6 replies to this topic

[Bryan Schultz]

What would you all pay a beginner draftsman? I'm training my daughter in Softplan (picked it up quickly.)  She currently is in a drafting program in college using AutoCad and another software I have never heard of! She's ready to take on some work for me -- I have some simple slab ranch projects coming up she can handle with my guidance. I want to pay her a fair wage and not overpay because she's my daughter! 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 

[Jon Davis]

I would think $15-$20 an hour would be good for a beginner. Unless you're wanting to pay her by the job ($/sqft).

[Danial Anderson]

I would suggest pay by the job. The details betweeen you and her. As you teach her the trade, thats worth something if you like working together

[Kevin Rabenaldt]

I agree, pay by the job.  That way both know what the end result will be because we all have differing ideas of what something is worth.  No surprises by either of you.

[David Zawadzki]

Golden Rule:  Never hire someone you can't fire!

 

Some good advice I received on the topic of hiring your own children is to let them go out and work for other people for at least 5 years so they learn what is really expected of an employee and what their FMV is... unless they work at a gov't job.

[Bryan Schultz]

David,

Agree and that's the plan. However, learning softplan is a great asset on a resume and she can make a few $$'s while in school. 

[Chris Proost]

I agree to pay her by the square footage. If she's paid hourly she may take extra time to complete the job to get a few more bucks out of you. If she's paid by the job it will teach her to work within deadlines, which we all know in this business is everything! Good luck. I worked for my Dad for a while too and it was a great experience.