Thread: what do u expect from someone asking for 20 plus per hour!!

What do you guys expect from someone in your shop asking for around 20,22 per hour working on cnc lathes. As far as knowledge, experience, productivity, I guess every aspect.

Here in Alberta, that gets you just an operator who can use a mic.

I would say an operator that can use a mic, adjust offsets, and program BASIC parts. Assuming 2 axis lathe.

You would (unfortunately) create havoc in your shop, if anyone in the office would disclose the new hire's significantly higher rate.

You might be better off creating a base pay + bonus system that the new hire can achieve, and your existing, equally skilled employees could also achieve, if they applied themselves, came in ready to start, didn't destroy tools, etc.

Base pay would be what a new hire typically makes, the bonus system could make up the balance.

The new guy might be worth his asking price, but do you REALLY want to risk having to justify your decision?

It wouldn't be pretty. You already know the guy who isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, you already know the guy who spends Monday morning detoxing, you already know who is distracted by personal problems, the guy who destroys tools, etc.

But do those guys know why you can't / won't value them at the new guy's rate?

Create a well-crafted bonus system, and blame the bonus system for why the old guys can't be compensated like the new guy.

20.00 gets swiss setup with editing ability, overtime available

12 bucks gets you a fully qualified machinist here in AZ 20 bucks is what the owner of the shop is trying to pay himself.

I would expect him/her to have general math skills and be able to read ANY blueprint I give him. A good knowledge of setups and tooling. Being able to read and edit GCode is a must. I'm thinking around 5 years XP as a machinist. I know top pay at some shops around here hover at 28-35/hr with guys who know their stuff can make after about 7 years.

Originally Posted by kpotter

12 bucks gets you a fully qualified machinist here in AZ 20 bucks is what the owner of the shop is trying to pay himself.

I went to the Tucson Craigslist and found several jobs paying more than that.

Machinists Required - Temp. $46,000-$69,000/yr.

http://tucson.craigslist.org/mnu/3042483650.html $18-$20/hr.

http://tucson.craigslist.org/mnu/3035400150.html $15-20/hr. for manual machinists

http://tucson.craigslist.org/mnu/3030723886.html $25/hr. for prototype machinists

Originally Posted by kpotter

12 bucks gets you a fully qualified machinist here in AZ 20 bucks is what the owner of the shop is trying to pay himself.

$12/hr is not a living wage and a qualified machinist could not afford to buy precision tools at that wage.

Pay to retain a qualifed employee, or pay to retrain unskilled labor.

Here in Indianapolis, $17 an hour is what the city pays a Refuse Collections Laborer.

I'd expect him to be able to run the machine and make good parts all day long with minimal supervision. I think it should be expected from anyone with more than 2-3 yrs experience.

A craig's list listing in Tucson is usually a scam. Respond and it's probably some school who claims that they can train you for that job. Or they will question/ denigrate you experienc and make a low ball offer.

In OC, CA? A heartbeat (possibly intermittent) and a six inch scale.........................

Tucson is a funny market for manufacturing, lots of people retire here so you get residual family members that tag along to be close to Mom and Dad. Frequently these folks apply expecting to get what they got 'back home' and to be blunt, Tucson just doesnt pay that well. There are a few places that take pretty good care of their people, and there are plenty of shops that think you should take the $12 and be greatful they offered you that much. Of course, in return for doing you a favor and taking you in from the street, they expect you to be a machining God for that premium wage as well....

I know Kpotter has said he has his own shop here, where are you at Tdmidget? Just curious.

12 bucks an hour for a good Machinist? You offer that and then shop owners wonder why nobody wants to be in this trade.

...a 20 dollar an hour man would need to gross me at least $60 a hour, at the minimum of 6 hours out of an 8 hour day and at least 27 bucks the last two hours. Anyone else see this reasoning? I could be off a little...

Wage for a week $800.00
Taxes, SS, Health, Vacation, worker comp for a week $250
His part of overhead... time for supervision, timekeeping, check writing, machine cost and maint. $300.

lets see... that is 1350 bucks ... 30 times 60 is 1800...plus 10 times 27 = 270... mmm... that is $2070

ok....2070 - 1350 = 720 bucks in my pocket.

I wish it was that good! More likely your getting 40 bucks for the 6 hours and 15 for the other two hours...

Now that comes out to 1350 minus cost 1350 = ZERO!!!

SOOOO... hopefully he makes you something in between those two examples.

20 bucks and hour:

Some supervision... say 1/2 hour a day for doing most general manual turning and milling. CNC operator doing most repeat setups. Inspection and tool offsets. Just starting to learn some program language and maybe simple programming at the machine with help proofing.

Self starter and is developing good skill sets.


Steve

Originally Posted by scadvice

...a 20 dollar an hour man would need to gross me at least $65 a hour, at the minimum of 6 hours out of an 8 hour day and at least 27 bucks the last two hours. Anyone else see this reasoning? I could be off a little...

Steve

Does'nt that pretty much depend on how well you QUOTED THE JOB???

I see guys here claiming 60...80...100 bucks and hour... IF your REALLY accurate in your quoting, at 65, you should have no problem paying 1/3 of that to labor... and labor is just that, (not programing, not tool design, not mfg engineering)... an operator... someone that loads a mchine and is able to run your machine.

By the way.. the OP is and maybe you are in one of the MOST EXCLUSIVE AREAS in the COUNTRY... how much do you expect living quarters to cost in ORANGE CO CALIF??? can he afford to live near his work?? can he aford a car, a house? etc.... or is this just another speedbump on the way to sending the work to China...

Well $12 an Hr. Here in Mass would not pay the bills as a machinist. Lowest I have seen starting out(being at some interviews) $16 was the lowest for new starting out machinist. Or journeyman $20+ to start. Pending on the size of the company.

Originally Posted by Gary E

Does'nt that pretty much deepend on how well you QUOTED THE JOB???

I see guys here claiming 60...80...100 bucks and hour... IF your REALLY accurate in your quoting, at 65, you should have no problem paying 1/3 of that to labor... and labor is just that, (not programing, not tool design, not mfg engineering)... an operator... someone that loads a mchine and is able to run your machine.

By the way.. the OP is and maybe you are in one of the MOST EXCLUSIVE AREAS in the COUNTRY... how much do you expect living quarters to cost in ORANGE CO CALIF??? can he aford to live near his work?? can he aford a car, a house? etc.... or is this just another speedbump on the way to send the work to China...

Sorry, I edited my first post while you were posting. Yes, how you quote matters. However, you can only quote so much and still get the work! We do not control the rate, the competition for your services and market does.

Sometimes on a job you do make a hundred or even two hundred an hour and other times only 10 bucks for that hour, its all about the average at the end of the month which most likely ends up around 60 an hour, depending on the size of the shop.

Employee's see their take home, plus benefits, and how far that goes. Employer's see all the cost taken out of the money that comes in, and the profit margin. Funny, both are some respects doing the same thing.

Its all about a balance between the two compensations. The employee works hard and should be compensated accordingly... the owner takes all the risks works long hours without added payment, most of the time unseen by the employee, and battles, at times, a marriage in a state of stress due to this company. He should also get compensated accordingly.. right? Well...he might never see that compensation.

The employee feels he unappreciated and is sometimes. The employer, time and again, only see's the bad employee and forgets to acknowledge the good one. The employee gets his check every week. The employer goes without a check for months sometimes.

We, on both sides, sometimes wish we were on the other side...I think.

Steve

I make less and produced 4 prototypes in 4 days and guy been at shop 2 years who "thinks" he knows how to handle a cnc crashed there brand new used machine, now doing all millwork on manual either until i finish project im on or they pay big bucks for outsiders to come in and fix it. Should come to an agreement for trial period see what works out. My new company had me take weld test and read a print for interview?? After hired im running parts. Explain to employee u need to see how he handles himself with what your handing him. Base pay is not the answer for all employess in one area thats how u end up with miserable zombies!!!