I agree. $1000 a day should be the norm this year.
I get at least one call a week. If there were two of me, we’d both be working too much.
Recent numbers are: $830, $860, $900, $950, $980, and $1000.
I’ve seen a few ads in the $700 to $950 range.
A while ago, even 32 Points Manning advertised a couple of jobs in the PNW this Spring at $950.
I’m not getting recruiter calls anymore. There were some recruiter calls in the winter, but most of them weren’t for a specific job, and they couldn’t quote a day rate.
The tug companies are very busy and making the best money ever supporting Federally funded projects. They can well afford to pay us much better. They just don’t want to.
They got into the habit of cheapskating us for so long when Captains were “a dime a dozen” that they just cannot stop themselves.
The tug companies appear to have a psychological barrier to going all the way to $1000, or above.
Hopefully when company captains get tired of working with hired gunslingers making $250-$400 dollars more than they make they will finally put the foot down, quit working over
and see that doing so is only helping suppress his on wages while Mr Beaux counts his savings. Some companies I know of have boats and Derrick barges, if they can’t crew there in vessels than they have to pay an outside anchor handling tug, heard the rates for around a 7200 BHP tug is 12-15k daily but can’t confirm, $1000-$1200 is easy compared to the alternative.
I’m one of those idiots making a little less than $ 700/day, but seem much happier than most of the angry fools on here making much more than me. My company also has amazing benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, 401K,etc), to the tune of roughly $ 250/day paid by the company and the best equipment in my industr. Lots of folks on here love to take about how all the tug companies are making tons of money, but that’s not the case here on the Mississippi River, where low water these past three years has put a serious crimp in the business/revenue.
Mates anywhere from mid 500s to low 600s. Master low 700s. No licensed engineers on those CC tugs. Not privy to what the AB/OS and unlicensed engineer spots pay.
I’ve heard rumors that the mates handle the ER on those boats, or that may be the sabine/cameron boats.
The main problem with tugboat captains wages are that the goalpost were moved in this stinking economy, doesn’t take an economist to figure that part out, when you need lawnmower repair at home, small engine shops have $90-$100 labor rates, same with vehicle repair parts and labor except they are higher than that, hvac repair to your home, groceries, fuel, home & auto insurance, medical cost even outside the deductible, and the answer for many isn’t just working more.
Variable rate mortgages have gone from 2.9% to 9%. Nearly tripling house payments. No one thought interest rates would stay high for so long.
Big increases in homeowners’ insurance to pay for extreme weather and fire losses in other parts of the country.
Property taxes have had big increases.
Heating oil and electricity are way up.
Food prices have shot up.
Lumber prices have dropped from the peak, but copper and plastic pipe, and everything else are at least double what they were before Covid.
The economy has been kept afloat on government spending. Taxes are going up.
There are fewer workers paying into Social Security, but more people than ever collecting. There will have to be either cuts to Social Security or payroll tax increases, or both. Politically, I’m betting on tax increases.
Even the cost of living in Mexico is way up.
Although we have had significant wage increases over the past 5 years, they are not enough. Inflation has driven our purchasing power and quality of life down.
Tugboat wages are overdue for another big bump up to about the $1200 a day range.
Do a quick search for dealership shop rates are by state, shockingly high in some, especially where the shop mechanics may only still be getting $35-$40 per hour, a tugboat captains day rate bring home is easily consumed and than some when hiring anyone to do anything at home. Sad you could run a $5 million tug for one 12 hour day than pay a small engine shop for 8hrs labor and some parts and owe them more than you made in one day. Totally unacceptable!
Housing affordability is the worst it has been in decades, thanks to a spike in home prices and mortgage rates. Combined, the two have helped to push the typical salary required nationwide for homeownership up to $106,500 — a stunning 61% increase from the $59,000 required just four years ago, according to Zillow.
Our homeownership cost increased 61% in 4 years, while our wages have only increase by about 20% in four years.
And still seeing lowball pay on job listing adds,
how do these companies attract anyone? Just for perspective sake, changed an alternator
on mother in laws Honda Pilot, just over an hour job, all local shops want over $400 for labor, AC repair guy came out changed her
capacitor, 15 minutes and $125 which is cheaper than most, compare that to 12 hours
on a tugboat and than your still there for your 12 hrs off, this part of the marine industry should make you want to vomit, it’s been
cheapened beyond belief compared to a stinking economy that even when
companies are shorthanded and desperate for
wheelman & employees in general hardly nothing has changed except the fact that
many land jobs and especially those that
have a trade & work for yourself & can adjust
your rates to keep up with the economy will
be much better off on a per hour worked earnings compared to a tugboat job, in general
and collectively, union or non union it’s garbage wages & only bulk work.
Can only assume people are showing up to do the job, or working over. Once the old timers who put up with it stop, and the companies have to tie their boats up, then magically you’ll see wages go up.
I was shocked to see one company with a boat tied up for lack of crew, hiring another company to tow their barge and serve their customers.
I called somebody I know over there, and asked what’s up with that?
The response I got was that while it’s expensive and doesn’t look good to hire another company to do their work, it’s a lot cheaper than giving 70 employees permanent raises. They think that the Mariner “shortage” is temporary and they are committed to holding the line on wages until things return to normal (i.e. a line of guys at the door begging for jobs).
It’s catching up to some of them somewhat but not enough to place an add with a healthy wage, still have a revolving door, many accidents, neglected & damaged vessels
that are getting a bad rep for subpar vessels
& operators, unreported marine casualties
have become the normal expectation.
There will always be people who want or need the money. Especially in this career field. Part of the draw is the ability to save money by living on a boat half the year. Even better if they’ll let you work as long as you want. Wages are going up as people with credentials that take more time to get leave/retire though.
That’s the old school “starvation” mindset that I’m talking about. I don’t think the next generation of mariners is into that sort of thing. But you could be right, there may always be a few.
The only solution I have found against this is to
get financially stable and get off the tit, work when you wanna work & hammer them on the day rate, they get tired of paying hiring agencies a $1200 day rate and get personal that in many cases they aren’t happy with anyway!
I was saying “even better if you can work as long as you want” in a facetious way. But I do believe there are, and always will be, some people who feel that way. Whether its out of greed or necessity. Resources like these threads should encourage everyone to get paid. Or at least open eyes to what a “fair” rate may be, and that is good.