Tradesman work rate

[Old Town]

As I write this I'm up in Massachusetts at a place I have in Essex County on Ipswich Bay. Have been working with some young men putting a new roof on along with some interior work. These boys work for themselves and make between 18 and 35 dollars an hour. This according to the young man who is leading his crew. I pay him and he pays his men.

Down in the Lower Keys where I'm from, and mostly live, the rate for such work is between 15 and 25 dollars an hour for semi-skilled carpenters. I say "semi" because men at this rate do not do fine interior cabinets or other detail work like this. I consider cabinet makers of good quality a breed apart from framers.

All my life I've built 42 foot wooden boats of my own design. I do a good deal of artistic carving of wood on the interior along with all the brass foundry work. I make wax carvings and cast many brass fittings for handles and rigging pieces. All the brass work is of a theme that matches the wood carving. Usually flower designs or water animal shapes like fish, dolphins, etc.

I cannot find people to do this in my area at any cost except for a few art students who are passing through the Keys once in a while. No matter. I do it myself. Point being, skills like this are not common today. Those who can do this work can name their price.

Which brings me to my question: What is the going rate around the country for those people who work out of their pickups and do this kind of roofing and general home construction or repair?
I'm curious as to how it varies with the regions like Northwest vs. Midwest vs. East Coast etc.

Thanks.

Old Town

 

[spartacus53]

I have no clue, but whatever their rate is, it's more than I'm currently making

The one thing that is so true in your post is that soon the only work that will be available is for tradesmen. Whether they're auto mechanics, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, or any other field; they will all be able to name their price until there is a glut of workers in their field. The only other field other than tradesmen is the medical and law arena. This nation is no longer one of the largest manufacturing countries in the world, we have switched over to the service industry and even there, we are farming out the work to other countries.

My advise for a youngster, best learn a trade...

 

[Kentucky Kache]

I consider cabinet makers of good quality a breed apart from framers.

I hate to break it to you, but a framed structure takes just as much skill as a set of cabinets. If not for framers, you would have no place to hang those beautiful cabinets. If not for framers, where would you go to get in out of the weather? You can't live in a cabinet, no matter what "breed" you are.

 

[Old Town]

I consider cabinet makers of good quality a breed apart from framers.

I hate to break it to you, but a framed structure takes just as much skill as a set of cabinets. If not for framers, you would have no place to hang those beautiful cabinets. If not for framers, where would you go to get in out of the weather? You can't live in a cabinet, no matter what "breed" you are.

I build large wooden boats from scratch. (42 feet) Have swung a hammer and framed several buildings in restoration work I've down. I also do art-quality woodwork on boat interiors. I know the difference. To compare a framer to a cabinet maker only shows you don't know what you're talking about.

Sorry, Kentucky, you can be a framer and still be a good man.

Old Town

 

[Kentucky Kache]

I consider cabinet makers of good quality a breed apart from framers.

I hate to break it to you, but a framed structure takes just as much skill as a set of cabinets. If not for framers, you would have no place to hang those beautiful cabinets. If not for framers, where would you go to get in out of the weather? You can't live in a cabinet, no matter what "breed" you are.

I build large wooden boats from scratch. (42 feet) Have swung a hammer and framed several buildings in restoration work I've down. I also do art-quality woodwork on boat interiors. I know the difference. To compare a framer to a cabinet maker only shows you don't know what you're talking about.

Sorry, Kentucky, you can be a framer and still be a good man.

Old Town

But I didn't compare them, you did. Now, who don't know what they're talking about?

I've done both as well, so I do know what I'm talking about.
Would you rather have your family live in a house with ugly cabinets, or a house that might fall on them?

 

[Old Town]

Kashe you win. Framers are divine. Now can you contribute salary info for your area or are you only interested in arguing. Cause if you want a fight I don't have the strength this late at night. You win.

Now what's the pay scale in your area?

OT

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Kashe you win. Framers are divine. Now can you contribute salary info for your area or are you only interested in arguing. Cause if you want a fight I don't have the strength this late at night. You win.

Now what's the pay scale in your area?

OT

I usually contract by the job. Either way, I make pretty good.

You might want to reread your posts to see who wanted to argue. Anyway, I hope your house don't fall on you tonight.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

BTW, Old Town, it's not about who wins. It's about not wanting to be insulted. You can appreciate that, right?

 

[Old Town]

Kentucky Kashe, I really don't care. You chose to be insulted.

OT

 

[truckinbutch]

Kasche ,
You've been 'excused' from this site before for being argumentative before . Think about that ..........
>
OT,
I'm a well skilled carpenter (learned from my father and expanded beyond his teaching) , my wife is the seamstress when we do a boat repair .
She and I both charge $28 per hour for simple seat repair for reupholstry and flat wood seat base replacement . Custom boat woodwork is $45 an hour and includes cabnitery and metal fabrication .
Nominal wage for frame carpenters in this area is about $14 per hr . Lead and finish carpenters can bump up to $32 per hr .
You get what you pay for .
If you are skilled enough to build and install cabinets then you have the knowlege to frame a house .... The reverse can't be said .
Jim

 

[Old Town]

Jim, now you've done it. Grab your framing hammer and prepare for incoming.

OT

 

[truckinbutch]

Jim, now you've done it. Grab your framing hammer and prepare for incoming.

OT

I'd follow you anywhere (especially back to Key West) , except that my wife will not let me leave until her house is done and the boat work is completed .

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Kasche ,
You've been 'excused' from this site before for being argumentative before . Think about that ..........
>
OT,
I'm a well skilled carpenter (learned from my father and expanded beyond his teaching) , my wife is the seamstress when we do a boat repair .
She and I both charge $28 per hour for simple seat repair for reupholstry and flat wood seat base replacement . Custom boat woodwork is $45 an hour and includes cabnitery and metal fabrication .
Nominal wage for frame carpenters in this area is about $14 per hr . Lead and finish carpenters can bump up to $32 per hr .
You get what you pay for .
If you are skilled enough to build and install cabinets then you have the knowlege to frame a house .... The reverse can't be said .
Jim

I support your freedom to choose who you like best.

As for this statement:

If you are skilled enough to build and install cabinets then you have the knowlege to frame a house .... The reverse can't be said .

That's simply not true.

 

[spartacus53]

I'll be right back I have to get my

 

[truckinbutch]

Kache ,
Wasn't looking to hijack a thread to fall out with someone I have no personal problem with .
The progression of the learning curve for me began at the age of 8 when my father got me a wage per hour job digging footers on a new house project during the summer .
For the next 7 years I worked as a board carrying laborer for my Dad before I was ever allowed to touch a hammer , learning the art of framing .
At 15 he allowed me to start driving nails on a roof . Interior finish work came next and was a whole different game .
He taught me how to build and finish a home from the dirt up using manufactured products .
From that start I went on to teach myself how to log , set up my own mill to saw what I logged , and
built a woodworking shop to utilize the raw product . Flooring , paneling , trim , and cabinetry .
I can hire a wood butcher around here for minimum wage that can frame and roof a structure . Finish
carpenters and cabinet makers command a premium if they can be found .

 

[spartacus53]

My experience came somewhat earlier in my life than yours did butch. I learned building the hard way; on my own, with several boxes of Lincoln Logs... I put sod between the logs and that house is still standing today

Even though I'm not a tradesmen, I do know the difference between a framer and cabinet maker. As OT pointed out one is an artisan.... the other is not.....

 

[Kentucky Kache]

I can hire a wood butcher around here for minimum wage that can frame and roof a structure .

I guess that tells us what kind of quality work you do. Believe it or not, some of us do quality, professional work.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Even though I'm not a tradesmen, I do know the difference between a framer and cabinet maker. As OT pointed out one is an artisan.... the other is not.....

Sort of like the way some people fancy themselves clever posters. Some think they are, when they are not.

 

[spartacus53]

Sort of like the way some people fancy themselves clever posters. Some think they are, when they are not.

Well, I am glad to see that you can man up and know there is a difference in the workmanship. That is all we were trying to get at

Then again, I can see your point too. A six grader's term paper would be the equivalent to a novel, but only a shorter version. :P

Or... perhaps a child's kindergarten finger painting being compared to a work by Rembrandt. There is no difference, both are using paint.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Sort of like the way some people fancy themselves clever posters. Some think they are, when they are not.

Well, I am glad to see that you can man up and know there is a difference in the workmanship. That is all we were trying to get at

Then again, I can see your point too. A six grader's term paper would be the equivalent to a novel, but only a shorter version. :P

Or... perhaps a child's kindergarten finger painting being compared to a work by Rembrandt. There is no difference, both are using paint.

Have you ever had a house fall on you? This is like the saying, "Don't cuss a farmer with your mouth full of food."

I could live fine without cabinets. Not so with a house. What about you?