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twiggy

Im isa cert arborist. Climber. Bucket operator. Foreman. Do all size jobs for residential propertys. run a 2 man crew for a company with 3 crews. Work 5 days a week and do anything asked. How much should I be making per hour? Im at 17.25 now.
 
A little bit of a loaded question being there are so many other variables involved. Where are you located Twiggy?

The market is obviously good enough for the owner to have 3 crews. So, if you can sell jobs too, and you present yourself well to the clients that walk up to the jobs you're on...I'd say you're worth more than that. Of course being on time and attendance all play a part.
 
In my area (Northern California) there are non-climber crew members that make close to that. Crew leads are all $20++ w/ benefits. I've always had the opinion that crew leads should be paid and treated as management. That's how you build loyalty and strong crews that work well together. With your qualifications and skills I'd put you around the $23-$27 mark where I'm at, depending on actual abilities and knowledge.
 
Without looking at your work and how you run a crew it would be a hard question to answer. You're a CA so that's a plus. I would say probably but have u asked for a raise? Good things don't come to those who don't ask for them.
 
Definitely a hard question to answer. I found that in the markets I worked in, I topped out around $20. I was a fairly proficient climber (in those markets I was the best around),crew foreman (running crews from 2-4 people), I was proficient with a bucket in the rare event we used one but I didn't become certified until 6 years in when I started my own company. Eventually I decided to go out on my own because my boss simply couldn't pay me what I felt I was worth. We parted amicably and I subcontract with him on his more technical jobs on a fairly regular basis. Our market tops out at $125/hr for a 2-3 man climbing crew. I feel that our industry is grossly undervalued, which keeps everyones wages down. As long as the public perception is that this is a job for a redneck with a pickup truck, a chainsaw and a ladder, no one is going to really do that well. Even a lot of fairly good companies reinforce that perception by hiring complete assclowns for ground work. As a climber, I like to have somebody intelligent and proficient on the ground so that I can bounce ideas off of them, especially doing technical removals. Guess I kind of got off topic there, so to answer your question simply, I'd say that you likely are underpaid. How many years of experience do you have? Not that years of experience always mean that much. I'd rather have a newbie willing to learn than somebody with 1 year of shite work experience repeated 30 times.
 
Do you have paid insurance, paid holidays, paid vacations , paid training there's a lot more factors then just hourly rate. If you feel underpaid go to your boss and discuss it.
 
I think some of my guys get literally a month off of regular production between paid holidays,vacations or pto, paid training thats a lot of money
 
Absolutely. I make $30hr but if I don't work I don't get paid. I also supply everything but my own rigging gear. Saws, climbing equip, on and on. I have toyed with my own rigging gear but just can't seem to shake that it should be provided by the biz and I don't want my gear trashed by people used to ruining the company gear. Benefits are so much of a part of your pay especially in this day and age. I also have to say that being the highest paid climber comes with a price as well. The boss man wants the most for his $$$ so I am likely to do the most complicated jobs with the biggest trees or the most trees while the other 2 climbers do ground work. Being almost 20 years older than them I would welcome an easy day once in a while. Keep in mind this is easy for me to say since I have a full time job with benefits and don't rely on this particular gig to put food on my table and roof over my head. The other thing is based on my pay over everyone elses I will probably NEVER get an increase in pay unless me get hit by a major storm.

There was a guy who worked before me who made $50 but was only for time in the tree.
 
Good points as well Steve, my guys have every gadget imaginable,seriously anything they want. They get New Arb pro boots, Arbor wear pants and Dri fit hi viz polos provided by the company. They don't pay for any tools or gear they need unless They use a gift card they got from me for Christmas,or if they just want to . They also make time and half over 40 hours,drive time as well , matter of fact they got paid today for sitting at home. I just think all that stuff has got to factor into the equation not just hourly rate. They also get paid to get certifications and I pay all the dues as well.
 
I am one man down from the owner of the company. I am basically field operations supervisor. I am in NE PA. I prune beautifully if I say so myself. Do removals big or small. I don't have to buy anything for work. All clothing is covered. I do train other employees as I am the only arborist besides the owner. We work for higher clientele. I have received the super service award from angles list for 3 years. As long as I have been with the comp. I drive all the trucks, and equipment. I get a few paid holidays. 2 sick days. And I'm up to 7 days paid vaca. We climb right here.... no messing around. Next year I'm going for gold at the competition.
 
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