Employee Hourly Rates

clarkservices

New member
What are your starting, after a year, and lead pressure washer rates per hour?

Got the old "I have a lot of bills" from a lead pressure washer who has been with me for 6 yrs. I don't want to get into his personal life- but with his 5 kids and a stay at home wife, where is the top pay? I already give him 2 weeks paid vacation, 3 sick days paid, and 6 holidays paid a year and his W2 was $53,486.79.

I also purchased a 2014 Chevy 3500 HD flat bed which he uses everyday on his pressure washing routes- top pay, new vehicles, provide uniform, and the employee keeps wanting more?

He produces, as he should, but where is the top?


Jeremy Clark
Clark Services
www.clarkservices1.com
 
Hi Jeremy,

I know where your coming from.

Our crews are paid (on average) $22.00 p/hr. Combine this with Superannuation, workers comp insurance, 3 weeks annual leave and a 17% loading for holidays the costs are just horrifying, usually lifting the hourly rate to $40.00 p/hr.

We still have to pay for the fuel, registration and insurance on our work vehicles. We are the ones who finish a days work only to go home and start another shift doing the bookwork, maintenance, and working out rosters etc.

Our staff are great, but there is a limit to wage increases.

Work out the pros and cons of "is this employee making the business enough $$$ to offer an increase in wages" ... if not there is one simple answer... Sorry NO.

Good luck mate... been there, done that.

Gunna (John)
 
Just one angle. The ppl who pay me (customers) dont care about my bills. They care about a specific dollar amt to get a specific level of service.

I do think its ok to get into his personal life some. But he should make what hes worth. Extra hours instead of increased rate perhaps?
 
Rates will depend on your area and what the cost of living is for your area. I also compete heavily with the oil/construction industry which can pay crazy amounts of money, more then I can easily afford. I have my guy getting paid really good money, but I know I can give him the keys and send him off and the job is done. I have another helper that is a bunch younger and he makes $10 an hour less, but from what I have seen can out wash my other guy. The younger guy I can't trust the same way though, so he gets to stick with me as I can easily run 2 guys out of my big rig that I only drive.

The costs do add up for our business, most just see the small costs and don't count on the other things that add up fast. Ordered the remaining 7 tires for the big truck today to be installed later this week, $4200. I won't have to replace them for probably 7-8 years though so they will make the money back.
 
Back
Top