Technician Wages?

[JW]

Hi,
Thought it might be helpful to see what other alarm companies offer for
starting wages.
We're a small company in the midwest and have been able to hire a couple of
installers with "some" general alarm experience for around $13 - 14/hr in
the last few years. The price goes up a few dollars an hour if the tech
has considerable experience/training. Good techs with many years of service
with us are pushing the $20 mark. We also offer benefits, vehicles (they
also use to commute), all tools, training, expenses and a few extra
incentive plans. How does this compare to your company? We're currently
hiring an installer and since it's been a while since our last opening, I
wondered what most of you would pay to bring someone onboard with some
limited industry experience.

We're also looking to add a sales position. Right now, our sales staff earn
a base fee ($375 - $475/wk) plus a straight 10% of the gross sale. They are
also paid extra incentives (2x the monthly) for any recurring contract they
get signed. They are also provided with design/clerical support,
company vehicles, and expenses including a cell allowance. They sell all
types of systems (industrial to residential). Some other dealers have
hinted that our sales compensation package is a little too generous compared
to the norm (whatever that is?)... so would appreciate your comments.


Thanks for any insights!

 

[S. Smith]

Where is your company? I'm working for peanuts as Lead Tech compared to
what you offer for Cherries!!!

 

[Petem]

Where is your company? I'm working for peanuts as Lead Tech compared to
what you offer for Cherries!!!

here a simple installing tech is paid close to 24$ an hour ,double that for
overtime,which come after 8 hour of work in a single day,so even if you do
only 20 hour of work in a week,if you worked more then 8 hour in a single
day you still have overtime...

we also have a VERY good pension plan,medic and drug plan,which include
optometrist,and dental work,all of this cause we are ALL in a union...

you can read about it at www.ccq.org

go to the medic construction page (don't know if they have a English page),I
have the AE plan...

 

[Petem]

close to 19 year in the trade..(if I count my first year in the electrician
business)

I do generate revenue,but any single tech that is licence here will receive
that pay..

I am at the same time a teacher (at night and week end) for technician and
electrician....
(but the pay check is much more then 24$ ;-)

I used to be paid a lot less,but I do like having what I have now..and I am
planning to have even more...
I am now a project manager,(deal with the other technician and making sure
that the project technical concept is done properly)
but I am looking to get in charge of project from scratch to finish..(deal
with the customer and sell rep to create a project and finish it with a
team..)

still I am at the same time VP of my union...
I want to bring the electrician board of trade and the non existent board of
alarm technician together so that we stop having anyone in the trade..like
for a 7 million population bank we have now close to 3500 alarm company,is
that normal?

I don't think so and having a company licence in Quebec is very
simple,having a technician licence is much more difficult,but the owner of a
small alarm company can work in the trade with out a tech licence....what a
pity...

 

[S. Smith]

That's nice and all that... but there's no such thing as a union down
here in East Texas. Much as I like what I see at CCQ, I'm not too keen
about becoming a canadian citizen. I'd rather move back to Germany
where I was stationed.

This also brings up the issue of Cost of Living: technicians get paid
more in Dallas TX (~ $20/hr) because a 1 bedroom apartment costs 50%
more than here in longview. Simply put, is $24/hr REALLY more once
you've paid the bills?

I think in the end no matter where you work you will always be paid
less than what you're worth but just enough to keep you coming to work
in the morning.

 

[Petem]

Ok lets just say that a house like mine in Toronto could cost 40% more then
in here
mine a split level of 36 X 32 feet with a 50 X 100 feet land,cost me 2.5
years ago 150k

I pay the lower rate of electricity in America,but I do pay for highest gas
price..(here its about 90 cent Canadian a litre)
my pay check is less then 50% of my gross salary but I pay 12 bottle of beer
around 10.50$


"S. Smith" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de [email protected]...

That's nice and all that... but there's no such thing as a union down
here in East Texas. Much as I like what I see at CCQ, I'm not too keen
about becoming a canadian citizen. I'd rather move back to Germany
where I was stationed.

This also brings up the issue of Cost of Living: technicians get paid
more in Dallas TX (~ $20/hr) because a 1 bedroom apartment costs 50%
more than here in longview. Simply put, is $24/hr REALLY more once
you've paid the bills?

I think in the end no matter where you work you will always be paid
less than what you're worth but just enough to keep you coming to work
in the morning.