Technician pay

The last "green" help I hired (with a vo-tech class in CAD) was at $17.50. After a few months I bumped him 4 bucks an hour because he earned it. He's still around but I don't know what his pay scale is nowadays. That was three years ago.

With no idea on benefits or anything like that, take what the local fast food joints are paying. Take that and multiply by 1.5 to start and review after 90 days. After that timeframe you should have an idea of how they fit in and the potential. It's also so much about the benefits anymore. Not so much the health care and things like that if he is young, a end of year or summer bonus. Those are the things that keep people around.

jpb, post: 454084, member: 9284 wrote: It's also so much about the benefits anymore. Not so much the health care and things like that if he is young,

Not having had health insurance through a few years, or partial years thereof - having had to pay an IRS penalty for that deficiency - I can say benefits are welcomed and appreciated, whether you use them or not.

Jason Graves, post: 454074, member: 9531 wrote: Hey everyone. I am looking into hiring someone for my very small company. He is a younger guy with a GIS background and 2 months of land surveying experience. I am in the mid-west. Primarily looking for drafting help and looking for someone to teach. Would like to see him outside and beginning to learn field operations within a year or two.
What would be considered fair pay? What are you all starting people out at with little to no experience?

I would say 15-17 in Louisville is fair for a green survey tech. Sadly, some firms in D'Ville pay their PLS in the neighborhood of 20-25.

I would think more the 15 an hour range would be good to start out at. It took me 6 years of experience to get up to that pay rate.

All I can think when reading the suggested pay, is how this ties in with the constant (and justified) complaints regarding being paid professional rates for professional work. If we can't (or won't) pay our workers professional rates, how can we expect them to behave as professionals? Remember that it is the work of these "laborers" by which our income is derived.

Agree though with probationary rates with a defined time line to advance. Recently had to let a drafter who commanded significant pay go as it was clear the survey/civil brand of drafting was not in his wheelhouse.

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StLSurveyor, post: 454088, member: 7070 wrote: I would say 15-17 in Louisville is fair for a green survey tech. Sadly, some firms in D'Ville pay their PLS in the neighborhood of 20-25.

It is a sad state of affairs. A PLS should be making more. I was making that range in RI as a survey tech in 2002. Of course, I was worth more than the meager salary provided. Oh well, at least the Cost of Living is more in line with with sort of salary.

Hiring is tough as is going from mom and pop to a professional full service firm providing benefits.

I believe also it is difficult to take experienced employees and get them doing things your way. Each company uses different methodology, codes, drafting setups.

I hv offered a couple high schoolers $15 per hr to forgo college and come work full time. One said yes. He has worked for me last few summers and Christmas break.

Our area is economically depressed, crime riddled, a recruiters nightmare.

It was my experience working as a technician for too many outfits to keep track of that pay was comensorate with experience, which most often meant that I took whatever experience they had to offering lieu of decent pay and promptly took it with me to a better paying employer. I worked for some downright cheap surveyors, but I learned a great deal from them. The ironic thing is these were most often employers always complaining how difficult it was to find good experienced help. Just say'in.

15 to 18 for good help. A party chief here, aka a guy who can run solo, is about 20 to 24.

I like the approach that I don't want anyone who is not worth $15/Hr.
If he is worth that, keep him on, teach and mentor him and give him some motivation ($) to keep going.
If he is not worth $15/Hr part ways as soon as you know and look elsewhere.
I am thinking he will work out for you and you will be thankful you hired him!

Prevailing wage for Public Works projects here is $72.48/hour. For a rodman/chainman.

Who are you competing against for candidate technicians?
Take a look at the characteristics you want to hire:
[INDENT]Reliable?
Honest?
Good work ethic?
Quick learner (smart)?
Good with numbers?
Well organized?
Tough - can work with briars, privit, chiggers, ticks, snakes, etc.?
Resourceful - can make things work when the plan goes awry?
Thorough - packs ALL of the gear that you've told them you'll need?
Good judgement - won't get you into trouble with adjoiners, the law, the general public.
Good attitude - can get it together when the 4-wheeler breaks down at 5PM in the snow 9 miles from the truck and laugh about it?
Long term - do you want them to be able to be licensed? If so, what do they need for education.[/INDENT]

Who else is looking for these characteristics?
What are they paying?
What benefits are you willing to provide?

The bottom line is - you aren't just competing with other survey firms - you are competing with a lot of professions for smart, motivated kids who can choose from many careers.

Pay more than accountants, pay more than engineers, pay more than paralegals, pay more than RNs, pay more than carpenters, and pipefitters, and plumbers, and electricians... draw in the kids who have the right characteristics - train for survey skills - your life will be easier.

Charge enough to cover the cost of that labor - it's worth it for you and it's a good value to your clients.

Who are you going to sell your business too when you want to retire? When you pay peanuts, you are valuing your business at peanuts. Pay as much as you can - it's the best investment you can make in your future.

Dave Lindell, post: 454330, member: 55 wrote: Prevailing wage for Public Works projects here is $72.48/hour. For a rodman/chainman.

Thats crazy - but perhaps this will help explain

Pasadena http://www.bestplaces.net/compare-cities/louisville_ky/pasadena_ca/housing&apos ;">housing costs are 421.2% more than Louisville housing costs.

A salary of $100,000 in Louisville, Kentucky should increase to $216,951 in Pasadena, California

www.bestplaces.net

Wages offered here seem low.
Candidate will work for you.They will gain some experience then skip to a higher paying position in the GIS field leaving you at square one again.

Luke CO PLS, post: 454327, member: 1220 wrote: I like the approach that I don't want anyone who is not worth $15/Hr.
If he is worth that, keep him on, teach and mentor him and give him some motivation ($) to keep going.
If he is not worth $15/Hr part ways as soon as you know and look elsewhere.
I am thinking he will work out for you and you will be thankful you hired him!

Using an online inflation calculator that would be $7.19 in 1988 dollars. Some cheapskate started me off in 1988 at G&O in Rockville at $5.00......my feelings are hurt.

James Fleming, post: 454352, member: 136 wrote: Using an online inflation calculator that would be $7.19 in 1988 dollars. Some cheapskate started me off in 1988 at G&O in Rockville at $5.00......my feelings are hurt.

I feel ya. I started in 1995 at $4.25 an hour and no benefits.

Chris Duncan, post: 454657, member: 7540 wrote: I feel ya. I started in 1995 at $4.25 an hour and no benefits.

Jon Collins, post: 454147, member: 11135 wrote: 15 to 18 for good help. A party chief here, aka a guy who can run solo, is about 20 to 24.

I'm the party chief, licensed surveyor, and own half the company. On your scale, what hourly rate should I be paying myself? I'm considering a field time price increase and trying to determine how much I will raise it.