Just let me start by I started in the install business, back when you needed a 7/16 wrench, a pair of pliers, and set of second hand hooks, (last guy who put them on broke an arm and a leg, but they were good to me).
But we all know The West has been won, the frontier is closed, and the times they ain't a changin'-they've changed. If anyone of us saw a hack like that today he' be run out of town. WE"RE ALL BETTER TECHS THAN WE USED TO BE I'm home for good this time. I promised I was done chasing the money. So what's left for an out of work splicer.
I figure the cost of a truck, tools, insurance, fuel, parking ticket, and everything else we all know and love comes to an easy $300 a week.
Now, the best installers I know make between 800-1100 weekly, the money day being Saturday. So were talking 55-60 hours. This is an average for the North East, I've polled this from at least 30 guys I've met in the past two years. Everyone tells you when the win at the track, but an honest tech in my area would certainly agree with this average.
Prices keep going DOWN.
So ($1100-300)/(40x+(1.5*15x)= Between 11.50 and 12.50 an hour, this being an experienced tech who doesn't cut corners or hack up a billion dollars worth of plant.
About starting wage for any unexperienced construction or service job in the North East.
And that's before someone blames you for breaking their particleboard entertainment center when you slide it out to connect a Broken VCR.
That's not enough.
Not enough, for what the job takes, not enough to justify climbing poles in the winter, or exposing yourself to litigation or injury. Most guys work till their truck breaks, then go in-house, and make $500-600. Average wage then drops to around 8-9 bucks. Maybe even 12 if you're willing to babysit while the boss goes golfing on the weekends.
This business bought my house and I used to be proud. Now I'm just sad for us all.
Please guys, tell me I'm wrong.
Can you really make money doing installs?
Member #: 26502
Registered: 11/10/2003
Posted:
108
Name:
matt
Company:
cc contracting
Occupation:
cable guy
Location:
manchester
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