labor rate

[hungry]

Hello everyone.
I don't know if I can ask this particular question. I hope someone reads this.

What is the going hourly rate for a service tech? I mean how much is the labor/hour for a tech to come out and service a heater? I understand that it is labor PLUS parts.

Thank you.
Again I'm not sure if I can ask this question.

[tinner73]

i make $6.75/hr. can i come out and work on your stuff?

[hungry]

LOL LOL TINN I have PLENTY of those guys around here. Still lol lol

[htg guy]

The rates will vary by quite alot, dependant upon the area. Call around to a few of your local contractors and ask for their hourly rate.

[beenthere]

From one end of the country to the other, hourly rate can vary by close to a hundred bucks an hour.

[dec]

Hourly rate......was I supose to be making money? Thought I was doing something wrong and was beginning to think this was a non profit oganazation.

[millerman]

Some companies charge a time and materials rate while others charge flat rate pricing. What determines a companies rates depends on how they do business. Do they charge enough to cover expenses or do they try to be the lowest. Their are numerous factors that come into play i.e. actual labor plus benefits, vehicle expenses building expenses office help etc. etc ect. Will the company that low balls be in business in the next 5,4,3,2,1 years? Probably not. Look at it this way, we must make money or why be in business. It does seem like a charity at times but hey, other times we actually make money (what a concept). Being a student as your profile states you can figure the average wage of a journeyman with benefits is around 30-40 an hour thats fully loaded, then add on your needed percentage to keep the lights on and all the rest of the the requirements of being in business. Good luck and hope this helps somewhat. Michael

[amickracing]

With out giving prices, my company has an hourly rate that we go by, but there's also bit rates, and "good guy" hourly rates. They vary 30% roughly. But heck since we're throwing numbers out there, our hourly rate is roughly 300-400% more than what the average wage (of journeymen, not counting apprentices). But that's a whole other thread lol

[theblade]

If you are working for some one else, it will be what you are worth to them. How tight the labor market is, how qualified you are, and how you present your self to your employer. There is really much more, but I hope you see how it works.
If you are self employed, then it get really important that you do the figures & math.
Overhead, -- phone, pager, cell phone, office, (even if you
work out of your home. Insurance, (business
liability) electricity, depritation of equip.
uniforms, shoes, computer, office furniture,
state taxes, federal taxes, fica, freight,
tools, (they wear out & get lost) bad debt,
(guess who use to pay well, but now you can't
find them) state license, city license, county
license, schools, (you have to stay up on the
new stuff.) attorney, accountant, *the list
goes on*
vechicle, insurance, fuel, tires, oil changes, repairs,
(it will break down, & evidentily wear out)

add all these up, make sure you don't miss any thing. add your salary for a year (what you want to make in order to live a life of reasonable comfort, provide health insurance for your family, two weeks vacation,
project your repairs to your vechicle for next 12 months,
tool replacelments, etc. add 20% for safety.(if you are lucky, you won't miss it more that 20%). Divide this total $ amount by the number of hours you will actually work in an year. [self employed usually work 10 hrs. day x 6 days, x 50 weeks, = 3000 hrs.
[2000 hrs. if your don't work more than 8 hrs. five days per week.] this will give you your "break even" charge by the hour. You can survive, but will not be putting anything away for replacment of that truck/computer, etc. when they out. You won't be putting anything away for college, vacations, health emergencies, retirelment, etc. Don't get me wrong. There are thousands out in the business doing well. Just do the homework before you go out on your on. Have enought cash put back to break even the first couple of years, in case all of a sudden business drops off.
or your get sick/hurt and can't work for a while. The national failure rate is, only one in five business will still be operation in five years. Good luck.

[fat eddy]

It all depends ,

It breaks down somewhere along these lines,

Residential averages out at about 65 dollars an hour with the average ten year tech making approx 20 an hour + benefits

Light commercial averages out at about 60 an hour and the ten year tech makes about 25 an hour + benefits

Larger commercial, Industrial averages about 95 an hour the journey makes 31 an hour + union benefits and some extras usually. ( 45 total package )

DDC controls bills out at about 110, the tech averages about 28 + benefits

The techs that can do DDC and the mechanical service competantly. Maintain their own accounts and get no complaints average about thirtyfive + their union benefits

The Union rate here is 31 the 35 is to keep the good ones.

[Gunnery Sergeant Hartman]

Originally posted by fat eddy
It all depends ,

It breaks down somewhere along these lines,

Residential averages out at about 65 dollars an hour with the average ten year tech making approx 20 an hour + benefits

Light commercial averages out at about 60 an hour and the ten year tech makes about 25 an hour + benefits

Larger commercial, Industrial averages about 95 an hour the journey makes 31 an hour + union benefits and some extras usually. ( 45 total package )

DDC controls bills out at about 110, the tech averages about 28 + benefits

The techs that can do DDC and the mechanical service competantly. Maintain their own accounts and get no complaints average about thirtyfive + their union benefits

The Union rate here is 31 the 35 is to keep the good ones.

Jesus Fat Eddy, break the MAIN RULE of the site why don't you...

[Irascible]

You're right fats. It does depend. The home warranty company that I work for pays more than that per hour. And don't get me started on the internal hourly rate of flat rate companies. Take your number and multiply it by two or three. But then again, a piece of crap starter house costs a half million out here. So who can blame them?

I need a drink... err, drinks.

[fat eddy]

The rates I showed were for Ohio at least the northern part, I didn't know the rules, nothing wrong with putting everything above the table they know we make a living.