Value of a vinyl installer? Wrapper?

[jpsamuel06]

So my 4 year Mark is coming up as an employee And lately I've really been thinking about making a career out of my job, just not sure if its always going to be here. I've been here since it was just the owner and me, and now we have a crew of 5. Starting out I barely knew the basics of vinyl, but now I am considered a "pro" according to my employees lol.

I run the printer, plotter and laminator. Do 90% of vinyl installs and am the only employee that can wrap. I do anything from pickup trucks to buses to 53' semi trailers. I'm always looking to push myself and see what else I can do. I also have 6 years body work experience and find myself sometimes doing minor dent/rust repair before wrapping. Don't really care for it, but I know how and I do it right.

I wouldn't say I feel underpaid, but with not having any friends in the same business, I really don't even know what a fair hourly wage is. And I don't think the owner has an idea either lol, I started low on pay not knowing anything, and have just gotten yearly raises. Some days I feel like I carry this business on my back and the return just doesn't seem worth it, but most days I'm happy with where I am... But should I be?

Sorry for the long post. A lot on my mind lately.. And this one particular wrap I'm doing now is really aggravating me.. Lol

Thanks

 

[jpsamuel06]

Also, no benefits. Unless you include Aflak.. But we actually have that deducted from our checks.. So no lol

 

[Brink]

Profit margins are not what they once were. You know what your shop does. Can it afford you? Like anyone else installers are worth what ever they can negotiate to get paid. I don't know how low is low pay or how much your annual raises have been, but I think you should have dealt with the boss for more money before you trained 5 people to replace you.

 

[ExecuPrintGS]

I am in your geographic area, pm me if you want to talk/ text off forum. Sounds like you and i are at the exact same level/ position requirements.

 

[jpsamuel06]

Profit margins are not what they once were. You know what your shop does. Can it afford you? Like anyone else installers are worth what ever they can negotiate to get paid. I don't know how low is low pay or how much your annual raises have been, but I think you should have dealt with the boss for more money before you trained 5 people to replace you.

They can afford me easily. And 5 people weren't trained in my department. I'm the only one with wrap knowledge, and only 1 other guy can do basic vinyl. We have me, one designer, one sign specialist, one helper for our sign specialist and the owner. The owner doesn't do much anymore other than collect and sign checks, and buy everything he pleases. Thats a lot of the reason I feel I may be getting paid poorly. He's got toys, giant lifted truck, New camper, in the process of building a New house....

I don't like saying publicly what I make, but I started out at $9. I get roughly a dollar a year. You can do the math.

I know what he charges to do a wrap, what the wrap kit and ink costs and how much he has into labor. I do ALL the labor. From laminating and triming to prints to prep/cleaning to removal and install of any parts that need to be removed. Luckily I'm quick at tearing off mirrors..door handles ect from doing body work in the past. Some of those door panels are a pain in the ***!!!

 

[jpsamuel06]

Also have knowledge in wiring, channel letters, raceways, can operate a bucket truck and have done sign jobs 120 ft in the air so heights don't bother me. Have done a lot of interior signage as well.. Stand offs, Gemini letters, phototex etc.. Kinda learned it all growing with this company. I was the only one so I had to learn.. And now I love it lol

 

[tattoo.dan]

I pay my employees as much as I can afford for the work they produce (quality/quantity)...all 3 "skilled" employees make more than I ever made at a job aside from my 4 year stint as an ironworker. Maybe that is why I do not have the toys your boss has though lol!

I say talk to him. If he doesn't want to pay you to keep you, the good thing is you have learned valuable skills on his dime and can apply for another job as an experienced "_____"...or start off on your own.

It is hard to offer benefits as a small biz owner. I am looking into insurance, 401k and already do vacation and personal days for my employees, but I don't know if I will ever be able to afford to do offer more than I already do.

 

[jpsamuel06]

I pay my employees as much as I can afford for the work they produce (quality/quantity)...all 3 "skilled" employees make more than I ever made at a job aside from my 4 year stint as an ironworker. Maybe that is why I do not have the toys your boss has though lol!

I say talk to him. If he doesn't want to pay you to keep you, the good thing is you have learned valuable skills on his dime and can apply for another job as an experienced "_____"...or start off on your own.

It is hard to offer benefits as a small biz owner. I am looking into insurance, 401k and already do vacation and personal days for my employees, but I don't know if I will ever be able to afford to do offer more than I already do.

Thanks for the advice. I understand Benefits are difficult, expensive, but at least include something in the hourly rate to compensate. I've been paying my own health insurance now that it's required and jeeeeeeez!!!

 

[ams]

Take the Oracal wrap class, you won't regret it.

 

[tattoo.dan]

Take the Oracal wrap class, you won't regret it.

Why the oracal? I have been debating taking one this year, just didn't know if it had any advantage of the ones 3m or Avery puts on.

 

[Kentucky Wraps]

I'd hire you even if you had a tattoo of a butthole on your forehead...to run the prep & wrap at that price. Then I'd pay for your Certification & start your raises based on your ability, not your tenure.

You are worth easily twice what you are making now assuming.
You can run most of the wrap process from print to install & even body work. Owner can't sell wraps without you.
If his profit margin on wraps isn't enough to pay you at least double what you're getting, either you should look elsewhere or he should charge more for them. I'd love to get into specific numbers if you contact me.
You aren't even getting benefits, so take those out of your hourly wage and you might as well be slinging fries somewhere with benefits.
pm me

 

[DerbyCitySignGuy]

With your skill set and experience, assuming you can do all of those things relatively well, you should be making a minimum of $18 an hour.

 

[Jacob Singer]

With your skill set and experience, assuming you can do all of those things relatively well, you should be making a minimum of $18 an hour.

Seconded. Easily.

 

[CanuckSigns]

you can't get someone to show up for $13/hr here. I agree you should be around the $18/hr + if you are as skilled as you say you are.

 

[jpsamuel06]

This is pretty shocking to be honest lol. I wouldn't say I am perfect at either body work or vinyl, but I haven't done a whole lot of body work in the last 4 years so I'm sure I'm slow as hell now. Vinyl I have only been doing for 4 years, so I am happy with my speed with the amount of experience I have.

I was self taught, in both types of work. Body work I started at 14 because it fascinated me. Did it in high school, and after graduating, worked at a restoration shop for almost 4 years. There I also learned all about industrial sandblasting and painting on top of restoration. And a little bit on vehicle detailing. Got into vinyl because body work is nasty and really not so good for you. The boss introduced me to wraps, and although he claims to have "passed the torch" onto me, all of his techniques were completely wrong. I taught myself, and with the help of Signs101 I learned about different types of media so I could point Him in the right direction. I swear we used the same oracal 3551 on EVERYTHING until I took over. Now I hate the stuff unless it's a flat trailer.

I've been putting some thought into a wrap class. What's the cost on something like that? What are the benefits to being a certified wrap specialist?

Thanks for all the input everyone. :signs101:

 

[Kwiksigns]

I recently got 3M preferred and Avery certified. Avery was a piece of cake... they say only 15% pass but 75% of the people taking the test had never touched vinyl. I can tell you I have already seen an increase in installations. A company just called me last week and I have installed over 1500sqft so far for them and they are sending me all the work in my area now. It definitely has benefits. all from the 3M. The avery has got me one or two jobs but I think the 3M is a bigger name and companies that sell kits tell the buyer to look at the 3M website 90% of the time.

On another note... I need to fire my installer but I have too much work to drop him completely but I can't find anyone else right now. He can only do installs, and I say that sparingly.. Complains about everything, calls out sick all the time, comes in late... and he's making 75% more than you. With some benefits as well. We are always looking for someone reliable and LIKES to do his job and has PRIDE in his work. Which seems to be hard to find.

*edit* actually I CAN do without him, but then I would have to start working so much more and still have to increase deadline time. I like to be able to deliver quality in a decent amount of time. I would have to turn down some installation jobs but I dont need them. It is nice to be able to send someone to do something you normally can't do.

That being said... You are far underpaid. If you ever feel like relocating to the DMV (DC, MD, VA) area... let me know. Or if you just want to talk about classes, tests, how to address your boss, feel free to send me a pm

 

[jpsamuel06]

I'm not usually one to brag, but I am pretty darn proud of my work!

 

[Kwiksigns]

I'm not usually one to brag, but I am pretty darn proud of my work!

thats good. I love what I do as well. You should. I see the people that do it because they know how and need a job but step out that door when clock strikes 5... sad.

 

[jpsamuel06]

I recently got 3M preferred and Avery certified. Avery was a piece of cake... they say only 15% pass but 75% of the people taking the test had never touched vinyl. I can tell you I have already seen an increase in installations. A company just called me last week and I have installed over 1500sqft so far for them and they are sending me all the work in my area now. It definitely has benefits. all from the 3M. The avery has got me one or two jobs but I think the 3M is a bigger name and companies that sell kits tell the buyer to look at the 3M website 90% of the time.

On another note... I need to fire my installer but I have too much work to drop him completely but I can't find anyone else right now. He can only do installs, and I say that sparingly.. Complains about everything, calls out sick all the time, comes in late... and he's making 75% more than you. With some benefits as well. We are always looking for someone reliable and LIKES to do his job and has PRIDE in his work. Which seems to be hard to find.

*edit* actually I CAN do without him, but then I would have to start working so much more and still have to increase deadline time. I like to be able to deliver quality in a decent amount of time. I would have to turn down some installation jobs but I dont need them. It is nice to be able to send someone to do something you normally can't do.

That being said... You are far underpaid. If you ever feel like relocating to the DMV (DC, MD, VA) area... let me know. Or if you just want to talk about classes, tests, how to address your boss, feel free to send me a pm

Sorry to hear that! It's a shame how few people take pride in their work. Wrapping is art and I guess not all people love doing it. I'm bummed when we go a few weeks without one.

Not sure if relocation that far is an option at this time but I will definitely keep it in mind! Thanks!

 

[jpsamuel06]

thats good. I love what I do as well. You should. I see the people that do it because they know how and need a job but step out that door when clock strikes 5... sad.

Sometimes I wish that were the case (gettin out at 5), but I enjoy the late nights, just me and radio gettin **** done!!