around here. Some will make more If I could not get that I would move on after a while.

[John Markl]

It's easy to find guys who THINK that they're worth a pile of money....

Finding guys who really are worth what they think they are, is a horse of a different color.....:whistle:

[John Markl]

Seems to me a good tech makes about 1/3 of what the company charges for labor around here. Some will make more If I could not get that I would move on after a while.

Are you talking per "billed" hour, or "clock" hour?

[Retread]

Are you talking per "billed" hour, or "clock" hour?

From what I am hearing and have seen in my own check it would be "clock" hours. Now I think most places expect you to bill most (but really all) your time.

Shops that charge 75 tend to pay around 25. Shops that charge 90 pay around 30.

Seems like If i can live on 1/3 the company can make a profit out of the other 2/3 and parts.

Back in the 80's when we charged 39 an hour I made 13 the more things change the more the stay the same.

[enb54]

I just can't help but stirring up the pot here...

So if you wanted to move to Canada and get paid about $30 per hour and got about 35% income tax whacked off (Provincial and Federal combined), would you do it? One of my good friends did but unfortunately moved back to Puerto Rico... he didn't like our weather

Oh... did I mention that we have health care that works for families? Not trying to be bad, but perhaps there is more to working than just the dollars...

Just another $0.02 worth...

[valdelocc]

It's easy to find guys who THINK that they're worth a pile of money....

Finding guys who really are worth what they think they are, is a horse of a different color.....:whistle:

Same as to find a dime and nickle business owner who demands a million qualifications from employees in exchange for $16 hour then cry cause "cant find good help".

[lancerbomb08]

definitely have to factor i benefits. That is part of the package. Although my company doesn't pay for my family's benefits, they pay for mine, sick time, vacation (which is coming up thank god) and personal days. Plus we get a pretty descent bonus at the end of the year. Tools and trucks and gas a phone paid for. Around here, it's pretty much the norm but that is for big market companies. We charge 95 an hour for service contract customers and 105 for anyone else. Now I mainly work controls and touch mechanical every now an then but mechanically, we handle nothing but heavy commercial and industrial and we are a manufacturer rep company so we are not an open service company which makes it nice. It does all boil down to is everyone happy in the deal. Just my opinion

[John Markl]

Same as to find a dime and nickle business owner who demands a million qualifications from employees in exchange for $16 hour then cry cause "cant find good help".

The difference is....that I was a tech before I was an owner....but it's always the non-owner types that make comments like the one above.

The economic conditions in the US will shake this all out soon enough.

The mediocre malcontents will find themselves unemployed, while the really good ones will be in demand.

The leftists and the media want us to believe that the "haves and have-nots" refers to wealth.....but in reality, it refers to the workforce. For the last decade and a half, a boom economy has caused a swell in "middle class" workers.....those people with marginal skills and poor work ethic....who were paid good money because business owners needed the bodies.

Those days are past us, and will be for a good long while. All too soon, the "haves" will be the people with real skills and work ethic, while the "have nots" will be the minimum-wage, unskilled laborer.

The people in the middle, will be the ones squeezed out. If you don't believe it, look in any newspapers help wanted ads. There's two kinds of jobs available right now......Good skill/good money.....and no skill/no money.

I don't know a single HVAC company around here, that wouldn't hire a good tech that was worth the money.....problem is, they're virtually non-existient, and if they do exist, they're not available.

Oh, and by the way......it's "nickel and dime"....:grin2:

[wahoo]

There is a LOT of difference in tech wages depending on what part of the country, and where the business is located. But then again, what are your net profits, and how many benefits do you furnish along with the hourly rate? Lots of different variables go into the wage rate. IMO anyway.:.02:

[John Markl]

There is a LOT of difference in tech wages depending on what part of the country, and where the business is located. But then again, what are your net profits, and how many benefits do you furnish along with the hourly rate? Lots of different variables go into the wage rate. IMO anyway.:.02:

Amen, bro :D

I always chuckle when I see these threads.....along with the ones about "how much to bid on a job"......

The cost of doing business in New Jersey, Texas, California, Georgia, Nebraska, etc....all vary.

What one guy won't get out of bed for, is big bucks someplace else.

But I WILL say, that my Grandpa was right.....If you really wanna know what you're worth, go in business for yourself....

:cheers:

[wahoo]

John, The TRULY sad part of this is that most techs have no idea what "the company" makes after all the expenses come out. I pulled all the employees into the break room a couple of years ago, and simply asked "out of a dollar, how much does the business make after expenses?". Most put down 40 to 50cents and were amazed that the ACTUAL amount that year was LESS THAN A DIME!!! I went on to remind them why we became unset when a screw-up cost the business money. It's simply because it takes a lot of ity-bity profit dollars to pay for that screw-up. This is the best year we've had profit wise and we actually cleared over 10 cents of each dollar!!! So to the tech's who are not making what they "think" they are worth, go for that "less than a dime profit" and become self employeed. You'll truly get an education along the way...I guarantee it. Oh yeah, the first thing you want to buy your business is a $42,000.00 diesel 4 wheel drive crew cab dually pickup because "you never know when you're agona need it". It'll also teach you a valuable and expensive lesson....seen it happen so many times!!!:whistle:

[hvacpope]

Our jobs as techs comes with countless risks, we deal with high voltages, extremely hot or cold environments, flammable gases,toxic fumes,nasty weather,angry customers, we carry heavy stuff up and down ladders,we invest lots of money in tools and training, we risk it all on a daily basis for a lousy paycheck.
I know people working in a factory making $16Hr deburring pieces of metal, got a friend making $25hr running a lathe, If the money is not there why do it then? why ruin our backs and knees?
Personally I get pay OK and love the trade but if the money wasn't there I' would be doing something else.

[reissman]

John, The TRULY sad part of this is that most techs have no idea what "the company" makes after all the expenses come out. I pulled all the employees into the break room a couple of years ago, and simply asked "out of a dollar, how much does the business make after expenses?". Most put down 40 to 50cents and were amazed that the ACTUAL amount that year was LESS THAN A DIME!!! I went on to remind them why we became unset when a screw-up cost the business money. It's simply because it takes a lot of ity-bity profit dollars to pay for that screw-up. This is the best year we've had profit wise and we actually cleared over 10 cents of each dollar!!! So to the tech's who are not making what they "think" they are worth, go for that "less than a dime profit" and become self employeed. You'll truly get an education along the way...I guarantee it. Oh yeah, the first thing you want to buy your business is a $42,000.00 diesel 4 wheel drive crew cab dually pickup because "you never know when you're agona need it". It'll also teach you a valuable and expensive lesson....seen it happen so many times!!!:whistle:

Good advice here. I am not self employed but I applauded you guys who are. I think it takes a different cat to go in business for themselves, and a REALLY different one who actually can grow that business. I have people all the time on job sites say, "you should go into business for yourself" and when I actually think about it cost vs benefit I realize I am not cut out for that, not right now anyway, maybe when I get older and have more guts and money! LOL.

[John Markl]

Our jobs as techs comes with countless risks, we deal with high voltages, extremely hot or cold environments, flammable gases,toxic fumes,nasty weather,angry customers, we carry heavy stuff up and down ladders,we invest lots of money in tools and training, we risk it all on a daily basis for a lousy paycheck.
I know people working in a factory making $16Hr deburring pieces of metal, got a friend making $25hr running a lathe, If the money is not there why do it then? why ruin our backs and knees?
Personally I get pay OK and love the trade but if the money wasn't there I' would be doing something else.

If you're in ANY job, purely for the money, you'll never be truly successful.....Because instead of focusing on being the best you can be, you'll always be focused on how you think you're getting screwed....:gah:

[John Markl]

Our jobs as techs comes with countless risks, we deal with high voltages, extremely hot or cold environments, flammable gases,toxic fumes,nasty weather,angry customers, we carry heavy stuff up and down ladders,we invest lots of money in tools and training, we risk it all on a daily basis for a lousy paycheck.

You sound like a guy who should set sail on his own.....Get a license, some insurance, a bookkeeper, and some advertising......Open your own shop.....learn what REAL risks are....:bsing:

[a/c wizard]

I think you are being fair. It costs an employer a lot more to pay salary than it does hourly. Some techs like to know they have a set steady pay rate as opposed to losing Ted when it's slow. Pay rates are generally based on the local economy and the demographic. 100k may be feasible for heavy commercial work in NY or Chicago but is not possible in most areas.

[hvacpope]

You sound like a guy who should set sail on his own.....Get a license, some insurance, a bookkeeper, and some advertising......Open your own shop.....learn what REAL risks are....:bsing:

I dont want to open a shop, cant we all be in business, I'm fortunate to have a great employer.
I'm not going to BS you the main motivation for me to wake up and go to work every morning is the money, there are many things I love to do instead of work like fishing, golfing or to vacation in a white sand beach.
You sound very self adsorbed, craving success regardless of the casualties, been is the trade for a long time, came across your kind before and I glad as hell I don't have to work for somebody like you, your preaching all the gloom and doom and at the end you may be the one that vanish.

[John Markl]

You sound very self adsorbed, craving success regardless of the casualties, been is the trade for a long time, came across your kind before and I glad as hell I don't have to work for somebody like you, your preaching all the gloom and doom and at the end you may be the one that vanish.

I don't preach doom and gloom. I preach reality.

To come on this forum, and fill newcomer's heads with BS that they're going to spend a few years in school/training, then become God's gift to the trade is grossly unfair to all of them.

As far as craving success.....it's what seperates the successful from the mediocre, regardless of the pursuit. I'm also involved in local politics, community theater, church, and model railroading (a 700 square foot HO scale layout in my last house).

Over the last decade-plus, our trade has become over-run with mediocre, wanna-be techs, who in reality are incompetent parts changers....who please their bosses by hustling boxes. But, as the economy continues to reposition itself, it's is those make-believe techs that will wind up out of work, and wondering what happened.

There's more to success than money. Money can buy happiness for some, but it can't buy success.

"A toast....To my Big Brother George....The richest man in town" ~ Closing scene from "It's A Wonderful Life"....

[indy2000]

parts changers are a product of their environment.:cheers::hijacked:

[John Markl]

parts changers are a product of their environment.:cheers::hijacked:

Not true. :censored:

[bmathews]

We're all parts changers. The skilled ones just change the correct part the first time. The unskilled ones change 3 or 4 until it's fixed. Range in our area is $10/hr for installer/helpers to $35/for good tech for residential. I don't do much commerical or any industrial/refrigeration. From what I've seen those guys start out at $25/hr up to I have no idea. A friend of mine is a fairly skilled guy with probably 20 years or so in the trade that works for state and I think he makes $45K or so salary a year with OT. Great bennies though with a pension, insurance, 5 weeks off every year, everything you could want. They paid for him to get his hvac license and encourage him to do "side work".

[John Markl]

$25 gets you a top-notch tech around here. But then again, our area was recently rated as one of the lowest "cost of living" areas in the nation.

$125k will get you a nice 2000 square foot brick house, with an attached two-car garage, that's less than 25 years old.

So, it's all relative.

[Williamsma]

I've been on both sides of the fence on this one. When you own it, the only person you have to answer to is yourself, when you don't own it, you have to answer to the one that does. Having said that, I think that your total wage and benifit package be about 50% of what a company charges to the customer. This includes uniforms, SSI contributions, workmans comp, disability insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and wages. If I missed anything, fill in the blanks. If I gross out of my truck 250k for the year, 70k + bennies is not out of line for compensation.

[lurch12]

What is the cost of living were you guys live

[indy2000]

$1,000,000 for a crackshack

47% income tax

[wahoo]

William, actually when you own the business you answer to EVERY CUSTOMER YOU HAVE. Sorry to burst your "freedom" bubble. If the customers are not happy, you'll be the one they call and let's all face it, there are some customers you will never make happy. And if you're really lucky they'll go to your competition and make their lives hell. What is it they say "20% of your customers cause 80% of your problems". I think it's closer to only five percent, but that five percent can cause 95% of problems. A self employed contractor has thousands of "bosses" each year!!:.02::.

[Williamsma]

William, actually when you own the business you answer to EVERY CUSTOMER YOU HAVE. Sorry to burst your "freedom" bubble. If the customers are not happy, you'll be the one they call and let's all face it, there are some customers you will never make happy. And if you're really lucky they'll go to your competition and make their lives hell. What is it they say "20% of your customers cause 80% of your problems". I think it's closer to only five percent, but that five percent can cause 95% of problems. A self employed contractor has thousands of "bosses" each year!!:.02::.

I disagree, when you own the business, you have a choice of who you do work for, who you hire, who you fire, and what kind of work you take on. When you have an unreasonable customer, you can fire that customer. I understand that every customer is the king of his castle, but being the owner, I decide which kings I serve.

[wahoo]

Well, then you've got it made. I've got too many employees to "hand pick" our customers. We just try and make them (customers) happy and make payroll each week! There are a few we try and send to our competition, sometimes works, sometimes does not.:cheers:

[bmathews]

I disagree, when you own the business, you have a choice of who you do work for, who you hire, who you fire, and what kind of work you take on. When you have an unreasonable customer, you can fire that customer. I understand that every customer is the king of his castle, but being the owner, I decide which kings I serve.

I don't think anybody wants to get a pain in the ass customer and I will assume that anybody that knows they will be a PITA won't deal with them. But they sneak under the wire sometimes. They play nice then when it comes time to write the check, bam. The crazy starts. Then you own the job through state laws, licensing, warranty, etc... Once all that expires, tell them to kiss off. We had a lady that was like this. All she was wanting was a free system. We told her we'd be glad to give her the money back. But we will also be removing all the equipment we installed. She shut up and went away.

[indy2000]

service tech pay?

[CAtech1986]

if feel so cheated...................... 42k last year. i week vacation. no benefits except an IRA that they match 6%

[EliTheIceman]

I'm in Iowa (small rural community). Completed a trade school in May & started out @ $12/hr. Busted my ass and in July was @ $13/hr. Then, took an apprecticeship placement exam and got put in the 3rd (out of 4) year class. This has put me @ $14/hr with insurance (no dental or vision), an X-Mas bonus, no vacation till year 2. Our company sounds like the same size as yours. For me they charge $40/hr. Hope this helps you somewhat.

[wahoo]

Iceman, sounds about normal. Based on your experience they are not making anything on what they are "charging" for your time, but they are helping you gain experience. A year from now with good experience you will be worth more to them and hopefully they'll show that gratitude! We are primarily rural also and have hired Tech. school graduates who simply had horrible work habits and even though they had "schooling" they simply were more trouble than they were worth. However most of our present employees,,,heck I think all of them except dispatcher are tech. or some kind of school after high school. Out of eleven we have 3 college grads now that I think of it. Hang in there as there is NO substitute for actual experience!!:.02:

[westval]

$25 gets you a top-notch tech around here. But then again, our area was recently rated as one of the lowest "cost of living" areas in the nation.

$125k will get you a nice 2000 square foot brick house, with an attached two-car garage, that's less than 25 years old.

So, it's all relative.

Most people miss this point, John. Reading through this thread I was wondering if anyone would bring it up.

[aruddick]

I started reading not gonna comment.

For my guys (5 techs 95% residential), our hourly pay for them will range from 15 - 20 per hour with a spiff program for maintenance agreements, aux sales, replacement and performance testing leads that sell. Most of y guys wind up in the upper 40's to mid 50's.

We also offer retirement with match, pay 100% of long term disability, partial of health ins, vacations and holidays.

FYI our town median income is around 50k, so if momma works they are doing real well, if not they can still have a life.

I have always tried to be on the upper end of pay around my area, so far it works for me.

[fv_tom]

You are wasting your time comparing pay rates between different areas of the country...or different countries.

[gp3]

Im in the Boston area and I can say Hvac techs are overstocked. Between the schools pumping out hundred of techs a year and the unemployment I would say you lucky to have a good job around here. Probably about 20-25 a hour out here for a decent tech that can do oil,ac, gas and drive a truck when needed. Its all about the experience factor too I know a few tech only guys that have over 10 years and make 75k. I think once you get to this point the only thing next is going out on your own. As we all complain about money, sit there one day and think about the overhead of a established company we have about 30 techs and they keep us very busy in winter with all the overtime you want but in the spring and fall they keep us working and still getting our 40 hours. There are so many factors involved with rating a employer. We get so much education each year Plumbing, ac, gas you dont get that from lesser employers.

[OBogue]

Well, I can tell right away from this conversation that our company is going to have to charge more if I'm ever going to retire. We're in a city on about 20,000. We charge $66/hrs for any type of work and $99 for OT. This includes rack systems, residential, commercial foodservice, hoods, and commercial hvac.

Seems ridiculous that we don't charge more, at least for the commercial work.

But I think a deciding factor is how much down time do you have. On average I have about 25% unproductive time. There just isn't enough work to keep me rolling nonstop. So our hourly rate has to keep that amount covered as well.

Thoughts?

Odie

[dunkman]

Im in the Boston area and I can say Hvac techs are overstocked. Between the schools pumping out hundred of techs a year and the unemployment I would say you lucky to have a good job around here.

Techs that need work? Send 'em up to Minnesota. It's nearly impossible to find HVAC service techs around here with any experience. Good ones are on their own or already have a good job.

[hvacpope]

Techs that need work? Send 'em up to Minnesota. It's nearly impossible to find HVAC service techs around here with any experience. Good ones are on their own or already have a good job.

Same here in NY, non-union companies are paying good techs over the union scale, some union shops are doing the same. most of the "newly graduated techs" aren't worth a spit.

[primmers]

Iam a one man show, with 12 unlicensed competitors Im also out in the middle of nowhere..when i need help, I hire the guy that trained me and or my son in law....i pay them $75 and hour, they will be 1099"d.

I don't have to tell them more than once what i need!