Wondering if my wage is fair - 11 yrs in Carpentry

6/19/2013 at 7:11:32 PM

Sounds about right my friend. The only problem is you don't have an employer and your pension contribution is minimal. If you're as good as you say you are give me a call. We're always looking for great carpenters to join our team.

Super Seven Group

6/19/2013 at 7:55:33 PM

Chris,

If you are working a full 8 hour day/40 hour week, I'd say you're in the ballpark or maybe a little low. You should be in the thirty-five dollar range, judging from your experience and trade skills. I charge $45/hour but some of my projects are half days or days without work.

The key is that you have to make a living and as a company, you have to make a profit. Charging a respectful fee is not a bad thing, provided the quality and credibility are there.

Regards,

Mark

6/19/2013 at 8:54:56 PM

I'm in Edmonton, Alberta. Finishing carpenters with their GST and WCB are billing out at $45.00/hour.

That's for basic baseboards and casins, and hanging doors. High-end stuff climbs into the high 50's per hour.

Cheers

6/20/2013 at 5:34:21 AM

If you actually have the skills to make high end wine cellars from scratch and by hand, your getting hosed. Sounds like your working for a less than ideal company, if they forced you to be incorporated. For one you didn't need to go through the expense of incorporation when self employed would do the same thing. Your company just passed on their costs of WSIB, EI, CPP, Taxes, etc. to you.

They are also lying about $14 an hour as an employee. I pay more than that for people with way less experiance. I'd start looking for a company that deserves your talents.

6/20/2013 at 6:55:17 AM

Thank you to those who replied, it has me thinking about new choices and has helped me with what I need to do!

Thanks again.

6/20/2013 at 12:27:25 PM

You need to charge $35-40+ an hour. I pay 9.1% wsib alone. If you are charging $25 an hour after expenses you are really making about $16-17. We know what our expenses are to the job daily. Your expenses are probably 25-30 % of sales. Also we calculate a percentage for PROFIT.

Get a handle on knowing your operating costs. Most small contractors don't have a clue, that's why they work for cash, no wsib, source deductions, revenue Canada HST, Liability Insurance.

6/20/2013 at 5:17:09 PM

I do pretty much what you do only in a lower end area North of Toronto. I would say you should be making way more as a corporation.

My experience is that it is tough to find skills like yours for $14 as an employee. Thats almost labour rate. Union labourers make more than that. Just my experience and opinion.

All the best to you.

6/26/2013 at 6:56:55 PM

Call me......I'm looking for a guy like you.

8/26/2013 at 10:00:53 AM

Wow..you guys in Ontario are getting hosed. We get at least $35-50/hr. here if you are your own general contractor. I have to pay my subs at least $25/hr. Work is competitive though all the easterners move out here to get better wages. LOL

1/13/2014 at 12:41:33 AM

Hello Chris,

I am GC. I pay my guys minimum $25 an hour. Some slightly skilled and with better speed and creativity get an average of $30. This is all in GTA and suburbs.

We are starting a major project in Cambridge in April and might need local carpenters help. We can also use your services in Toronto for our ongoing work. We do a lot of custom built homes. If you want to give us a try and as good as you say we will be able to give you much better compensation then what you presently get.

4/8/2016 at 8:36:09 AM

Are you looking for work Chris? I own a millwork Shop. Call me 416.358.4996

Marie

7/7/2019 at 12:36:17 AM

union "finishing" contractors which is basically a fancier term for framers, drywallers etc. are currently making 37$ an hour without taxes. they also have to pay union fees, E.I. pension, benefits, CPP, pension. my husband was doing pieceworj for years and clearing anywhere between 1300 to 2000 for busting his ass 6-7 days a week... and once taxes are deducted he may as well be working by the hour and working a regular 40 hour work week. it is a joke. these men and women that work these labour intensive, boy collar jobs.. are not making much more than they did 20 or 30 years ago. the difference being that back then you could buy a house for 50 grand...the same one now goes for over 500 grand. so making close to the same money with everything costing 500 % more than it did back then. too bad...because these jobs are so back breaking...they deteriorate your body and your health long before you are ever old enough to collect the pension you paid into your entire lives. I happen to know my man has pair into his employment I siramce his she life and never actually applied for it...where the f*ck does that money go then? your only able to pay to play for a short amount of time....disgusting if you ask me!!!

7/7/2019 at 12:40:03 AM

I happen to know my man has pair into his employment insurance**** his entire life and never used and if it (E.I. being what your pay in case you become unemployed for one reason or another) in my opinion the government are thieves....most people never use this and even if you do you can only use it for a short period of time....what happens to the rest everyone never used?? that's a lot of fuckng* money