What to Pay a Good Climber?

S

Shane

Trying to expand and I am getting all sorts of figures as to what to pay a good and smart experienced climber. I am in the Northern Virginia Washington DC area and have interviewed climbers and seems like even though they have no job or have been laid off. They seem to want to work part time or on contract basis. I am offering 40+ hours a week all year around. This is somewhat uncommon in our area since many slow down in winter. Any ideas what a fair salary for a climber in this area would be?
 
What is your workers comp, health insurance, and company matching 401k situation? I hear the metro DC area is a very large market with rapid expansion. What are the larger companies (i.e. Bartlett, Davey, Sava Tree) offering in your market? Often they post salary ranges on their web site job posting.
 
We are fully covered with workers comp. No health insurance. I have offered 401k but no one participates. I checked Bartlett and Sava Tree but no salary ranges.
 
Similar to your area, around Thanksgiving, people in this area don't do tree work and then crank back up in early March. I get some winter work but it is very sporadic therefore, I like the idea of a contract climber. To have a note due on a bucket truck or look an employee in the eye and say give me a call in a few months just doesn't work for me. I'm either in the tree by myself (trying to get away from this), in the tree with my stump grinder contractor running ropes for me (this is ok), or running a contract climber which right now I prefer. I pay him $300 per day. My accountant has told me to get rid of him and one of my comptetitors that I speak with and get along with has said on numerous occassions, "ain't no way I'd pay that kind of money for a climber". Well maybe so but I would pay him even more if the numbers worked out. He carries his own GL and WC. He brings everything (ppe, climbing gear, saws, and rigging gear) and here lately even another man (ground worker / a little more money obviously). We don't always agree and have gotten into it a few times but looking back it's usually petty crap. I'm confident that our days are coming to an end because he is shopping a truck (expensive truck) right now and the day he gets it he is going to have to work it immediately and a lot. Can't fault a man for wanting to grow. A downside to the contract climber concept is scheduling.... last summer I had some revenue that I would have liked to have gotten to a little quicker. I'm not sure of a magic number but if you have steady hours and are confident about feeding your backlog a contract climber might not be the answer. Unfortunately for the business owners, climbers are in high demand... peak at the Raleigh craigslist for climbers wanted and the list goes on and on. In my case I plan on stumbling forward a little, keeping my eyes peeled and I will recruit a good climber with some tangibles that fit my work place from the Bartletts or Daveys of the world or making my current contract climber a partner is something I have considered as well. Good luck with it.
 
Last edited:
$300 a day does not sound bad... When you break down the costs of insurances ontop of payroll and taxes, I don't think that is terrible... Especially with the climber taking on such liabilities themselves. Of course being listed as additionally insured on his policy and having him sign a holdharmless agreement would help shift the liability to him in the unfortunate event he damages some thing. Then you could feel better about letting him do his thing, as opposed to an employee of your own liability wanting to engage in some risky behavior.

I would pay a good climber that has a cdl and could run a show/ foreman $30+/hr( some one who can do what I do) ..at least $20-$25/hr to start...our groundies are $15-$18 with cdl, no benifits other then some food here and there.
 
Depends on the market of course but at least $50+ for a good contract climber. High $20s on your payroll, bennies count for a lot. Not just comp but actual health coverage for the fam goes a loooong way. If you can support that kind of payroll then you'll need to train and retain a local guy or offer a real good relocation package, if not then network with the best sub-climbers in your area and let them eat the taxes and insurance costs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom