Sparky labor rate

[theoldwizard1]

Ball park. $50/hour ? $100/hour ?

I want a new load center installed. I will purchase it all parts. The existing load center has less than 24 circuits. Surface mount to a poured wall. No ceiling. All circuit come in from overhead.

In my mind, the steps required are

• pull meter
• disconnect feed and all circuits in load center
• remove old load center
• install new load center with breakers
• connect feed and all circuits
• re-install meter

2 hours ?

 

[LXCam]

Well you might not be wrong about the site installation. What about travel time and soft costs like documentation processing. Those are all overhead and considered direct expenses and must be factored into the total cost. A labor rate of $50hr doesn’t even remotely cover wage, tax burden, workers comp and liability insurance.

Just saying….

Now if you got a buddy who is looking for a little cash, a hundy might get you there.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Okay, $100 overhead (drive time, etc, etc)

Is 2 hours a reasonable guesstimate ?

 

[PCustoms]

Buying your own materials?

Already decided what the job will cost?

You sound like the perfect customer!

Maybe call a few electricians and have them quote the job, with the materials they see as needed.

 

[LXCam]

Okay, $100 overhead (drive time, etc, etc)

Is 2 hours a reasonable guesstimate ?

Sounds about right for labor units.

 

[nadogail]

I don't think you have included the "What If's". Looks like you feel you have already decided on how you will have everything, including drinking water, ready when the electrician arrives.

Good Luck

 

[BrandonV]

Buying your own materials?

Yup. Yeah this one might sink you a bit. A lot of electricians are going to want to buy the stuff themselves. They might prefer one brand to another or in case of the load center if they run into an issue the supply house is going to be easier to work for exchanges or whatever.

 

[sparky 1971]

Good luck with that. Here, changing a panel for anything other than a repair requires the service to be brought up to the current code requirements, that means an exterior disconnect or meter main and a surge suppressor at a minimum up to a whole house upgrade in a couple of areas. There isn't much "pulling the meter" anymore, the POCO disconnects it and won't reconnect without an inspection and release by the AHJ.

As far as rates, I'm at $110 per hour with material marked up +-50% and I supply everything other than light fixtures. If someone thinks they can save money by supplying material, that's fine but the labor rate is $150 per hour and you'd better have everything because I'm going to be sitting on my *** at $150 per hour waiting for you to go buy something you forgot or didn't think to get. If it's piddly things that I have on the truck like staples or wire nuts, I'll go ahead and supply them, but they are gonna be really expensive. Also, there is no warranty on anything I don't supply.

Edited to add: If the customer is a pain in the ***, there will be a pain in the *** charge but described as a trip charge. It's usually $100, but it gets waived if I like the person. 90+% of the time it gets waived, but try to tell me what I'm going to do, how to do it, and it stays.

 

[Bert_]

I'm $85/hr. The only way I would take a job like that is for a friend. Somebody random is going to get a "Not interested".

Customer supplied parts are a huge pain. Some of it will be stuff I don't like. Some parts will be wrong. There will be stuff missing and it's a different brand than what I carry so things don't interchange. It's just not worth the hassle, easier to say "no" and go do a job I like.

 

[Bert_]

Most of the utility companies don't want you to touch their stuff. I have done it before but you better have a good relationship with the service man.

I always try to help the service man out if he's short a crimp or a piece of wire. It goes both ways. The days where they would give an electrician a handful of meter seals are gone.

 

[geneg]

Good luck with that. Here, changing a panel for anything other than a repair requires the service to be brought up to the current code requirements, that means an exterior disconnect or meter main and a surge suppressor at a minimum up to a whole house upgrade in a couple of areas. There isn't much "pulling the meter" anymore, the POCO disconnects it and won't reconnect without an inspection and release by the AHJ.

As far as rates, I'm at $110 per hour with material marked up +-50% and I supply everything other than light fixtures. If someone thinks they can save money by supplying material, that's fine but the labor rate is $150 per hour and you'd better have everything because I'm going to be sitting on my *** at $150 per hour waiting for you to go buy something you forgot or didn't think to get. Also, there is no warranty on anything I don't supply.

years ago I bid on a plan & spec church addition that had an alternate for the church to furnish their own door hardware. I bid it as an addional cost. I think it was 25 or 50 per door. The architect called me to see if I had made a mistake on the bid form. I told him that we had to charge extra to pay the crew to wait for the missing parts or to make residential quality materials work properly as well as take care of callbacks. I did the project with commercial hardware provided & installed by us.

 

[reader2580]

The electrical cooperative where I live still allows anyone, including a homeowner, to pull the meter. However, you have to call in before pulling a meter, or they charge a $175 fee. The smart meters now alert them if the meter was removed.

For meter socket replacements the cooperative will allow a licensed electrician to do the work, and they will reconnect without needing sign off from the AHJ. For homeowners doing the work themselves they require the AHJ to sign off before they will reconnect power.

 

[reader2580]

I don't see any reputable electrician replacing a load center for two hours of labor. I think you're nuts to think you can get a load center swapped for much less than $1,000. A reputable electrician is going to get a permit which could be $100 by itself.

 

[American Locomotive]

I feel like 3 hours would be a pretty reasonable time estimate given that there are no unfortunate surprises. But as others mentioned, a panel replacement might trigger a code upgrade. If it does, you're going to be paying probably close to $1000 in breakers alone.

Also, many (most?) electricians like to make additional money on component sales, and they also want to make sure they have all of the components they need. I would be shocked if any electrician you can hire would be willing to accept this job. What you're proposing is more of a "my electrician buddy is going to help me do this" kinda job ...and if you don't have that buddy, then you're SOL.

But also, if you're savvy enough to purchase all of the components - just do the job yourself. Panel replacements aren't rocket science. Just take your time and make sure you follow whatever the code is.

 

[Just_Steve]

3 years ago I received 3 quotes for new panel, 2 from solo guys and 1 larger company. All 3 same price. $1500 labor and material. I finally had it done as part of my solar install. Not sure what the solar company charged.

 

[75gmck25]

I had a load center replaced about 12 years ago (heavy up from 150 to 200 amps), and the rate at that time was $1800-$2000. Contractor supplied a 200 amp load center and some number of breakers (my old panel only had about 10 circuits), and took care of all permits and inspections. I assume it's gone up quite a bit since then.

I can't imagine trying to do well thought out, careful job and only charging two hours of labor. None of the work is hard if the contractor plans it out well, but it's still a lot of steps. I would plan for at least an hour to submit the permit and get it approved (plus travel time to AHJ), 3-4 hours of electrical contractor work to replace the panel (hanging the box, rewiring, etc.), and then at least one more hour and a 2nd trip for the inspection.

 

[pbon]

Ball park. $50/hour ? $100/hour ?

I want a new load center installed. I will purchase it all parts. The existing load center has less than 24 circuits. Surface mount to a poured wall. No ceiling. All circuit come in from overhead.

In my mind, the steps required are

• pull meter
• disconnect feed and all circuits in load center
• remove old load center
• install new load center with breakers
• connect feed and all circuits
• re-install meter

2 hours ?

Is the job worth 2 hours pay to the electrician? They don’t seem that desperate for work these days. Since you bought everything, you might as well install it yourself.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

As soon as I heard "I will supply all materials" I would tell the potential customer that I was too busy and to call someone else.……. Thank God I am no longer an electrical contractor.

IMHO the OP would most likely be "The customer from hell"

 

[kbuhagiar]

Good luck with that. Here, changing a panel for anything other than a repair requires the service to be brought up to the current code requirements, that means an exterior disconnect or meter main and a surge suppressor at a minimum up to a whole house upgrade in a couple of areas. There isn't much "pulling the meter" anymore, the POCO disconnects it and won't reconnect without an inspection and release by the AHJ.

As far as rates, I'm at $110 per hour with material marked up +-50% and I supply everything other than light fixtures. If someone thinks they can save money by supplying material, that's fine but the labor rate is $150 per hour and you'd better have everything because I'm going to be sitting on my *** at $150 per hour waiting for you to go buy something you forgot or didn't think to get. Also, there is no warranty on anything I don't supply.

I'm $85/hr. The only way I would take a job like that is for a friend. Somebody random is going to get a "Not interested".

Customer supplied parts are a huge pain. Some of it will be stuff I don't like. Some parts will be wrong. There will be stuff missing and it's a different brand than what I carry so things don't interchange. It's just not worth the hassle, easier to say "no" and go do a job I like.

I don't see any reputable electrician replacing a load center for two hours of labor. I think you're nuts to think you can get a load center swapped for much less than $1,000. A reputable electrician is going to get a permit which could be $100 by itself.

^^^This right here.

OP needs to realize that not every contractor out there is trying to screw their customers (although a few are).
Quality work costs money, period. Instead of trying to low-ball this job the OP should instaed expend the energy to do the research and take the time to find a reputable local electrician to complete this job.

Some homeowner tasks are worth scrounging for, but a load center replacement? Nope.
C'mon man, get yer priorities straight.

 

[mm08822]

Wiz, you asked this same question several years ago. You were all pissy then thinking $800 was robbery for t&material.

For all you know, do it yourself and when you're done ask yourself would you do the same job for a random stranger for $2-300.

 

[mm08822]

Perfect voicemail to simply delete!

 

[sparky 1971]

Most of the utility companies don't want you to touch their stuff. I have done it before but you better have a good relationship with the service man.

I always try to help the service man out if he's short a crimp or a piece of wire. It goes both ways. The days where they would give an electrician a handful of meter seals are gone.

None of the POCO's I work with want us touching anything, but Mid Am is about 90% of what I deal with and they don't have smart meters...yet. About 10 years ago I had an old guy lineman come out to pull a meter on an apartment for me and he "accidentally" dropped about 30 meter seals and forgot to pick them up. Me, being anti litter and waste, picked them up and since I don't like to throw perfectly good things away, have put all but about three of them to good use.

 

[mm08822]

None of the POCO's I deal with want us touching anything but Mid Am is about 90% of what I deal with and they don't have smart meters...yet. About 10 years ago I had an old guy lineman come out to pull a meter on an apartment for me and he "accidentally" dropped about 30 meter seals and forgot to pick them up. Me, being anti litter and waste, picked them up and since I don't like to throw perfectly good things away, have put all but about three of them to good use.

And I hope you properly recycled the old ones......

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Good luck finding a reputable sparky to do that work under those conditions…

 

[sparky 1971]

And I hope you properly recycled the old ones......

Of course. I have no problem getting rid of things that have reached the end of the useful life.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

I had a licensed electrician install a fan rated ceiling box last year. He supplied the box and was here for about an hour. Bill was $175. Subtracting the cost of the box and I'd say his hourly rate would be ~$150/hr..

 

[dave*99]

Supplying your own materials will leave you with no warranty and an increased labor rate to compensate for the sparky's lost revenue on the parts markup.

Most of them won't even call you back once you mention this plan.

There is also likely a minimum ampacity requirement, so if your old service is below the required size, you will upgrading the service entrance cable etc.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Good luck finding a reputable sparky to do that work under those conditions…

OP needs to go down to the local homeless encampment and look for the "traveling electrical contractor" living out of a 1990 Furd station wagon with beach towels covering the windows.…….. Most likely his labor rate will be $15 per hour and a bottle of 'hooch' along with a twin pack of Twinkies.

BTW! Most likely the "traveling electrical contractor" has a girl friend (Oxy Annie) who does house cleaning "in the buff" for $5 hour plus a bottle of Oxycodone.

 

[ddurrett896]

Bet it’s going to be over $1,000

 

[reader2580]

I had a licensed electrician install a fan rated ceiling box last year. He supplied the box and was here for about an hour. Bill was $175. Subtracting the cost of the box and I'd say his hourly rate would be ~$150/hr..

It isn't only the time onsite. He also had to drive to your house.

 

[reader2580]

I did my own load center replacement with help from my father. It wasn't that hard, but it helps to have done my share of electrical work in the past, plus my father was an electrician's helper in high school and college. (He was only supposed to do work with a licensed electrician present, but the boss had him do a lot of work alone.) I did all of the wiring in my first house myself when it was being built. This was before the 2020 NEC was adopted in Minnesota. Due to other electrical work I had already put in AFCI breakers for almost everything. (I replaced the load center because the design of the load center made it nearly impossible to separate neutrals and grounds since it was longer going to be the service entrance.)

Any major electrical project I get a permit. I have pulled about a dozen permits and only failed one inspection due to not supporting conduit every so many feet. I have never failed due to wiring something wrong. (No, I am not getting a permit for replacing my smoke detectors even though I have to replace all of the pigtails.)

 

[AA/FC]

If the electrician is your buddy, then by all means go buy your own parts....

If you're hiring a professional electrician that you have no other relationship with, I highly doubt they will allow you to buy your own parts.

It's like having your car repaired at a professional repair shop.... do you buy your own parts? Most shops do not allow that. Some will, but they don't like it.

It would be like ordering breakfast at a restaurant but bringing your own eggs with you for them to cook.

Just my $0.02

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

It isn't only the time onsite. He also had to drive to your house.

Insurance $$$$$
Gas $$$$
Tools and Clothing $$$$$
License Fees $$$
Truck $$$$$$
Office rent and staff $$$$$
Code Books, CEU's and Updates $$$$
Chiropractor Adjustments $$$$
Misc. Material Stock on Truck $$$$
Alcohol (dealing with A Holes) $$$$

BTW! I need to know if the OP buys spark plugs and brake parts at Auto Drone and takes them to his mechanic.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

(No, I am not getting a permit for replacing my smoke detectors even though I have to replace all of the

I don’t know about the code requirements where you live but where I live in 'The Peoples Republic of New Jersey' replacing smoke detectors, fixtures and devices falls under "ordinary maintenance" and NO Permit is needed.
There is a lot of work in NJ that falls under ordinary maintenance such as replacing shower valves, doors and windows, siding and roofing.

 

[mm08822]

I had a licensed electrician install a fan rated ceiling box last year. He supplied the box and was here for about an hour. Bill was $175. Subtracting the cost of the box and I'd say his hourly rate would be ~$150/hr..

But he had to drive there and back, may have lost time doing a more productive job and eventually has to replace that material. If it was a formal bill, someone had to write it up, log it in and pay sales tax on it. Bookkeeping is o/h.

 

[mm08822]

About 10 years ago, I did a service update and added a sub-panel for a friend of a friend. He had to buy all of the material and I said look, if it's wrong, not enough, or last minute I need something else, then either you are running to the store and I am sitting or I am on the clock to go run for it. He took the chance. I also told him, no subs, I want pics of everything you bought before I plan the date.

He got pissed when I included in my bill, the time to prepare a list of hardware for him to buy. He wouldn't listen. He didn't save a dime, but put a lot of risk on himself. Last one of those I ever did!

 

[Tundra1]

Off topic but sort of on topic, interesting trade practice is most crafts prefer to buy their own material which makes sense. But the big exception is framers which have always expected me to source everything minus fasteners. Not sure the origin of that preference since low quality materials can make their jobs harder just like everyone else.

 

[dave*99]

Off topic but sort of on topic, interesting trade practice is most crafts prefer to buy their own material which makes sense. But the big exception is framers which have always expected me to source everything minus fasteners. Not sure the origin of that preference since low quality materials can make their jobs harder just like everyone else.

Not sure but maybe they don’t want to carry that balance on their books. Risk of not getting paid etc.

 

[u2slow]

When I apprenticed, my employers' minimum was typically a half-day charge-out.

I also learned later during self-employment that with most work, the formula of a modest wage x3 was a good target. 1/3 for me. 1/3 for material. And 1/3 for overhead.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Half day small residential jobs were usually done on a weekend for cash…… Service changes, adding some recessed lights, attic fans, small renovations, etc.
I always bid my jobs for an 8 hour day because I had to pay my guys for a full day. When I was an electrical contractor I had 13 guys who were paid well with full benefits and we did very little residential electrical work, because I refused to compete with a "romex jockey" working out of a trunk of his car and dealing with home owner "bargain hunters"