What Do You Pay Your Operators???

[instagator]

Just wanted to know what some of you guys pay your operators? We have a thinning/ logging job and we pay our skidder, loader, and sheer operators all 150.00 a day, that goes for the truck driver as well. Now if the sheer operator is really good he'll get paid 180.00.
Thanks.

 

[Autocar]

I am speaking just for myself but when Ive cut timber for other companys they pay me $120.00 a day . A I usually get a retired fellow to drive my skidder and pay them $100.00 a day but 7/8 hours is a long day for me anymore, this summer it is noon and Ive had enough

 

[tailhold]

wow that's cheap. Cost of living must be nothing in la and ohio.

 

[Contract Logger]

wow that's cheap. Cost of living must be nothing in la and ohio.

That's what I was thinking! In Alaska a decent faller still gets $300.00 a day (6 hours). A shovel operator still gets $25 plus an hour, etc.

I can't imagine asking anyone to work for $150 a day. I'd get hit with a roundhouse faster than I can blink- people would be really insulted....

 

[Bumpus]

.
It all depends on what state your in, where your at in that state, and how many people are out of work in that area.

Some people pay by the day and some by the hour.

Most small companies hire the operators who can do the work required at that job, for the least amount of money.

From one state to another pay can vary from as much as 10 to 15 dollars hr difference.

In some state operators are almost like a dime a dozen, and you can take your pick from a bunch who are unemployed in the area, and in some states you can't afford them.
.

 

[tuney443]

I'm a 1 man operator,laborer,account receivables[payables],truck driver,estimator,mechanic,chief procurement officer,and my favorite position of CEO---Chief Excavating Officer,all rolled up in one,and that's the way I like it.I'm priceless---LMAO. Seriously,by me,my friendly competitors pay $25-$30 an hour,non-union.I did do a gig for a friend over at West Point for a day this past Dec.where he had to pay ''prevailing wage'',which is union scale. He paid me $500 for the day.

 

[instagator]

Yea, the cost of living would have to be considerably different here then some. But that is our going rate here for a 12 hour day, not too bad I think for everyone to be sitting in air conditioned machines. And if a guy sticks around for atleast a year and is a good worker he'll get a 10.00 a day raise.

 

[Slasher]

Harvester, and porter operators get $180 to $200 a day here.

 

[mcraig79]

Operator pay...sad part is i wish i was making some of the pay thats shown on here. I run a dozer building roads and setting logs out for 2 skidders in the mountains for $105 a day. Skidder guy gets 100 and timber cutter gets $105 a day.

 

[bme.3log]

I pay anywere from 18hr to 22hr depending on experience.And versalitiy

 

[JTL]

Operator pay...sad part is i wish i was making some of the pay thats shown on here. I run a dozer building roads and setting logs out for 2 skidders in the mountains for $105 a day. Skidder guy gets 100 and timber cutter gets $105 a day.

I draw more on unemplyment than that.

 

[Colorado Digger]

expierienced hands make 18-25 at the moment. some of the other guys pay close to 30. labor 9-15.
problem is, there is hardly any work
different biz but i thought i would share

 

[LOGDODGER]

My Yarder operators are clearing between 200 to 300 if there any good at the moment in NZ.

 

[mcraig79]

Trust me i wish i could make more but the guy i work for is such a tight ass wont let go of any more money...Its not like i have no experience i been running dozer for a while and actually been logging for several yrs

 

[hammerman]

Hi friends,I´m from Spain,I have worked 1 year with head harvester,here a good operator more or less about 2.500 € monthly,10 hours, deppending place from your home,diets,or plus by productivity.Anyone offers me a job?

 

[Hallback]

I pay $20 for all operators except skidder which is $17.

 

[sleddr]

In the BC interior, i would say that the average wage for most operators in the bush is $25-$27/hr. The exceptional buncher and processormen are up to $30/hr. Good handfallers are at least $500/day (8hrs).

The benchmark used here are the Union wages.

 

[gologit]

Most of our Cat-skinners and the guys on the skidders make around 20 an hour plus good health benefits and a 401K. If the cat-skinner is a good blade man and can grade out roads and landings he gets paid a little more. The loader makes around twenty five and he also gets the most hours of anybody on the crew. I think the truck drivers get about 18 and they also work a lot of hours. Everybody, except the fallers, make time-and-a-half after 40.

Fallers, working for day money, average around three hundred for six hours. They're expected to put quite a bit of wood on the ground for that. If they're busheling it usually works out to a little more but almost everything we do is by the day. They're considered contractors and have to supply all their own stuff.

One thing to remember...a good crew doesn't cost you money. A good crew makes money for you. A lot of employers lose sight of that and it always bites them sooner or later.

I think our wages are about average for this area. We have very little turnover and haven't had to break in a rookie in a long time.

 

[Hallback]

So very true.

Most of our Cat-skinners and the guys on the skidders make around 20 an hour plus good health benefits and a 401K. If the cat-skinner is a good blade man and can grade out roads and landings he gets paid a little more. The loader makes around twenty five and he also gets the most hours of anybody on the crew. I think the truck drivers get about 18 and they also work a lot of hours. Everybody, except the fallers, make time-and-a-half after 40.

Fallers, working for day money, average around three hundred for six hours. They're expected to put quite a bit of wood on the ground for that. If they're busheling it usually works out to a little more but almost everything we do is by the day. They're considered contractors and have to supply all their own stuff.

One thing to remember...a good crew doesn't cost you money. A good crew makes money for you. A lot of employers lose sight of that and it always bites them sooner or later.I think our wages are about average for this area. We have very little turnover and haven't had to break in a rookie in a long time.

 

[Scott S]

New statewide average for Oregon out today, skidder operators is $17.23, Loaders @ $18.79, choker setter @ $15.37, cutters $30.28