Those rates sound consistent to what we pay for our landscape employees. Laborer: $17-20, Crew Leader: $20-25, Foreman/Project Manager: $25-35. We are a small business so we are not paying Project Managers $100k a year.
As a general operator I was making about $24 with my company for a couple years after covid then it went up to $27 as a dozer hand but when I came down to work around Phoenix AZ my boss changed my position to a finish blade hand so my wage went up to $36 because of the prevailing wages down here in this oven.
Holy crap. Those are slave wages. Compared to a union contractor, you were/are being paid less than a common laborer. Heck, pretty sure a first stage apprentice earns more. Prevailing wage for an operating engineer in California is $56-$59/hr.
@@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb Well yeah if you're a union contractor in cali obviously you'll make more, but you have to listen to unions plus the fees and stuff which I dont want to deal with and everything is more expensive in cali so if I make 20% more there when I gotta spend 35% more just to live it's a net loss.
Im an operator in northern Ca and make 62 as a union operator, I came from the private sector started at $12 and worked my way up to $35 before going union.
I was union contractor and was happy to pay living wages for a (usually) high quality/motivated workforce. Guys with HS degrees were earning $100K a year - something few other jobs would pay for low (formal) education workers. That said, I was easily the lowest paid guy based on hours worked/responsibility as the boss. It'ss always surprising how poorly nonunion gets paid compared to union. Even more surprising is why nonunion folks accept being paid so badly. Burger flippers/Amazon pays $20/hr and you barely need a pulse to do those jobs.
In petrochemical plants in southeast Louisiana and Texas, operators will generally make more. Depending on the plant, the equipment, and the contractor you work for. I make $25 as a Helper in a Dow plant.
Massachusetts here central Massachusetts about an hourish from Boston run a rock crusher $28 an hour but honestly this state is still so ridiculous for me to afford a house I honestly need to be at like $38ish when the average price of a house in my area is about $375000 to $650000 for a very low end 3 bed room 1 bath ranch with like 1/4 acre to 1/2 acre thinking about moving out of state to a mining friendly state where houses are like $250000 ish and the wage is around $25 not trying to get rich just want to be able to start a family and own a home and have a good career
Reading my comment again I don't want to come off as some guy whos like "PaYz ME M0rE BecAuze i ZpEc1al" let me make it clear absolutely love this job and i honestly feel like its fair pay it's just so damn expensive to live in this state when I've got 3 other family members who don't make much money relying off my income I work on the weekends on a dairy farm I've got the class A CDL I've got the hoisting license to run loader my own tools can do basic maintenance to the crushing plant, trucks, equipment hopefully as time goes on the wages increase I've already seen a big difference since I graduated in 2016 hell I was making $13 an hour to mow lawns then and thought that was great money
I worked for Newport Materials in Westford between 2010 - 2016. I started at 25 and left at 25. I fed a crusher for 3 years mainly and the other 3 running a dozer and excavator right along route 3 and made a big mountain of undesirable material. In Florida I worked for Middlesex Corporation and started at 11 in 1992 and ended with 20 in 2007 which actually was pretty good for Florida standards. But Newport Construction which was the union side of the company in Massachusetts, the operators were paid 55 an hour. Thankfully I'm retired now .
On Kauai, Hawaii I’m making just under 44/hour working for a private outfit. Very interesting situation but I find operators out here are generally making $38-$55 an hour. Union guys are in the high end- commercial construction non union guys fill the rest of that void
Tennessee starts in low 20$ for non-union. I would never do anything under 20. It’s laughable. Union is in the 30s. The construction industry needs higher wages all around especially now needing certs to do pretty much anything. Explains why they have shortages all around. I have 9 certs and I’m trying to move states for a better wage. Idaho, Wyoming and Montana are some on my list. It sucks because I really do love living in Tennessee.
Thanks for sharing this info. My brother is trying to get his certification . Can you give us direction on how to start or what kind of equipment pays best and is in highest demand? Would love to hear your feedback.
IUOE LOCAL 37 Baltimore MD. Journeyman rate is 35hr . 3 year Apprenticeship rate starts at 21hr with 1.60 bump every 750 hours worked until 29hr or graduation
Interesting to read the comments here from the UK. I was offered a job in SC starting between $25-$28. In the uk it ranges from £18 to mid twenties for excavator ops.
A school shows you the basics. It doesn't show you reality. But these days it doesn't take much with GPS. In the REAL days of operating....you had to have a asslevel. And be able to grade by stakes and blue top stakes. So , when the internet goes down and your GPS isn't working..... you're like a fish out of water.
@@andrewruggiero7023 They recent moved me to pipe foreman, we lay water, sewer, storm drain. Little bit of everything. Got a job coming up in Maxton NC a water line job installing 6” DI pipe and some pvc. With some hydrant installs and meter services.
68 an hour here on the east coast. Finding a company that does prevailing wage jobs is where you make money. 25 an hour to operate any real piece of machinery just isn't an option for me.
Wait until you don’t have work big guy…that 25 will look real good….btw 68 is the complete package. You may get 68 in your check but you have no benefits.
I'm in WA state and work Prevailing wage jobs at $80 to $85 per hour depending on the county. Laborers make around $55 to $60. My advice is get a job wherever you can and learn the basics. Then go after a prevailing wage company job and push yourself to more put out more effort than anyone around. You will always have a job and out earn most that go to college.
How much you guys charge out for say a25t excavator over there here in Australia it’s around 180 a hr operator get 32-38hr full time plus maybe a Ute (truck) to drive on average
I make 15$ a hour as a laborer learning on the job in north ky cdls are important currently working on getting mine to get up to 20$ a hour union starts off at 25$ without cdl but idk if they do per diem does anyone know if IOUE does per diem for apprentices cause the job they asked offered is 4 hours away?
In the UK a 360 operator can get up to £40 £70 a hour depending with part of the uk you live. In a les wel off part of UK its about £17 A hour. And expirians comes to play and how long you been a machine operator.
Finish Dozer in Central Florida. I’m with a large scale dirt crew at $33.50. I work a lot of hours. On track for about $110k-$120k right now. Just turned 26. We start truck drivers at $20 now. Im not making great money, the dollar just isn’t worth shit anymore.
Hey, Im about to get into the industry and am about to take a excavator course with IHE, which is a school that helps find employment after successful training certification. Just wondering if I should hold off and find a labourer job before the training, or if I should go ahead and get trained and certified. just wondering what your opinion is.🤙
Most training school certifications don't mean much. It's the equivalent of me having a forklift certification from Home Depot. I wouldn't waste the time and money on the school. Go hire in at a company and let them train you while you get paid.
I want to be excavator operator or a dozer but I will like to start the training and the trade, but I love to do it in America or Canada, pls I need help
I disagree with him about not paying the same price for hard labor and compare it to McDonald’s. I’m not starting someone out at 18$ an hour that knows nothing. Plus I would rather be outside working and feeling good about myself for 15 than be trapped behind a grill with customers staring at me for 17.50 some of us are made for hard labor
Those rates sound consistent to what we pay for our landscape employees. Laborer: $17-20, Crew Leader: $20-25, Foreman/Project Manager: $25-35. We are a small business so we are not paying Project Managers $100k a year.
As a general operator I was making about $24 with my company for a couple years after covid then it went up to $27 as a dozer hand but when I came down to work around Phoenix AZ my boss changed my position to a finish blade hand so my wage went up to $36 because of the prevailing wages down here in this oven.
Holy crap. Those are slave wages. Compared to a union contractor, you were/are being paid less than a common laborer. Heck, pretty sure a first stage apprentice earns more. Prevailing wage for an operating engineer in California is $56-$59/hr.
@@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb Well yeah if you're a union contractor in cali obviously you'll make more, but you have to listen to unions plus the fees and stuff which I dont want to deal with and everything is more expensive in cali so if I make 20% more there when I gotta spend 35% more just to live it's a net loss.
Moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma end of 2024. I have CDL. Finish level operator on Excavator, Dozers, Loaders and many others. What are wages in that area?
Im an operator in northern Ca and make 62 as a union operator, I came from the private sector started at $12 and worked my way up to $35 before going union.
I was union contractor and was happy to pay living wages for a (usually) high quality/motivated workforce. Guys with HS degrees were earning $100K a year - something few other jobs would pay for low (formal) education workers. That said, I was easily the lowest paid guy based on hours worked/responsibility as the boss. It'ss always surprising how poorly nonunion gets paid compared to union. Even more surprising is why nonunion folks accept being paid so badly. Burger flippers/Amazon pays $20/hr and you barely need a pulse to do those jobs.
Quitting my auto mechanic job and becoming a union operator apprentice in the next 2 months. Can’t wait
Upstate NY based on experience private work between 30 and 50 an hour w/ benefits
rate work is listed on state website
In petrochemical plants in southeast Louisiana and Texas, operators will generally make more. Depending on the plant, the equipment, and the contractor you work for. I make $25 as a Helper in a Dow plant.
Massachusetts here central Massachusetts about an hourish from Boston run a rock crusher $28 an hour but honestly this state is still so ridiculous for me to afford a house I honestly need to be at like $38ish when the average price of a house in my area is about $375000 to $650000 for a very low end 3 bed room 1 bath ranch with like 1/4 acre to 1/2 acre thinking about moving out of state to a mining friendly state where houses are like $250000 ish and the wage is around $25 not trying to get rich just want to be able to start a family and own a home and have a good career
Reading my comment again I don't want to come off as some guy whos like "PaYz ME M0rE BecAuze i ZpEc1al" let me make it clear absolutely love this job and i honestly feel like its fair pay it's just so damn expensive to live in this state when I've got 3 other family members who don't make much money relying off my income I work on the weekends on a dairy farm I've got the class A CDL I've got the hoisting license to run loader my own tools can do basic maintenance to the crushing plant, trucks, equipment hopefully as time goes on the wages increase I've already seen a big difference since I graduated in 2016 hell I was making $13 an hour to mow lawns then and thought that was great money
I worked for Newport Materials in Westford between 2010 - 2016. I started at 25 and left at 25. I fed a crusher for 3 years mainly and the other 3 running a dozer and excavator right along route 3 and made a big mountain of undesirable material. In Florida I worked for Middlesex Corporation and started at 11 in 1992 and ended with 20 in 2007 which actually was pretty good for Florida standards. But Newport Construction which was the union side of the company in Massachusetts, the operators were paid 55 an hour. Thankfully I'm retired now .
On Kauai, Hawaii I’m making just under 44/hour working for a private outfit. Very interesting situation but I find operators out here are generally making $38-$55 an hour. Union guys are in the high end- commercial construction non union guys fill the rest of that void
California- finish grader w/ skiploader $40hr (non union)
Tennessee starts in low 20$ for non-union. I would never do anything under 20. It’s laughable. Union is in the 30s. The construction industry needs higher wages all around especially now needing certs to do pretty much anything. Explains why they have shortages all around. I have 9 certs and I’m trying to move states for a better wage. Idaho, Wyoming and Montana are some on my list. It sucks because I really do love living in Tennessee.
Thanks for sharing this info. My brother is trying to get his certification . Can you give us direction on how to start or what kind of equipment pays best and is in highest demand? Would love to hear your feedback.
IUOE LOCAL 37 Baltimore MD. Journeyman rate is 35hr . 3 year Apprenticeship rate starts at 21hr with 1.60 bump every 750 hours worked until 29hr or graduation
Base Journeyman's wage is around $54 in CA. I make a lot more as a lead man for the company.
Interesting to read the comments here from the UK. I was offered a job in SC starting between $25-$28. In the uk it ranges from £18 to mid twenties for excavator ops.
I’m a new operator, I went to school for it, I’m currently looking for positions in PA and they start at $23-27 per hour.
Just be humble. School is great but nothing beats field experience. Good luck on your search From the Mitten!
A school shows you the basics. It doesn't show you reality. But these days it doesn't take much with GPS. In the REAL days of operating....you had to have a asslevel. And be able to grade by stakes and blue top stakes. So , when the internet goes down and your GPS isn't working..... you're like a fish out of water.
IUOE out of St. Louis MO first year apprentice starting wage is about $22/hr.
Started at the company I’m with now at $22/hr as a starting position equipment operator, got moved to foreman making $29/hr now. Here in Eastern NC
im also in Eastern NC what do you do?.
I’m from eastern nc and I know a few guys making $27+ just as operators around Raleigh-Durham
@@andrewruggiero7023 They recent moved me to pipe foreman, we lay water, sewer, storm drain. Little bit of everything. Got a job coming up in Maxton NC a water line job installing 6” DI pipe and some pvc. With some hydrant installs and meter services.
Company called Metcon
$25 per hour base rate, if I’m on a state rate job i get between $32-$37 per hour plus $33 per hour in supplemental benefits. Upstate NY
I’m in the Rochester area and prevailing wage for operators here is 60 an hour. What city are you working out of?
20.75$ - 50- 55hrs a week and travel 45 minutes away. in New Hampshire .. sorta struggling to make it work.
Just joined a union in Southern California was a operator while I was in the marines excited to get back to it 🫡
68 an hour here on the east coast. Finding a company that does prevailing wage jobs is where you make money. 25 an hour to operate any real piece of machinery just isn't an option for me.
Wait until you don’t have work big guy…that 25 will look real good….btw 68 is the complete package. You may get 68 in your check but you have no benefits.
IUOE in KY scale ranges from 35-40
I'm in South Dakota making $27 an hour as an excavator/dozer/scraper operator. It feels like the wages are still skyrocketing.
Over 30/hr as an operator/ laborer with my CDLA located in central NY
Great video buddy!! 👍👍
Thanks 👍
I'm in WA state and work Prevailing wage jobs at $80 to $85 per hour depending on the county. Laborers make around $55 to $60. My advice is get a job wherever you can and learn the basics. Then go after a prevailing wage company job and push yourself to more put out more effort than anyone around. You will always have a job and out earn most that go to college.
The trades is definitely a great career choice!
Hey man I’m a US Marine looking to get out and get into this field with Certs. Is it worth it?
Absolutely!
Anyone know wages in Tulsa Oklahoma area? CDL and finish level operator on all but Grader. Rough grade on grader.
New jersey,
A well seasoned operator $35 -$40 a hour
As an OTR Truck Driver with ten years experience, if I joined a heavy equipment company, does this give me any advantages?
🎉Thanks brother for the great video🎉
Thanks for always watching brother!
How much you guys charge out for say a25t excavator over there here in Australia it’s around 180 a hr operator get 32-38hr full time plus maybe a Ute (truck) to drive on average
currently making 40$ hr southerin ontario with raise every year, union outfits are at 49 for civil excavator/dozer hands
I make 15$ a hour as a laborer learning on the job in north ky cdls are important currently working on getting mine to get up to 20$ a hour union starts off at 25$ without cdl but idk if they do per diem does anyone know if IOUE does per diem for apprentices cause the job they asked offered is 4 hours away?
In the UK a 360 operator can get up to £40 £70 a hour depending with part of the uk you live. In a les wel off part of UK its about £17 A hour. And expirians comes to play and how long you been a machine operator.
Never heard or rates like that here in the UK 😅
Finish Dozer in Central Florida. I’m with a large scale dirt crew at $33.50. I work a lot of hours. On track for about $110k-$120k right now. Just turned 26. We start truck drivers at $20 now. Im not making great money, the dollar just isn’t worth shit anymore.
Do you have a heavy equipment op license
@@trezpaisley5288 no. The only time you really get that stuff in Florida is the phosphate mining sector.
Ridgecrest, CA $17 driller helper.
4th year apprentice in PA $37.33
Great video!!
Thanks for watching!
Hey, Im about to get into the industry and am about to take a excavator course with IHE, which is a school that helps find employment after successful training certification. Just wondering if I should hold off and find a labourer job before the training, or if I should go ahead and get trained and certified. just wondering what your opinion is.🤙
Most training school certifications don't mean much. It's the equivalent of me having a forklift certification from Home Depot. I wouldn't waste the time and money on the school. Go hire in at a company and let them train you while you get paid.
I want to be excavator operator or a dozer but I will like to start the training and the trade, but I love to do it in America or Canada, pls I need help
I'm making $20 an hour. I'm not a heavy equipment operator I do landscaping. And I live in Washington State
$26 operator/jobsite manager. Small 3 person company
CA operators start at $48
I disagree with him about not paying the same price for hard labor and compare it to McDonald’s. I’m not starting someone out at 18$ an hour that knows nothing. Plus I would rather be outside working and feeling good about myself for 15 than be trapped behind a grill with customers staring at me for 17.50 some of us are made for hard labor