Hello guys, new to the board. I am currently an independent satellite installer but due to the fact that the retailers are trying to pay us less and less for more work I am looking to make a change. I have 3 years experience in the trade and have truck and tools. I am NOT one of those hacks that destroys structured wiring systems and makes a mess of customers houses. In addition to my experience doing satellite I have also done structured wiring (prewire and trim) C-vac (reluctantly), intercoms and HT installations. I also have some experience with digital phone systems (not a lot but some). I have an interview later this week with a company that I applied to. With my experience, a clean cut appearance, truck, tools (real tools, not a roll of duct tape and a pair of pliers)and ladders , good customer skills and a hardcore work ethic what kind of pay rate should I expect? I do not claim to know everything, but I should me more valuable then someone with no experience at all.

Thanks guys

Rich

None.... you're RICH !!

Look here: [Link: remotecentral.com]

While it may be unusual, I would try to stay an independent contractor, and take jobs on a flat fee or hourly rate. If the company supplies materials, then you only have to keep track of labor.

As an electrician, I charge $65/hr retail, and $50/hr wholesale. If I have to, I give an estimate based on max time, and will agree to charge actual time on some jobs. Materials are my cost + 20%.

The main disadvantages are the lack of benefits and having to do your own taxes, but I wouldn't want to be an employee again for anything.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Rich:

Where are you located?

I am located in Oceanside, about 40 miles north of San Diego.

I have been self employed for 7 out of the last 10 years so I am used to the benefits and downfalls of being an independent. The only problem I see is I don't have a contractors license for low voltage (C-7 in Ca). It is required to do structured wiring and such but not satellite (specific exemption).They require 5 years experience to even take the test so I am 2 years short. I will take the test the day I am eligable. All of my structured wiring experience comes as an employee. On my applications I just put "competetive" in the salry desired box. When it comes time to negotiate salry I don't want to short myself nor do I want to be over the top. The structured company that I worked for previously was paying me as a trainee when I had very little experience so they aren't a really good starting point for what I should expect now.


Thanks
Rich



This message was edited by Richie Rich on 07/31/02 15:04.12.

Three years experience I would expect you to make around 30 some thousand dollars. Here in Minnesota that is. That would be with project management and capabiilty to do 'on-site engineering'.

If you have design and maybe some knowledge of purchasing and inventory flow, even more. It really depends upon your skill level real world, not your own personal view of your skill level. Probably expect to get low in and then maybe you can have a clause to be re evaluated after 90 days or something.

Rich, check out www.cedia.net and use the finder service to find a company in your area. Companies involved in CEDIA are the highest quality and you can expect to make more money with them.

Or maybe you can have a Santa Clause and get a bonus around Christmas time.

Another thought -- in California, I believe that you can do low voltage wiring with a general electrician's license (C-10) (no, Sheik, that does not mean that you only install General Electric) (or whatever pun just occurred to you), and you may be able to pass that test more easily than the low voltage one.

Then you would be the one electrician in your area who is not known by the size of his spark, and who would never even think of daisy-chaining ten antenna outputs.

Or prewiring a $2,000,000 custom home with daisychained "Wallmart loss prevention wire???" (rg59) and telling the homeowner that the house has a "structured wiring system" and charging accordingly. Boy were they pissed when I informed the homeowner that they couldn't have satellite without involving a drywall saw and about $600 in parts and labor.

Thanks for the tip Ernie, I am gonna look into it.

I am still wondering what a competive salry would be for someone like me?

Thanks
Rich

With three years experience you are looking at anywhere from 15 to 20 an hour if you are working for a company.

It's obviously all over the board depending on location and experience and the company in question but considering all those variables I think VinnyBag's estimate is as close to on the mark as you'll get.

To be honest, it really depends on your skill set which can't really be adequately communicated on a message board. If you can manage large projects, or are an expert at retrofit work (which is a huge specialty skill in and of itself) or are an excellent technician (or become those things over time) you could easily earn much more. Higly qualified guys (NDBEER?!) are making are $75,000 anually and more, but it takes some time and serious skill (and a good company) to reach that point.

As a custom installation company in the San Diego area, I think VinnyBag is pretty much on target with an estimation of $15-$20 per hour with three years experience. If you can work on more sophisticated systems without supervision (keypads, etc.), you might make more. Fully qualified techs earn between $25 and $35.00 and hour in San Diego. The bottom line is based on how much you can earn the company. I have hired techs that claim to be experienced and find that they can't even earn enough for the company to pay their own salary. Other guys don't know that much but really work hard and get a lot accomplished.

San Diego is an unusual market, and not in a good way. It is one of the most competitive in the country and the amount that we can charge for labor is half of what it is in some communities. That makes it a little hard to pay top dollar for a tech. The market is better in Orange Co. and L.A. Since you are in Oceanside, you might consider driving north.

I hear that some of the best pay for younger guys who can hustle are the companies that specialize in structured wiring for track homes. They pay on a piece-meal basis. I have heard of guys making $75K. I am sure however, that as soon as the housing market softens and they slow down on building track homes, these guys will be the first to go. It's hard to grow from doing track home pre-wires. You don't learn much doing that.

The bigger companines, like Tweeter probably offer the most growth potential. They always seem to need more good installers. I have lost a few to them. Also, large companies seem to let you specialize somewhat and can offer benefits that some of us smaller guys would find it difficult to offer.

On the other hand, if learning is your priority, some of the middle to smaller size companies expose you to all elements of the work. By necessity, you learn a lot.

Good luck. I know a lot of companies are looking for a few good men. If I was looking right now, I would be interested in talking to you about a position, but we have enough guys right now. If you want to ask me about anyone in town, I will be glad to help you with information about the firm. I know a lot of the guys in the business here. There are a lot of good ones and a lot who shouldn't be in this kind of work at all. It's important to find an ethical firm with good technical capability and an emphisis on quality instead of just profit, so that you can learn the right way and feel good about going to work each day.


Keith

E-mail: mrhookup@compuserve.com

If you can put together , mount and peak a sigle lnb dish (without help) $15 an hour

Wire and connect up small phone system or phones (along with the above) $20 an hour

Do clean retro work ,crossconnect and finish , basic phone programming , Simple universal remote programming (not pronto) and educate customer (along with the above) $25 to $30 an hour


Pronto programming and above $30 to $35

Bare in mind a trainee makes about 10 bucks an hour dependant on knowlage and the ability to learn .

You will also be most likely be paid as a sub so you are 1099'd at the end of the year .

If you are looking to be an employee the pay would most likely be less due to the overhead an employee creates.

Interesting set up kabster, I wish you were my boss!!!