We welcome our clients, candidates, and friends to the first issue of “The Xemplar Wage Report” for Salt Lake City, a comprehensive analysis of current tradesmen wages in the region based on Xemplar’s proprietary data from client job orders and job placements during the period. We offer this report as a chance for you to gain an edge on the competition by knowing exactly what tradesmen are earning in the Salt Lake City area.
***Do you want to stay informed as a tradesman hiring manager or tradesman regarding ever-fluctuating tradesmen wages in your area? Send us an email at info@xemplar.com to be added to our distribution list for future wage reports! Please confirm that you are located in the Salt Lake City area or one of our other service areas (Denver, Chicago, or Houston).***
In the second half of 2019, we continued to see tightening of the tradesmen labor market in Salt Lake City. Many clients reported a lack of available tradesmen as the #1 limitation to their business growth. In remarks, we often heard that “plenty of business is available, if I could just find the tradespeople.” We also have observed an increased recognition on the part of high-quality trades employers that reasonable wages and thoughtful benefits are an essential combined toolset required to attract quality, long-term tradesmen.
Wages for all combined trades categories offered a breadth of pay levels ranging from an average of $14.84 for entry-level positions up to $30.74 with 10-years of experience. The mid-range of 5-years experience represented an average wage of $21.26 per hour. The average wage for a tradesperson is Salt Lake City in the second half of 2019 was $20. A wide range of entry-level positions continue to be available to new tradespeople including manufacturing production, machine operating, shop helper and yard technician. In some cases, such as welding, “entry-level” often means little to no work experience, but also the completion of a trades certificate course.
Equipment Mechanics remain in high demand throughout the Salt Lake Valley and represented an attractive trades category for tradesmen with an entry-level wage average of $17.50 and a wage at 10-years of experience of $31.50. Equipment Mechanics with 5-years of experience received an average wage of $23.27.
Maintenance Mechanics received an average wage of $18.00 for 2-years of experience and an average wage of $25.17 at 6-years of experience. Maintenance Mechanics with 5-years of experience received an average wage of $24.33.
Welders earned an average wage of $15.83 for entry-level positions up to $24.67 for 7-years of experience. Welders with 5-years of experience received an average wage of $21.95.
CNC Machinists drew the highest total average wage of $23.30 in our report with an average wage of $16.00 for 1-year of experience up to $31.33 for 9-years of experience. CNC Machinists with 5-years of experience received an average wage of $23.05.
CDL Drivers in our study received an average wage of $20.50 at 2-years of experience and $21.50 at 4-years of experience.
Delivery Drivers received our lowest average wage of $17.33 in our report with a wage of $14.50 for 1-year of experience going up to $20.00 for 6-years of experience.