View Full Version : How much do weldors get paid?
I a meeting with a company that wants me to work maybe one day a week welding 11 ga. and 16 ga. steel to make frames for a vacuum process they have for packaging. Right now I don't know if I will be doing the fab work - or just prepping the frames and welding them. How much should I expect to get paid(using their equipment)? If I do it on contract - and use all my own supplies - then how much?
TIA.
I don't want to ask for too much - but still want market rate for a non certified weldor.
bgaidan
07-21-2008, 12:53 PM
Around here....$20-30/hr. Your results may vary.
Shop environment, refinery and chemcal plant stuff, ALL process', just welding. I was making $25. I did a contract job and some other welding for another shop at the same rate. As for your situation, I assume using your welder, your consumables, your tools, your time.
Are they asking what you want or are you asking what they are going to expect to pay you? I would talk to them, get ALL the details including the pay rate. Another thing to take into consideration, is it a cash/under the table job or are you a 1099 contractor expected to take out all your taxes, etc.?
Mechanos
07-21-2008, 01:52 PM
I do a bunch of pipeline work and several times a year we have the need for some pipe to be welded in the field. The mobile guy that comes out to do it brings his own welder and all associated equipment. He gets $75/hr to do the mobile work.
Just spoke to him on the phone - I am going in Tuesday at 10AM to see the projects. I will be using my welder/wire/grinders/consumables/etc. $40/hr too much to ask?
big giant head
07-21-2008, 02:13 PM
Why not ask for more? he can only say no
rockmup
07-21-2008, 02:34 PM
Just spoke to him on the phone - I am going in Tuesday at 10AM to see the projects. I will be using my welder/wire/grinders/consumables/etc. $40/hr too much to ask?
Not enough. We used to pay or contract welders 75.00 an hr. 5 yrs ago. now its 87.00
adampfisters
07-21-2008, 04:58 PM
Just spoke to him on the phone - I am going in Tuesday at 10AM to see the projects. I will be using my welder/wire/grinders/consumables/etc. $40/hr too much to ask?
Start by doubling that number. If they say no, knock money off and tell them that they are to replace wire/gas/grinding wheels/flap wheels on their dollar but your equipment can still be used and settle on $40 at a minimum with YOUR equipment being used.
It is YOUR initial investment. Your truck and GAS to get to the site, your expensive welding equipment to maintain, etc.
Travis Waldher
07-21-2008, 05:43 PM
If it's a longer term job, set aside money to replace your welder should it die.
Hard to work if your tools are in the shop getting fixed and renting one can eat up a lot of cash fast.
PTSchram
07-21-2008, 06:47 PM
If it's a longer term job, set aside money to replace your welder should it die.
Great input Travis. Doesn't even have to be a long-term job. Using it in industry will wear it out faster and consume more wear parts than occasional home-shop use.
As for wages, I usually figure contractors should be paid 30-50% more than regular employees to compensate for lack of insurance, vacation, taxes withheld, own tools, etc.
mikeyjeeper
07-21-2008, 07:12 PM
If I owned the company I would pay you by the piece!:smokin:
If I owned the company I would pay you by the piece!:smokin:
High quantity+fast turnaround time=good
low quantity+high pay per item= good
could be good that way but if it takes him a while to make each one and it doesnt pay that much per unit, its not profitable.
From the job they described, It would be hourly for me.
As said how are the paying? Are you going to get a 1099 or cash?
Some jobs I give quotes on but most are Time & Materials. As far asyour hourly wage think about these things. Fuel and time to drive to and from the job. Is this just your personal vehicle or is it set up for work? Insurance, both on your work vehicle and liability insurance you may carry. Keep this in mind if some one gets hurt are you hanging in the breeze or are you covered, either by your policy or theirs? Tools, welder, grinders, torches, plasma, saws, wrenches - they all cost. If you supply tools you need to get money for bringing them. I carry more than $15K of tools stock on my truck. If I start tossing on specialty tools such as for welding I can push that closer to $25K no problem.
I frequently get customers that balk at my "high" hourly price. Actually I am on the low side of what I should be getting most likely. All they see is that I walk in do 2-3 hrs of work and expect to get what they feel is big money. BTW I get extra if I work a 1/2 day or less, as I usually can't do a 2nd job that day. It's all those hard to see costs, like phone, truck payments, fuel, insurance, tools, misc on hand materials and supplies, travel time to get materials and so on that all add up before you know it.
Well - it is a lot more work than was what described to me. this first project is estimated to take between 14 to 16 hours. It is the assembly of a frame for a machine. Everything is CAD planned out and metal bent to spec. Shouldn't have to do any metal prep - just read the plans, clamp, and weld. Even the length of the weld is engineered out and spaced.
He said the last guy he was only paying $20/hr using the companies equipment. I told him I would need to be between $40-60/hr. I should get a call Wednesday for the yay/nay.
85cj7
07-22-2008, 10:04 PM
I work for TD Insdistries in Dallas Texas, as a pipefitter and welder and I'm currently making $32/hour using all there equiptment/consumables.
braxton357
07-23-2008, 02:49 AM
He said the last guy he was only paying $20/hr using the companies equipment. I told him I would need to be between $40-60/hr. I should get a call Wednesday for the yay/nay.
Sounds like either he had no experience or they are feeding you bs. ...or that's why he is the "last guy".
Im betting that the last guy was just some Joe shmo that could weld and they paid him under the table and he was glad to get it.
Wyoming9
07-26-2008, 07:33 AM
Who picks up the bill if this weldment fails.
Of course they will say it is a weld failure, Never poor engineering.
Your welding starts a fire destroys the whole building.
Not to scare you but questions you need answered
25 years ago we never thought of this stuff, now I have to carry a 1 million dollar blanket insurance policy to just bid on some jobs.
If you alleadycarry insurance thenit is no big deal.
damienhellfire
07-27-2008, 10:24 PM
Who picks up the bill if this weldment fails.
Of course they will say it is a weld failure, Never poor engineering.
Your welding starts a fire destroys the whole building.
Not to scare you but questions you need answered
25 years ago we never thought of this stuff, now I have to carry a 1 million dollar blanket insurance policy to just bid on some jobs.
If you alleadycarry insurance thenit is no big deal.
X2 some other questions...
Are you a professional noncertified welder or just another guy with a wirefeed?
What is the nature of your relationship with your customer/how did you get the chance to bid this job?
Do you have a contractors license? or are you planning to get one? I know welding can somewhat of a grey area as far as the cslb is concerned but I also know that if it falls under their jurisdiction and the bid is over $500 the penalty is a substantial fine and/or jailtime.
Again not trying to scare you, I just dont want to see somebody get asshammerd over something like this.
Rainen
07-29-2008, 11:49 AM
I do projects for people as a side job, I charge $50- $75 an hour for work I do in my shop, using all my tools. I take cash and deal with all myself through an LLC I created. I know guys in the area with trucks, certifications etc can get more than double that. But the economey here is scewed. Curious to see what they come back with.
They haven't come back at all yet. Think they want it done on the cheap for a $30k machine it houses.:eek:
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