ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Money Talk!

I just found this board and have been reading so much my eyeballs are numb. What I would like to see is some info on what electricians are charging for their work. I will break the ice. I am a one man show in central and eastern MA. I do mid to high end remodel jobs. I charge $55.00 per hour and markup materials 30%. I would be interested to see what others are charging and I think it would benefit us all to know what the market can sustain.

I just read some more posts including the ones about what people charge. Any more info posted here may also be helpful.

$$

I play 2 roles - I am an electrical contractor (my side job - 20+ hrs. a week); my 'day' job is running a large mfg. facilities and being an ICBO bldg/elect. inspector.

As a contractor I charge around $75/hr....but I charge a minimum of $200 per outlet; however I'm supposedly paying my electricians $130/hr. (contractor + 1 apprentice ....they always work together...no one-man jobs). If I want a single ballast replaced it runs about $180...but that's actually on the low side because looking at several invoices my charges run around $800 (4 hrs.) - $1200 (6 hrs.).

Well, I'm not in America & our economics are somewhat different here, but I wish I could get $55 an hour.

Most of my jobs I price at about £50 for a full day's work (that's about $75) or pro rata, plus a little for gas money if it's more than 20 miles or so away. I usually add about 10% to materials to allow for odds and ends like PVC tape, sleeving, screws etc.

I'm going to cry now...



Oh... I'm "up to" $25.00 per hour, slowly sneaking my way up to $33 if the local market will bear it...

Bid jobs kill me, I guess I'm a little slow... But if I "charge" $25 per hour labor, I end up having to complete a 2500 sq ft. house in less than 100 man hours to meet budjet... I usually end up making about $12 per hour on bid jobs... The house I finally finished averaged $9.25 (over 300 hours!)




[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 01-12-2002).]

hey sparkwv,
ever think about moving?

Wow what a difference location makes. $55.00 an hour may seem like a lot to some but the cost of housing and other living expenses are very high here. I am likely going to $60.00 very soon Still feeling out the competition. A little covert operation I work with a contractor that lets me deal with and bill the customers directly. This is really a great setup. I'm doing mostly remodel jobs and I give a written estimate but do the work at cost plus. Tough to loose with this arrangement.

[This message has been edited by Electricmanscott (edited 01-13-2002).]

Redsy,
Yes I've thought about it, but it takes several grand to do it comfortably, and I'm struggling from check to check...

I'd have to move to a State that recips licenses with WV though, I shudder at the thought of "starting over"...

NC would probably be my first choice...


Alas, the mountains have a way of holding me here...

sparky,

I am in the same boat.I charge $25. also. Do you ever tact on extra just to be safe. Those bid jobs can kill!!

Full time I work for a gov't agency as an electrician. I moonlight on weekends, evenings, etc as a contractor. (I am licensed and insured). I charge $40/hr and mark up minimum 50%. I'm the cheapest guy in town. Contractors in the DC/MD/VA metro area get $65 hr and up. Some are around 80 - 90, most about $75.