treeminator, one thing you should learn..(and there's a hel l of lot more) is not to judge what others do, especially since, by all appearances, you are nothing but a young upstart, with little or no training. Maybe I'm wrong, can you tell me how to tie an Mt, or install a FS from the ground? how about explaining natural target pruning? or the characteristics of modern arborist climbing ropes made of polyester versus polypropylene, and nylon, what is a dynamic versus static line and loading, ......how about why a pre climb tree inspection should be done--and how to do it....and on and on...
IMO, most tree services underpay their help, be it a well trained climber or a newbie brush dragger.....but, then, in many locales, the low ball hack competition forces them to not be able to charge a good rate. For some of the highly technical jobs that many of us are capabnle of doing, I feel we should be always be able to charge a premium, but still be able to get a good rate when doing all work. In todays economic environment, and where I work, I think those rates should be 80-100 per manhour, but most companies aren't able to command that much and stay competitive. The guidleline that I've always used is to pay well trained, experienced crew members 40% of that hourly rate.
Now, if I were a biigger, more organized outfit that sent out a competent crew every day, I'd have a full benefits program for them, and likely pay them a ltttle less...but they'd have full medical, retirement, and paid vacation. But I like to be on most jobs, so my percentage of the profits goes up, but I need time to do bids and office stuff, plus scratch my as s, so we only work on average 4 days a week.
IMO, most tree services underpay their help, be it a well trained climber or a newbie brush dragger.....but, then, in many locales, the low ball hack competition forces them to not be able to charge a good rate. For some of the highly technical jobs that many of us are capabnle of doing, I feel we should be always be able to charge a premium, but still be able to get a good rate when doing all work. In todays economic environment, and where I work, I think those rates should be 80-100 per manhour, but most companies aren't able to command that much and stay competitive. The guidleline that I've always used is to pay well trained, experienced crew members 40% of that hourly rate.
Now, if I were a biigger, more organized outfit that sent out a competent crew every day, I'd have a full benefits program for them, and likely pay them a ltttle less...but they'd have full medical, retirement, and paid vacation. But I like to be on most jobs, so my percentage of the profits goes up, but I need time to do bids and office stuff, plus scratch my as s, so we only work on average 4 days a week.
