just being noisy but what are the hourly wages in your neck of the woods. Before i partnered up and went out on our own we were both making about 14.00 hourly. keep in mind we both completed apprenticeships and are licensed. and supplied our own equipment, from hand tools, power tools and even ladders. so you can see why we quit

ps i looked in the other threads for something like this but couldn't find anything on this. me and my partner want this info due to a legal thing that our previous boss slapped on us for not coming to work anymore.

thanks
perm maintenance services

Slumlord:
Wages are kind of a item a lot of us don't like to discuss; most importantly it varies widely by area, and the type of work you do.

I feel I should also add, knowledge and the quality of the individual's work performance carry a lot of weight on hourly renumeration.

Generally, a resi new const. (non-union) EC tends to be at the low end, although some pay a premium for "good people".

Also, the beni package has to be considered as part of the "wages". I don't know how steep health ins is in your area, but it's an arm & a leg here.

The rate you stated, was that a 'sub' rate or did you get beni's (Health, WC, Liab, etc) ??

Please do not think that I'm being critical, or a smart xxx; I'm just trying to give you a reply.

John

slumlord, I have to agree with John. Wages are way to tough a thing to discuss. Way to many variables to the equation. In New England I have apprentices working with me that make more than the figure you posted. Every area of the country is going to be different. The cost of living makes a big difference. It is high here in Massachusetts. I hope you don't take this as a smart xxx answer.

Al

[This message has been edited by capt al (edited 11-24-2004).]

hotline

thanks. I kind of figured that was a little toooo personal. I have gotten all the facts I think I need off the web

by the way we were on pay roll had no bennies and did service upgrades code corrections and high end residental and commerical service work. we also had to provide our own work vechile atleast he paid for the gas.

Slumlordworker:
Now I can add this:
For what you say you did, with your own vehicle (and I guess your ins)......you were getting less than 50% of the 'going rate' around here for a "sub".

Heck, my business insurance premium for auto (trucks) liability & WC is about 25K a year, and IF I use 'subs' they either have their own insurance (Certificate Required) or I have to add them to my coverage.

Without dropping any info, the last 'sub' I used got about $1500 for 5 days.

John

Slum,

I don't know the address just now but there is a goverment site the list wages by job leval and area. You might find it if you search ECN or maybe someone elce knows it.
http://wic.ilworkinfo.com/analyzer/saintro.asp?cat=INC&session=oeswage&time=&geo=
Heres one for IL only, look under cunstruction.

I don't understand. Did you sign some sort of binding agreement?

As I see it, the company I work for rents me...they don't own me. I don't have to go to work if I don't want to, and in turn they don't have to keep me if they don't want to.

I don't know about where your at, but in new jersey ALL employment is AT WILL (by law), therefor any employeer can let go go for no reason at any time with no notice!!!!, as well as you can leave at will, as long as no LEGAL contracts are in affect.

Scott{Electure},
That's a very valid point, there is no law anywhere (at least as far as I'm aware) that says you have to work at a given workplace.
Unless of course you're in prison, which we aren't!.

I have definatley had some jobs that felt like I was though. There are a few companies I "did time" at before getting into this great trade.

I would not want to speculate too much, but you must have entered into some kind of contract or signed something that they slipped by you. I know when you haven't worked for a little while, you will not always read what you are signing.

Hope it works out for you.

Philip

As for Cali contracting law, you may want to find out if what you got into as far as a contract was legal.

This is published every once in a while, and this is the current cycle: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/cllrb/

As for wages, your post popped up more questions than answers, as many on this site don't want to get into the politics of wages, and rightfully so. (Union vs. Non-Union etc.)

But as far as one can go without going there, wages packages differ broadly for geographic areas. (And, of course, Supply and Demand) Although you might be in or near SD county, Hemet, right? The closer you get to urban centers like SD proper, or LA, San Francisco, etc. the higher wages will be. And, of course with higher population density, a larger demand. Then an interesting thing happens, the closer you get to those urban centers, the pool of blue collar workers decreases it seems. For instance here in SF, we have a hard time finding skilled labor, because it is so expensive to live here.

You can see an illistration of that here: (This site is based on prevailing wage package for each area, however it doesn't exactly mean people are getting paid these wages for other than government projects.) http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR/PWD/Determinations/Subtrades/jrnylist.html
Look at Inside Wireman in SF and Marin county. It drops $15 an hour as you go over a 1/4 mile bridge!

Then of course skill level and experiance comes into play as well to meet the wage level for your area...... And, the biggies, market growth and stability, supply and demand.

well we are being sued because the old boss says that since we were working at will and our employment contract stated that either party could end the employment at ant time. so we both put in 30 days notice and left we even tried to help him find some other people. so he is taking us to court for lost income and emotional distress of having to do some work himself. we are sure on tuesday the case will be dropped

"NON-COMPETE CLAUSE:
Owner and all authorized representatives of Owner are not to contract or employ any XXXX Electric Co. employees for a period of one (1) year from the completion of any electrical work performed by XXXX Electric Co. with said Owner/Agent within an area of fifty (50) miles radius from this job site."
____________________________________________

Just something elese to watch out for.
When you quit, and go on your own, be sure not to contract with your old companies customers, it can cost you, if they have a non compete clause in their contracts.

I might know all the details of the contracts for your old job. I would say a 30 day notice is almost unherd of. It would be your right to decide at any time not to work for your old company. A week or 2 notice is more to leave on a positive note and not burn bridges. Do you think a company would give you a 30 day or more firing notice?

To me it sounds like you were working too cheap.

If I had some lawsuit like this filed against me I would talk to you state labor people.

You want to start a business. Now could be a time to get to know an attorny. He would know the ins and outs. Something like in IL a corp must have an attorny in cort with them. Maybe you have a better case against them.

Did you get paid whats comming to you?
You might want to check your pay stubs for errors with a place like this.

Nothing I hate more than when SOB tries to abuse the legal system and waist everyones time against someone that did nothing wrong.

Tom