welder rates

admin

i have a job this weekend and the customer wants a price breakdown of the job. i had already quoted him $450 for the job. should take about 3 hours of work and 1hr drive to and fro. i wasn't trying to rake hime over the coals, but i got a prior job to do, and this 1 job could lead to a state sub-contract shot for me. well i started researching and came up with these 2 web-sites.http://www.usace.army.mil/publicatio...(vol2)/toc.htm  ch.2 covers equipment rates with fuel and repair and suchhttp://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/construc/Book_2007.pdfbetween these 2 sites, they say the average cost of running a welder is between $9-10 an hour, plus fuel and repair costs. this puts the welder around 15 bucks an hour to run. there are also standby times and such. according to my calculations. my service truck should get $20/hr on the road and $1.89 idle time. the air compressor and reel run $9/hr. with $1.30 idle. are these numbers correct, i generally charge $75/hr plus consumables. and about $50 for the truck to and fro. then my time. at these numbers i am overcharging. but i feel for less money i shouldn't take the job. the sites said nothing about labor charges, so i was thinking i should add the rest to the bill as labor charges and fuels surcharges. ya'll do the math and let me know what ya think."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:Well I think it depends on the area you are in.  In my area the local market would never support $75/hr.  Around here the average shop rate is $30-$35/hr for in the field work $35-$45/hr plus mileage.  For carbon steel I generally charge $35/hr in the shop, and $1/mile mileage and $45/hr in the field (including drive time), an hour on the road is an hour that I can be working so I charge for it.  If it's aluminum, cast, stainless, or plastic then I charge $60/hr .  If it is an emergency or after hours then it goes up as well as if someone else has attempted to fix it previously, and I have to fix their screw up.  However its also possible to increase according to the customers attitude....  I have never figured it up, but I personally wouldn't think that it takes $14/hr plus fuel to run a welder.  However that would be an interesting study for us to do is add up how much it actually cost us to run a machine for an hr.  One other question, You say you charge for consumables, how do you keep up with the amount you use and what you charge for it by job?Last edited by Hammack_Welding; 04-25-2007 at 09:14 PM.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I did a fence for my neighbor at $20 per hour + cost of metal, but i am just learning how to weld......-Clarke 130EN-Miller MaxStar 150STL-Miller Elite 29' Roadster
Reply:Shop rates around here are around $60/hr.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Good question, I am just in the process of figuring all that out. I rarely charge enough but my rates are $50 in shop and $60 mobile. Consumables are extra and they include fuel for truck and welder and I add about 10% of the bill for everything else (not very sientific). The trick is to figure out what all the costs are and how to bill for them. Things like truck, equipment, insurance (liability and vehicle), utilities, right down to work boots and safety glasses. Once I started to look at all these things, I realized why I still drive an old POS truck and have no money!Man invented metal, he can do whatever he wants with it.KMAC
Reply:$60 shop or mobil
Reply:Originally Posted by Airwolf$60 shop or mobil
Reply:ok, i am seeing numbers here, but do we know what it costs to run a tb 302 or one of the red thingies(LOL). i mean in the california site, it says the avg welder is good for 6500 hrs. so are we charging depreciation. at some point our machines need to be upgraded or just replaced. my company has a 22 yr old lincoln that is a piece of junk. so in exchange for some more money on the hour i use my tb and they foor consumables and fuel. i don't know. like i said in the first post, i want to make money for my time and equipment but i ain't looking to have someone stroke out when i hand them a bill either."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:backuproller has it pegged. Everything you own for your trade has to be amortized in order for most business's to survive. There are always exceptions to the rules but most fail without planning for the future. Truck repairs, equipment repairs, insurance bond, etc. Shop rate is what's in it and how long do you depreciate it, plus regular overhead. Same thing with the mobile rate, what's on your rig and how long do you expect it to last, plus overhead and now it seems a fuel surcharge also. It boils down to how much will your reputation bear in your market place. You're always going to have "cheap charlie's" out there to contend with, your reputation determine's whether you survive or not at real world prices.Last edited by olddad; 04-25-2007 at 10:48 PM.
Reply:Item #22 on bill:  20 mins to itemize this bill - $30
Reply:yeah I did a field job fri night and charged 3hrs at only 40$ Most the time this guy gives a bonus which he did this time.   I say charge high if you can get away w/ it.  This was the Mid Tn area. weld it like you own it
Reply:I retired 12-31-2005. At THAT time, here in the Famous Napa Valley California, shop rates were running $85/hour, and $95/hour field work, Portal to Portal. that included small amounts of oxy-acetylene, and all mild steel and 7018 lo-hy rod.[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:I'm in so-cal.My shop rate is $90/hr.http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Originally Posted by Hammack_WeldingWell I think it depends on the area you are in.  In my area the local market would never support $75/hr.
Reply:Olddad, You are right.  I think the rural areas are really lacking in compared to the cities.  I actually get more work 30-45 miles from home than I do right here locally.  I find around here, people always fuss about no one local, and when there is someone who can do the work and do a good job.  They still prefer to use someone from out of town.  In most cases not even giving the local guy a shot.  A prime example is one of my best clients is 45 miles away, and they have four major welding shops IN SIGHT of there business yet they always call me and prefer to even pay more driving time than work time.  Not that i am complaining at all!!!   Here in my County I am the ONLY welding business in the county and less than a fourth of my work actually comes from here.  So I make it up on driving time.  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Sounds to me like when you have a customer they appreciate your skill and the work you do. That's why the guy calls you from 45 miles away he knows he can depend on you.So perhaps what is really lacking is advertising . .. ... Your on the border in an Agricultural area then perhaps they have no way of finding you?Tried the yellow pages? or something like that ... Don't laughWashman
Reply:One word "Realestate"
Reply:got somethings figured out today. the aquarium is actually state owned. i never knew this. the contractor i am doing the work was just taking my bill to him tacking on 25% and getting paid for it. so i guess the state wants a itemized bill of the services rendered. so now i am doing 2 state jobs this weekend. one for the aquarium and 1 for a DOT section shed on a dozer. funny thing is, DOT doesn't require itemized bill, but i am working directly for them with a written price quoted in advance, and i have to guarantee the work for 30 days. they wanted 6 months. but i told the manager, if someone slams the bucket into an angel oak, something is going to break, more than likely a support arm and not the blade skin, but when one goes it all shifts and metal starts ripping."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:Backuproller -- I can say from experience that no matter what you charge your customer is going to believe you are charging more than you need to do the job!       So.....charge more than you need to do the job!!!Actually -- the truth is that it is hard emotionally to charge right!  After you have been taken advantage of enough then you get a little jaded!  People will let you work for nothing and then expect you to re-do it if they are not satisfied!Welding requires someone with some initial talent -- they take that and expand on it by investing time and money!  The learning process is different than college experience but it is a process none the less! In the end, you provide a service to your clients they cannot (or do not) provide for themselves.  Your family depends on you to market your talent!  Factor in your learning curve, your certifications (if applicable), your insurance, Fuel, equipment depreciation, future capital expenses and expansion, advertisement etc etc etc...  You will find that the figures you are reading are probably right!  Good luck!john
Reply:Washman, What part of GA are you in?  yea I have run ads in the yellow pages over the years, but just never saw that it helped me.  The majority of advertising around here is done by word of mouth.  That's why when you get a good client you take care of them.  However I do agree with woodstonesteel most are gonna believe you overcharged them anyway you go.  Atleast in my experience.  I had one try to bargain be down this morning, and I finally told him, did he go to walmart and bargain there?  he said no, then I asked him why he thought I would do the job less than what I quoted him for?  ofcourse the answer was...uhhhh  I don't know.  It all comes down to most people don't care what effects you so cover your butt regardless.  You are better off without the work than doing it and coming up short.  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:hey, it's 1150pm and i am done with with both state jobs. fully paid for both, i guess the main concern now is to make sure i got compensated for for both jobs fairly. i guess my main question is are we depreciating our machines fairly and charging for them fairly. and are we charging for them with a fuel charge for $2.89 a gallon"Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:Hi   it's about the same around my rural area now. Most of the factories have closed up and moved on. The farmers pretty much take care of their own stuff now.www.staffingpower.com
Reply:This machine thing is to easy.  Ring around the local hire outfits, you'll soon know what to charge a day - and remember they normally work it on an 8 or 10 hour day so divede the rate by the hours and there it is.  (With a small profit)I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:i get $50 hr in the shop and on the road $75for the first hr and $50 hr after thatif with in 15 mile range
Reply:Originally Posted by backuprollerya'll do the math and let me know what ya think.HI             This machine thing is to easy. Ring around the local hire outfits, you'll soon know what to charge a day - and remember they normally work it on an 8 or 10 hour day so divede the rate by the hours and there it is. (With a small profit)www.sentersoftech.com
Reply:Around here you can find shop rates of $55 to $95 an hour with about a 25 mile drive between the highest and lowest prices.   My shop rate is $75 an hour and my on the road rate is $85 plus $50 for travel each way.  I do drop it down for a few people who bring me a lot of work.  But what I have found out that works well is subbing out some hailrail work to one guy who is very good but works for penuts because he is so slow with work. Make twice the money and don't do anythingLincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:In FL in city average is anywhere from $60-90 phr in shop to $80-110 phr mobile,In rural FL the rates can lower considerably $40-$60 phr shop, $70-100 mobileUpstate NY Rochester $55-85 phr shop, $60-90 phr mobile"               " Rural $30-60 phr shop, $75 phr average mobileThat does not cover shop, fuel, materials, consumables, etc etcRun a speciality shop and rates can go up considerablyCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:I'm in rural ga south of Atl. and I charge different customers different rates.I have customers I've had for 20 years. $45 hr shop and 55 mobile + ridding time1 way. Others , especially ones that don't pay for 2 weeks or every 30 days its 65 to 75 in shop and 75 to 90 mobile. + both ways rideing.. But some customers want to be charged more because they feel they're getting better quality work. Charge all you can I say because if you're like me and something happens and you get unable to work you're on your own so put up what you can . And consumable are not getting any cheaper and wear and tear on your equipment as well as on your body are taking a toll daily on that we could all agree. Everyone good luck staying busy and staying safe.
Reply:Around here, shop rates are $90hr and up. These are REAL shops. Not back yarders and part timers.
Reply:My shop has supported me and my family since 1963 so we're real down here in Dixie also.WmB sr
Reply:when i ran a truck in East TN i charges $75 / hour for the man and a truck, including drive time, and $55 -65/ hour per extra man on the job.Our in shop rate was $65-85 depending on the job.AWS CWI xxxx21711968 SA200  Originally Posted by WelderMike  I hate being bipolar, It's awesome.
Reply:$90 an hour for a crane equipped 1 ton doing welding and bolting flanges. Full bore travel time one way.  $105 an hour for heavy equipment repair when I have to bring out the F-800. And $140 per hour for a certified 10 ton crane truck. Extra guys are a variable price depending on the skill level.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabI'm in so-cal.My shop rate is $90/hr.
Reply:I'm $80/hr in the shop and $100/hr on the road. More work than I really want for a side job. Word of mouth and passing out lots of cards is the ticket. I also have a FB site that I post pics of most of my work on. I've had customers find me simply from the website too.Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller 252 Miller 250xMiller Syncrowave 250Miller AEAD200 LegendMiller 375 Xtreme plasmaLincoln WeldPak 100Victor O/A
Reply:Well I must be somewhat reasonable then. Years ago, many years ago it started out at 28hr after time of course it went up like everything else in supplies and fuel. Now I have a 2 hr minimum $160 - 200.00, depending on job, travel and time on job, I usually end up after minimum down to $65hr so in the end of a day it becomes a sliding scale the more you work me the cheaper the hourly rate become over time. If I have to travel more then 1/2hr I usually figure something in to cover costs and time, but if I get to stay home, (I work out of my house & garage) I'm cheaper, but for those "Truly" nickel and dime old people jobs ( tack this quick fix jobs I'll barter, case of beer some food, ?stopping at Wendy's Burger King deal and to some stuff if they were a really good conversation I'll give them a Christmas present, Merry Christmas (don't worry about it) but those days are getting harder with the lack of work around here. Good luck to all, but I know I sure am jealous as to some of what I see on here some of you have.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!