What do all you custom business owners consider good pay for an installer? and what do you expect them to be able to do?

I can't wait to see how this post end's up!!!

I have charged $75.00 hour for the last several years, but I will factor that down when an employee or contract programmer is just learning and not too efficient.

If the question is about what you want to earn if you get into the field, I start mine at 15.00/hr, and have paid professional subs about 45.00/hr.

This message was edited by BruceHinton on 01/20/02 22:17.39.

I guess I should expand this a bit. I would also like to hear from installer/technicians out there. What is fair and what should be expected/delivered? I know geographical situations exist, but I would like to get a range from beginner to intermediate to advanced? let's hear some ideas.

Business wise, I don't think an installer can be paid more than 1/3 of the companies hourly rate. The other 2/3s ned to be used for running the business.

For that 1/3 your installer should be an experienced professional. Entry level and helpers are worth $8-10/hour.

As I have discovers, sometimes paying high rates of pay do not guarantee high levels of service.

Jason

Ok,
I think we just covered this in installer incentives, but my reply to that thread fits here as well:

Hmmmm....

It seems to me that you are all putting way to much thought into this. I'll admit that when I owned my own install company I was forever trying to find ways to stop the madness, but then I was always underfunded.
Had I better money management skills I would have done what we do at my current company:

A flat, hourly wage (starts around $13/hour, depending on experience). Installers come in to the office every morning and punch in. They are paid from then till they return and punch out. To cover this we charge enough hourly from our installs, as well as a trip charge to cover the drive times to and from the site.

We have a regular raise schedule, plus full benefits. Truly ambitious installers can take (and pass) certification exams for bonuses, raises, and commission. Our guys work Monday-Friday and usually get 40+ hours per week.

BTW, I'm looking for a couple of relatively low experience installers to train in our system. We're adding 6 more stores this year and I'll be needing installers. Anyone interested? (This is in the Bay Area of California)

Call me at 510-477-3465 or email [email protected]

Jeff Wagner
Magnolia Hi-Fi
Custom Installation Manager-California

I started out 10 yrs. ago @ 8.00 per hr. to learn. I came into it with a basic knowledge of the business. From there I went to 15.00 then to 20.00 and now I own my own business but when I do freelance work I charge about 45.00 to 50.00 per hr. I live in So. Calif. so Im sure its a bit different everywhere else.

Thanks for the input. I agree with you Jason I would like to give good installers a percentage of the hourly, but we all understand that not every hour is billable. I do believe in giving my people the training they need, but if I send them to CEDIA etc. I'm paying salary + training + travel. Ouch!! I've been paying people about $15/hr for basic skills installation and guaranteeing a 40 hr. week. This usually works except for when things get really slow. I can still absorb it, but most installers expect "incentives" ie bonuses as well. Any thoughts?

I realize that every hour is not billable. This is explained to the installer. He has agreed to take the good with the bad. Many of the package/project jobs are billed for more hours than they take to install. For example $200 to prewire a room for speakers and volume control should take about an hour. This is billed for more than 3 hours @65/hour. So he can make lots of extra money, therfore he must absorb some of the non-billable work, just like the company does.

I have set up a system for Promo work or favor type work. Like for our builder's personal systems or model homes. What I do is make an imaginarybill rate of $36/hour. I give the installer 1/3 of that so he makes $12/hour. Not bad for work which will increase everyones bottom line.

Based on current pricing, he should do really well as long as he can keep up. If he needs a helper, it is taken from his pay. For example, If a prewire is billed for $3000 and normally takes 4 day, he makes good money. If he wants to be faster then he hires a helper(the company pays from his third of 3K). Now it takes 2 days but less the $160 he pays the helper.

I think this can work.
As long as he is a hustler.

Jason