2023 Contract Climber Rates?

[data farm 26]

I too was curious about why ask others rates, what's the point of knowing what people are charging in far off places? Besides curiosity. I was blown away at the 150 or even 175 so I'm glad the conversation got started!

 

[southsoundtree]

$1400/day is ludicrous. Maybe that word is better than gauging? Do you think that's a legit rate to pay a climber on one of your job sites?

Doesn't fit my show.

If I ran 3-4 ground worker with machines, maybe, provided there are many trees on the same site, and the climber can really produce.

 

[Muggs]

I'm not even sure what the point of the original post is. Was there a hope that maybe someone else was maybe making $1750/day and they could raise their rate?

I've been thinking this for a few days now as I've been reading this thread, I just can't see this being a legitimate question. Feels more like a flex to me. Like "hey guys, I'm already making tons of money as a contract climber, no mess no stress, but do you think I could be charging EVEN MORE???" (asking for a friend, and all that.......)

 

[RyanCafferky]

If you have tree that requires a crane do you balk at the price the crane company gives you? The right climber for the right situation is no different. You can always find someone to do something for cheaper but sometimes you get what you pay for. I do 3-5 jobs a year where I bill what people on here would refer to as a ridiculous rate. Nobody is getting rich off of that. Especially if you see what the inside of my Sprinter looks like that I roll up to every job with. More rigging gear than most tree services have that are running 4 crews, every saw I need, thousands of feet of rigging and climbing lines, my own crane slings, drill for GRCS, the list goes on and on. If a company can’t do the job they can’t do the job. Sometimes a contract climber is the difference between walking away from a job and potentially losing a client and the referrals that come from that job and client. All of a sudden paying more than you want to on a few jobs a year becomes a bit more palatable.

 

[Boomslang]

If you have tree that requires a crane do you balk at the price the crane company gives you? The right climber for the right situation is no different. You can always find someone to do something for cheaper but sometimes you get what you pay for. I do 3-5 jobs a year where I bill what people on here would refer to as a ridiculous rate. Nobody is getting rich off of that. Especially if you see what the inside of my Sprinter looks like that I roll up to every job with. More rigging gear than most tree services have that are running 4 crews, every saw I need, thousands of feet of rigging and climbing lines, my own crane slings, drill for GRCS, the list goes on and on. If a company can’t do the job they can’t do the job. Sometimes a contract climber is the difference between walking away from a job and potentially losing a client and the referrals that come from that job and client. All of a sudden paying more than you want to on a few jobs a year becomes a bit more palatable.

How does your rate compare to that of @Chief

 

[RyanCafferky]

How does your rate compare to that of @Chief

Those rates are higher than what I bill on most jobs. I’m not going to talk specifics, but most of the time I bill an hourly rate with a minimum charge because my commute is 90 minutes each way and my time is valuable to me. Depending on the client, our relationship, and the specifics of the job, there is a range that the price can be. On a job where I’m brought on by an established client where they set up their lowering device, the job is relatively simple, and I’m out of there by lunch time it is going to be a different hourly rate than if it is a complete rig down horror show where my rolling toolbox gets emptied in order to succeed.

 

[owScott]

So, seems as though there is 2 conversations here. Senerios like Ryan is talking about higher rates are warranted. I appreciate Ryans honesty without divulging exact numbers. Other people here are making the point that $800-$1400 is the normal going rate for regular tree work. I define regular tree work to include crane work and most removals. 2 camps here, subs and owners. Subs seem to be trying to convince the industry that these insane day rates are the accepted norm. If this is the case there will come a point where there will be no companies with work to hire subs because the numbers dont make sense. Only companies that can get the work done in house will survive. No one is saying subs shouldnt make good money, curious when 100k ish a year stopped being good money.

 

[owScott]

If you have tree that requires a crane do you balk at the price the crane company gives you? The right climber for the right situation is no different. You can always find someone to do something for cheaper but sometimes you get what you pay for. I do 3-5 jobs a year where I bill what people on here would refer to as a ridiculous rate. Nobody is getting rich off of that. Especially if you see what the inside of my Sprinter looks like that I roll up to every job with. More rigging gear than most tree services have that are running 4 crews, every saw I need, thousands of feet of rigging and climbing lines, my own crane slings, drill for GRCS, the list goes on and on. If a company can’t do the job they can’t do the job. Sometimes a contract climber is the difference between walking away from a job and potentially losing a client and the referrals that come from that job and client. All of a sudden paying more than you want to on a few jobs a year becomes a bit more palatable.

Ryan you make my point, no doubt you are worth the money you charge. 3-5 days a years you charge a very high rate for what no doubt is a burly job, totally exceptable. Yes I have balked lately at a few prices from a crane company I have used for years. The work hasnt changed just their management and they are trying to rip me off. So I am taking my business esle where and so have several companies I know have done the same. There is a ceiling that a company can charge and subs seem to think they have no ceiling. Evenually the landing gear will need to come down and the people who are thinking these ridiculous rates are the norm will be left in the cold or very disapointed when their rates drops from $300k a year to reality. In every market there is a bubble.

 

[Chief]

There was no flex here, I was just truly curious as to what others were charging. I'm guessing this is why it's so taboo for contract climbers to talk about rates in forums. Now back to work peasants... I'm going to count all my money

 

[data farm 26]

I'm thankful for this conversation, especially as I'm dipping my toes back into the subbing pool. Really put a lot of things into perspective for me.

 

[Able Feller]

Most outfits around me don’t have a need for climbers on the regular, and I have a few that call me when they do need one.
I have never set an hourly or day rate, but rather look at the job and tell them what I’d be willing to do it for. No different than the bidding process for the tree work itself. Most fall anywhere from $300-$750 for the job. Sometimes something as simple as getting in where the bucket truck can’t and blowing a top out, but hey that’s worth $300.
Most are great guys that I have built a relationship with, but have had some randoms ask for a day rate only to see that the job is a massive water oak over a house, shed, and fence requiring up and down maneuvering, constant rigging, and block chunking a 36”+ stem…no way I’m busting it with my body, equipment, insurance, and ability for some pre-set day rate!

 

[Chris Schultz]

I typically work on price per job, not hourly. Hourly situations the efficiency motives could take a back seat I feel. Jobs that I agree to a set price for, its not unusual for my “hourly” to exceed some of the numbers I’ve seen on here.

 

[Able Feller]

I typically work on price per job, not hourly. Hourly situations the efficiency motives could take a back seat I feel. Jobs that I agree to a set price for, its not unusual for my “hourly” to exceed some of the numbers I’ve seen on here.

100% agree with you about the hourly.
It maintains honesty on both sides…the sub doesn’t try and drag it out and the contractor doesn’t try and rush.

 

[Chief]

100% agree with you about the hourly.
It maintains honesty on both sides…the sub doesn’t try and drag it out and the contractor doesn’t try and rush.

I respectfully disagree. I've never had a contractor rush me. 3 scenarios can happen then, one something gets broken, two someone gets hurt, three it would be my last time working with them.

As for the contract climber side, if you're not treating it exactly like you would do if it were your own job and working your hardest. Well then you might want to think about getting a job with one of these guys complaining about high rates. It would probably be a better fit. Contract climbers don't stay busy, charge high prices for mediocre output and milking the clock. Word travels fast both ways.

 

[climbhightree]

Where it gets tricky is there are methods that are faster and easier for the climber, and methods that are faster and easier for the crew, and lastly methods that are faster and easier (efficient) for the entire job. A good climber, or contract climber, will do the last option...but I've seen a lot of contract climbers on social that do the first. Especially when they have no real long term experience working as an employee with a set crew. Bigger is not always better.

As a example, if I put a certain amount of time on the job (day) for a tree to be rigged out, to minimize damage and potential risk, and a contract climber comes in a flops the entire tree or rigs huge stuff and over whelms the ground guys...leaves by lunch or before and charges me for the whole day rate. I won't be happy for multiple reasons and would not hire him again. I probably wouldn't hire him again even if he didn't charge full day rate, unless we had a serious talk about how my jobs will be done.

Now if the job is done correctly and due to speed and efficiency it gets done early, I have no problem with paying full day.

 

[owScott]

I respectfully disagree. I've never had a contractor rush me. 3 scenarios can happen then, one something gets broken, two someone gets hurt, three it would be my last time working with them.

As for the contract climber side, if you're not treating it exactly like you would do if it were your own job and working your hardest. Well then you might want to think about getting a job with one of these guys complaining about high rates. It would probably be a better fit. Contract climbers don't stay busy, charge high prices for mediocre output and milking the clock. Word travels fast both ways.

Working hard is part of the job, just like being on time, not breaking things etc. These arent attributes you get paid extra for. I personally am not complaining about high rates because I dont pay those crazy numbers. When I say high rates I mean $600-$$800. I wouldnt even classify the numbers you are talking as a high rate, I dont even know how to classify it. So far there hasnt been one person here say they pay anything remotely close to your numbers. Ryan C is the only person here saying he has heard of numbers like that and its 3-5 times a year and for very high end senerios in the PNW.

 

[owScott]

Where it gets tricky is there are methods that are faster and easier for the climber, and methods that are faster and easier for the crew, and lastly methods that are faster and easier (efficient) for the entire job. A good climber, or contract climber, will do the last option...but I've seen a lot of contract climbers on social that do the first. Especially when they have no real long term experience working as an employee with a set crew. Bigger is not always better.

As a example, if I put a certain amount of time on the job (day) for a tree to be rigged out, to minimize damage and potential risk, and a contract climber comes in a flops the entire tree or rigs huge stuff and over whelms the ground guys...leaves by lunch or before and charges me for the whole day rate. I won't be happy for multiple reasons and would not hire him again. I probably wouldn't hire him again even if he didn't charge full day rate, unless we had a serious talk about how my jobs will be done.

Now if the job is done correctly and due to speed and efficiency it gets done early, I have no problem with paying full day.

Do you pay $1200 to $1400 for a sub?

 

[climbhightree]

Do you pay $1200 to $1400 for a sub?

No. The most I've paid is 600, for 2 different contract climber who are at the top of the industry and have +10 years of experience...one of who I trained. One job I had them both one at the same time. Both would stay until the job was finished and do any aspect of the job, at least for me.

I was getting the one guy probably 2-3 times a month, sometimes more and sometimes none. But I covered in another post why I did that.

Now I'm just a crane sub contractor...no tree business anymore.

 

[owScott]

No. The most I've paid is 600, for 2 different contract climber who are at the top of the industry and have +10 years of experience...one of who I trained. One job I had them both one at the same time. Both would stay until the job was finished and do any aspect of the job, at least for me.

I was getting the one guy probably 2-3 times a month, sometimes more and sometimes none. But I covered in another post why I did that.

Now I'm just a crane sub contractor...no tree business anymore.

Thanks for the feed back. Yeah $600 is high but warranted at times. $800 is high and would be very exceptional senerio. $1400?

 

[Leafguy]

When I do any contract climbing I tried to match any other red sealed trade in my area(electrician, plumber, welder etc.) Having all the proper insurances, licenses, certs and gear.