Wage! How much should the going rate be?

[James905]

Lately I'm finding private sub contracting is stuck in the past with wages.

 

I started on £60pd 3years ago

I am now lead climber and well qualified, I load the truck, do the climbing come down do the clearing chipping and tidying I tip and un load.. I currently get paid £100pd and on the odd day £120 but quite rare.

 

I know on the railways bort rate seems to be £120 for un experienced scrub clearance.

 

What are the going rates for Sun contract climber?!

 

Surely we need to move things into the modern era as any old Labourer on a site is paid between 80-100

[Steve Bullman]

So put your prices up.  People will only pay you £100 if thats what you are charging.  My advice would be to whack your rates up to all but your most regular(1) customer so you have some work, then start charging at least £160 per day to any other callers.  Eventually you can drop the £100 guy if he doesn't want to up your rate

 

[James905]

So put your prices up.  People will only pay you £100 if thats what you are charging.  My advice would be to whack your rates up to all but your most regular(1) customer so you have some work, then start charging at least £160 per day to any other callers.  Eventually you can drop the £100 guy if he doesn't want to up your rate
 

Just started with that but a bit at a time
Just didn't know of there was a general average for wage, but I realise it's what your worth to people in the private world

[swinny]

Dont compare railway wages to domestic tree work wages

[James905]

Dont compare railway wages to domestic tree work wages

It's all tree work and a lot of people do both types of work

[woody paul]

Qualified worker should earn a proper wage if you state your price that's what you want and get,

You could try one old trick charge twice as much and be half as busy as normal.

 

[billpierce]

Also depends a bit how often you work for them? Odd days here and there I would expect to charge more. Steady days every week might well be a bit less....

Good luck getting anyone to agree on subbies rates on here!

Good Groundie with aerial rescue and a saw 100 to 125 quid a day.

Good climber with plenty kit and saws 150 to 200 per day depending on how much a beast of a day it is.

But you know it'll vary depending on where in country you are, what competition is and what people are used to paying.

[treevolution]

Where are you based.

[James905]

Where are you based.

Yorkshire

[Mark Wileman]

I get £100 a day with a local firm that is literally 5 minutes from my house, I use all their kit and they can fill any spare days I have, so I think its worth keeping with them at that rate.

 

Anywhere else I charge £120, most people won't pay it though. One of the largest tree companies here in West Wales was paying a lead climber £8 an hour PAYE last year. I've been laughed at for quoting £130 a day to a company an hours drive away with sporadic work. 

 

Due to the above I'm focusing more on my own work now, probably cheaper to pay someone an extra £20 a day than generate extra local competition!