Groundsman wages

[ropensaddle]

I started working for a local tree company here in CT about a month ago. I came from the construction industry. My boss was going to start me at 15 an hour. About 3/4 the way through the first day he said it would be 17 an hour cash for 2 weeks then 20 once I went on the books. Before the first week was up I had a key to the shop, and he is in the process of setting up a benefits package. He also has another guy who helps out once in a while who doesn't come close to that. But thats because he puts chains in the dirt and can't file them. I do all the saw maintenance, chain sharpening, and grease the machines every morning. I know my boss has enough other stuff to worry about so I do what I can. And there are many things I can't do yet, skill wise, but I pay attention and ask questions. I guess it all depends on the person and how much they're willing to put in.

+1 guard the water jug too long I will send ya packing. Have a clue I will fatten a wallet! I work alone mostly but I have one guy that I pay 25 but he is worth every penny.

 

[reachtreeservi]

I'm in Georgia.
I work 3 part time guys in rotation, whoever's free that day.

I buy breakfast and lunch.
Supply bottled water and Gatorade.
We run all my equipment, all my guys bring is themselves.

I pay one guy 100.00 a day and we take 2 out of 8 hours on break.

I pay one guy 15.00 an hour and we take 10 minutes of every hour on water break.

I pay one guy 200.00 a day for 7 hrs. And we take 10 minutes of every hour on water break.


I pay as much as I can, depending on what they can do.
But I don't push any of my guys. The works hot and hard.

I do go back by myself and finish a little bit to bring the job in. Alot.

But hey, everybodys happy. And we're making money.

 

[memetic]

We pay $10 an hour but if the day is good and they work efficient we give a cash bonus which turns out to be $15-20 an hour. Most of the time it is $10-15 an hour.

 

[BC WetCoast]

$12-13 is standard to start around here. Bennies after 3 months. 2wks vacation. If you don't last the year, then vacation time is paid out at 4% of wages earned (as per the Labour Code).

One of our guys quit and started at a municipality as an auxiliary. $22.50 to start (dragging brush) +12% in lieu of bennies. However, there is no guarantee on the amount of work he'll get.

 

[Groundman One]

Looking at the wages listed here, I think I must be the highest paid groundman in North America. I'm starting to feel pretty good about myself.

Then again, anyone who can tolerate a bunch of water walking climbers for ten straight years deserves a reward.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I know my boss has enough other stuff to worry about so I do what I can. And there are many things I can't do yet, skill wise, but I pay attention and ask questions.

Watch yourself, buddy. You keep that up and you'll always be making more than the next guy. Where's the fun in that? What will you have to complain about?

 

[rbtree]

I started working for a local tree company here in CT about a month ago. I came from the construction industry. My boss was going to start me at 15 an hour. About 3/4 the way through the first day he said it would be 17 an hour cash for 2 weeks then 20 once I went on the books. Before the first week was up I had a key to the shop, and he is in the process of setting up a benefits package. He also has another guy who helps out once in a while who doesn't come close to that. But thats because he puts chains in the dirt and can't file them. I do all the saw maintenance, chain sharpening, and grease the machines every morning. I know my boss has enough other stuff to worry about so I do what I can. And there are many things I can't do yet, skill wise, but I pay attention and ask questions. I guess it all depends on the person and how much they're willing to put in.

Sounds like you've found a good employer, and you are a great (entry level?)worker!

I pay part time help $15-20 per hour if they are good. Rarely less than $140 a day, unless the worker is green or not up to par (which would mean he'd not be asked to work again anyhow)

I prefer to have everyone on the crew be a capable climber, or at least be able to do ground based pruning and removals. For such trained or capable workers, We pay $25-40 per hour, or $200-350 per day. No benefit package at this time.

 

[B-Edwards]

I started working for a local tree company here in CT about a month ago. I came from the construction industry. My boss was going to start me at 15 an hour. About 3/4 the way through the first day he said it would be 17 an hour cash for 2 weeks then 20 once I went on the books. Before the first week was up I had a key to the shop, and he is in the process of setting up a benefits package. He also has another guy who helps out once in a while who doesn't come close to that. But thats because he puts chains in the dirt and can't file them. I do all the saw maintenance, chain sharpening, and grease the machines every morning. I know my boss has enough other stuff to worry about so I do what I can. And there are many things I can't do yet, skill wise, but I pay attention and ask questions. I guess it all depends on the person and how much they're willing to put in.

You are the guy I WAS looking for . You are the guy most think they are, when in reality they aren't close. You are the guy who will get a raise and the others will wonder why.I have had guys on here tell me that my attitude is what was wrong with my employees . If I had 2 of you , the two of you and me would be taking our attitudes to the bank and also be very happy.I started out at $5.00 an hour for Asplundh.

 

[Ollie B]

If i have to yell then i dont keep that person.Hope that helps you.

LOL....Just thinking of my red-faced boss on any given day, hollering from the ground to hurry up and top the :censored: tree already. Than he tells me to take my time and don't do anything silly and stupid.

Of course he pays me on average 25 and hour and tells me he's also paying me for his right yell at me. I am in this order: fall guy, ground guy, beginning climber. I have my saw, spurs, saddle, etc etc.... though. I probably get a bit more for that....and it's just us two.

 

[460magnumMOD]

I guess I'm money hungry. The best way to make it is to work hard, so I do. I enjoy the work. It's hard, but its honest. my boss and I are actually going to do a little practice climbing this weekend. He's going to be training me to climb so that I can do every aspect of tree care from the ground up. I like to get involved with new things, I don't want to be that guy stuck in the same position getting bored out of my mind. Not to mention, the more I can do the more he pays me. That's my kind of incentive. Plus, I don't know about you guys, but around here chicks seem to dig tree guys. So the harder you work the more they look.

 

[Groundman One]

Plus, I don't know about you guys, but around here chicks seem to dig tree guys. So the harder you work the more they look.

I don't care if the guy has a Ferrari and a huge bank account, when the **** hits the fan and a real man is needed, all that cash and flash is trash 'cause the women will be looking for the big bear to keep 'em warm in the winter.

Chicks love da lumberjacks!

 

[Ollie B]

I guess I'm money hungry. The best way to make it is to work hard, so I do. I enjoy the work. It's hard, but its honest. my boss and I are actually going to do a little practice climbing this weekend. He's going to be training me to climb so that I can do every aspect of tree care from the ground up. I like to get involved with new things, I don't want to be that guy stuck in the same position getting bored out of my mind. Not to mention, the more I can do the more he pays me. That's my kind of incentive. Plus, I don't know about you guys, but around here chicks seem to dig tree guys. So the harder you work the more they look.

Sho' Nuff

Here's to ground guys moving up.

 

[ropensaddle]

I guess I'm money hungry. The best way to make it is to work hard, so I do. I enjoy the work. It's hard, but its honest. my boss and I are actually going to do a little practice climbing this weekend. He's going to be training me to climb so that I can do every aspect of tree care from the ground up. I like to get involved with new things, I don't want to be that guy stuck in the same position getting bored out of my mind. Not to mention, the more I can do the more he pays me. That's my kind of incentive. Plus, I don't know about you guys, but around here chicks seem to dig tree guys. So the harder you work the more they look.

That is cause they know we got a big trunk :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Ollie B]

That is cause they know we got a big trunk :hmm3grin2orange:

haha....had my ex-girlfriend with me at the saw shop a few months ago and she saw bumper sticker on the rig next to ours... "Hug a logger, you'll never go back to trees". She thought about that for a minute, being a dreadlocked hippie woman, and laughed a good bit of the way home. I love busting boundries.

 

[tree MDS]

I guess I'm money hungry. The best way to make it is to work hard, so I do. I enjoy the work. It's hard, but its honest. my boss and I are actually going to do a little practice climbing this weekend. He's going to be training me to climb so that I can do every aspect of tree care from the ground up. I like to get involved with new things, I don't want to be that guy stuck in the same position getting bored out of my mind. Not to mention, the more I can do the more he pays me. That's my kind of incentive. Plus, I don't know about you guys, but around here chicks seem to dig tree guys. So the harder you work the more they look.

I hate your boss. Lucky bastard.

 

[460magnumMOD]

Sho' Nuff

Here's to ground guys moving up.

Hey I'm just tryin to better myself. I'm confused as to why more don't make an effort to do the same. One of the guys who helps my boss out now and then actually got mad and threatened me because I was making him look bad, and taking hours away from him. My response was "you better start bustin *** then, cause it'll only get worse for you from here" I don't take to kindly to people trying to threaten me.

 

[460magnumMOD]

I hate your boss. Lucky bastard.

From what he told me, he's had to weed through alot of morons. I guess there aren't too many people left who believe in a hard honest days work. I think the low starting wages also turn away alot of guys who have some drive and skill.

 

[Treeinnovator]

I'm in Georgia.
I work 3 part time guys in rotation, whoever's free that day.

I buy breakfast and lunch.
Supply bottled water and Gatorade.
We run all my equipment, all my guys bring is themselves.

I pay one guy 100.00 a day and we take 2 out of 8 hours on break.

I pay one guy 15.00 an hour and we take 10 minutes of every hour on water break.

I pay one guy 200.00 a day for 7 hrs. And we take 10 minutes of every hour on water break.


I pay as much as I can, depending on what they can do.
But I don't push any of my guys. The works hot and hard.

I do go back by myself and finish a little bit to bring the job in. Alot.

But hey, everybodys happy. And we're making money.

you pay them to take water breaks 10 minutes in each hour? you need to act like a boss and do what i do... tell them to drink their water bottle while dragging brush to the truck.

 

[ropensaddle]

you pay them to take water breaks 10 minutes in each hour? you need to act like a boss and do what i do... tell them to drink their water bottle while dragging brush to the truck.

Tell you what I am interested in working for you one day.
Tell me that about the water I dare ya, I will guaranty you
to be singing soprano after!

 

[gr8scott72]

you pay them to take water breaks 10 minutes in each hour? you need to act like a boss and do what i do... tell them to drink their water bottle while dragging brush to the truck.

No one on here wants to hear anything about how you run your illegals, I mean crew.