Doing a 2 week job with a helper at a church installing wiring for a projector and a programmable lighting system etc. Hard to estimate the whole job so will probably charge T&M (time & materials). I usually charge $45 an hour for me and $20 an hour for my helper. Does $45 per hour sound about right?, or should I charge less for bigger jobs? Or is there a better way to estimate this?
Thanks for any input,

Aldev, your geographical location will play a big part in this, because in some area's of the country the wages are much lower than in other area's. For my area you would be so low as to P___ off other contractors for underselling your work. Here the rates are more like $60-120 / hr for licence holder hourly billing rates. Your helper probably costs you more than $20/hr with all overhead included even if you are paying him cash. (not ever recommended if you want to hold on to your assets). Here is my tip, just go for it and try a higher rate- say 70/ hour. All they can do is say no, and then negotiate . Good luck to you on your project

I don't think the rates are that high here in AZ. But I could be wrong. I am licensed and may raise my rates though. I haven't worked for anyone else for awhile but I believe the Journeymen here average about $20 an hour.

Call around to other electrical contractors & you'll know the rate in your area & charge accordingly.

Dave

You guys are lucky. Here in Southern Manitoba Rates are less than that$28-$40 Canadian
I just started 1 year ago and I charge $32

aldav53
Your labor rate should reflect what the pay scale is in your area. As a rough rule of thumb your rates should be at least double of what you pay your journeyman or apprentice.
You have to allow for things likwe work comp, unemployement insurance, SSAN matching, increased cost of business insurance for additiional employees, vacation pay etc.etc.etc.
You have to get all your costs back in your rates or you will not be able to pay your bills. And a profit would be nice.

[smartass]So that winds up being, like, $15 USD, right? [/smartass]

Aldav......What part of AZ you in??? Here in Tucson the going rate for one man is Seventy something for licensed bonded insured.

BigB, wow thats hard to believe, is that for repairs or larger jobs too? Maybe I need to raise my prices.
Al D
Chandler, AZ

aldav53, You need to read maintenanceguy's post in the 'having trouble' thread. His is a most informative post for those of us that are just starting to go out on our own.
I too have trouble charging what is a fair price for my work. I didn't feel nearly as bad about charging for my work after a recent visit to the auto repair shop though. They wanted $108 to change the idler pulley on my Blazer, I changed it myself in about 30 minutes and the part cost $14.
I'm still lower than the guys that are doing this full time, but I can afford to be, I don't have near as much overhead.

Aldav I see you are talking about a larger project. When we bid a larger project we try to bed enough so we average no less than $50 per hr. Sometimes things go wrong and we end up with less, sometimes things go well and we end up with more. These are not new construction bids, we do not bid any new construction, especially tract homes, where I've heard horror stories of how much guys ended up with if anything at all.
Now for service calls like I said the norm is the low seventies. A few charge for driving time while others charge a flat rate for the call like say $72.00 which includes the first 30 minutes then 72 per hr after that. When you consider vehicle costs, insurance, license fees, bonds, tools (and theft), income taxes, sales taxes, phone and pager fees, advertising, bookeeping fees and probly stuff I forgot oh yeah what about LUNCHES?? you see you're not exactly making a bundle.

BigB, Yes, I agree. Think I will at least raise my service call rate.