I recently retired as a journeyman carpenter. Earlier this year I was
making $26.53 an hr plus bennies. My pay stub would show what my hourly
rate was with insurances. Mind you this didn't include bennies such as
holiday pay or what they had to pay for worker's compensation. They shown
it cost them $160 something a week for insurances they paid. So tack on
$4
or so an hour for bennies. They provided a company vehicle, had a shop,
all
the unforeseen overhead which self employed also have. They supplied
tools
except for the hand tools. Plus they had to make a profit to stay in
business. I was told for my labor they charged $130.00 per hr.

I know many in the trades, some self employed. They tell me it costs them
they must charge $60 per man hr, and this is for helpers also. This is for
the self employed.

I recently had some estimates for landscaping, I wanted to know how much
per
hr. because I would be adding as we go. Such as additional mulch, trees &
shrubs. It is interesting all four companies which quoted T&M was between
$32 & $38 per man hour. These were not your landscapers with degrees for
designing etc., these were your typical lawn care companies.

I believe you will get what you pay for, when it comes to a journeyman. I
couldn't fathom the thought of paying for my vehicle, tools, insurances,
advertising, business related expenses and try to make money on a mere $30
per hr. I don't know if it would be even possible to make any money to
put
in your pocket.

I just hired two carpenters to make steps from the top of the river bank to
the bottom. 42 steps..a run of about 44 ft. They charged me $29 per hour
for two men...I agree they couldn't be making any money at $14.50 each per
hour but they quoted the price and came well recommended. I didn't quibble
as there was no way I could do the job, having fallen head first off the
pier at the bottom, 8 foot into the river bank a couple of weeks before and
messed up my back. I did figure they doubled the cost of the lumber but
still no problem with me as they had to pick it up and haul it to the job
site. And as my Teamster son said, he makes $29 per hour by himself. This
was in very Northern Illinois, by the way.