Hand cutter day rate

[justsomebloke]

Hi all

just looking for some advice on pay rates for forestry hand cutting. what is the range that is generally expected? I am imagining probably 80 for a complete newbie to 120 or so for an experienced cutter... correct me if i'm wrong. this is day rate stuff btw rather than piece rate

cheers folks ?

[Big J]

There is a long thread on the topic, but I can't find it.

 

£12-20 an hour. I work longer than normal days, so that's what it works out as. £12 is for the most basic of cutters, £20 for top notch, well motivated cutters with lots of experience, tickets and who are able to work for long periods unsupervised.

 

It's physically demanding, skilled work and should be paid accordingly.

[spuddog0507]

J is about bang on with rates, i do know of the odd harvesting crew that will pay up to £180 a day for a good cutter with the expieance, i  was recently doing some spruce edge and over sized trees for a harvesting crew and got £12 a tonne of them working on a average of 3.25 tonne per tree doing 7/8 trees a day, had 8 days at it but had to have 3 days off after i got finished,was totally F - - - - D,

[forestboy1978]

I bet you were. It's ridiculously hard work. Much harder than climbing I reckon. 

[justsomebloke]

cheers for the replies lads. pay is a difficult one to discuss at work so your pointers will be useful

[spuddog0507]

3 hours ago, forestboy1978 said:

I bet you were. It's ridiculously hard work. Much harder than climbing I reckon. 

but i love my job very much, but that £12 a tonne gives you the insentive to graft and make good money,self employed at it so suit my self when i go, mainly forestry work felling,extracting and do a lot of windblown, i all so work with a few arb crews but have to addmitt i do get boared waiting about but if getting paid its ok,