I realize there is no such thing as typical, but asking anyway…
Typically, what is the going hourly rate for stall cleaning, feeding, turning in/out? More specifically in the Mid-Atlantic area.
No insurance, no benefits. It’s for about 4-5 hours of work daily.
Taxes/SS would be subtracted. There is worker’s comp
My guess would be in most cases near minimum wage.
I have a college student feed lunch/check on the horses, and end up paying her close to $30/hr (including drive time) because it’s inconvenient and in the middle of the day, and it’s worth the peace of mind to get her to come out while I’m at work. I also pay her the same over holidays when I’m home and don’t need her to go out, because it’s worth it to keep her committed to doing it.
I found up here people pay by the stall often, but that doesn’t help when it’s turn in and turn out too.
Years ago (circa 2001) I did the weekends at a 10 stall barn. 3-4 hours in the am and return for an hour at night. Feed, turn out, muck, turn in, feed lunch. Return to feed dinner and pick.
They paid $60/day, whether there were 6 horses or 10, or whether it took me 3 hours or 6. It worked out usually to $12-15/hr, but their generosity always came back around. Good help is hard to find and I stuck around for years. They applied the same generosity to other aspects of barn/personal life, and it seemed to usually come back around.
At the time, minimum wage was maybe $6.75 or so, this was in Florida.
Both barns I’ve done this for this year are $8/hr (Virginia)
In NOVA it is $10 and up. You could consider paying by the job or per week. Then it doesn’t matter to you how fast or slow the person works.
Generally $10 and up if you want a reliable adult.
$12-$15 an hr. The turning in/out? If you mean for them to leave after the morning chores and then come back, that doesn’t work well, unless:
You hire a near neighbor. You hire someone who drives by your place on the way to work, or class. you board their horse.
Otherwise, what you have is a part time job, at part time wages, that ties up their entire day. You needn’t believe me; and they will tell you that, oh coming back will be no problem. They’re so happy to be working with horses! This will be great! After about a month they can’t get by on what you pay them and they can’t schedule around that afternoon feedtime, and things tend to go south.
You may get real lucky and hire someone who literally doesn’t have anything thing else to do. After a couple of weeks, instead of leaving and coming back; they bring their lunch, a roll of toilet paper and a radio, and move into your barn for the day.
Good luck!
In the central MD/VA/DC area, $10 to $15 per hour, with $10 being the low-end, cash-under-the-table price for someone reasonably reliable and knowledgeable. Most people I know in the area won’t take less than $12, especially if it’s taxed, and for barns where they’re expected to really hustle and smile doing it, it’s $15 and up. I think if you’re taking out taxes, $12 is the minimum for someone experienced who you can trust with your horses’ health and safety.
I won’t get in my car for less than $12/hr unless I’m bored or reeeeaaaaaallllly like you. $10/hr is my hands-down rock bottom, because I can make that much sitting in my bathrobe at the computer, indulging my anti-social tendencies.
If you expect it to be about the same amount of work every day, the flat rate suggested above is not a bad idea. You can always give a bonus if something requires extra time/effort.
[QUOTE=KateDB;7979621]
I realize there is no such thing as typical, but asking anyway…
Typically, what is the going hourly rate for stall cleaning, feeding, turning in/out? More specifically in the Mid-Atlantic area.
No insurance, no benefits. It’s for about 4-5 hours of work daily.
Taxes/SS would be subtracted. There is worker’s comp[/QUOTE]
The problem with an hourly rate is supervising the employee to ensure he/she is working during that hour, not on the phone, drinking coffee, chatting with the boarders, etc. Although it looks like you will have a part-time employee, you still will need to observe the laws about allowing breaks, and paying overtime if that situation arises. Lots of good information is available online, not sure of your state.
[QUOTE=Flash44;7980885]
The problem with an hourly rate is supervising the employee to ensure he/she is working during that hour, not on the phone, drinking coffee, chatting with the boarders, etc. Although it looks like you will have a part-time employee, you still will need to observe the laws about allowing breaks, and paying overtime if that situation arises. Lots of good information is available online, not sure of your state.[/QUOTE]
Madison, WI
We pay students $10/hr and “adults” just over $12. If you’re just looking for mucking, I think $10ish is fair, but I expect our feed/turnout staff to be able to handle horses on their own, recognize injuries and illnesses, and treat based on my instructions. Since we all know horses can be very special sometimes, these skills are worth the $12-15/hour wage.
As long as it’s not unsafe, our staff can take as many breaks on the phone, drinking coffee, chatting with boarders, etc. as they want. When they are hired, they are told their shift should be approximately X hours. If they are consistently going over that, I work with them to figure out what the problem is. But barn work is hard work, and if a 5 minute break to talk to a friend makes their day a little better and them enjoy their job a little more, its worth the 80 cents to me.
When I was in Idaho, most barns paid minimum wage ($7.25). The ones I was at usually paid $8 to get a little better quality of work. BMs in that area were making $10-12 at most barns, if they weren’t on a salary.
I’m not sure what the rate is around here. Probably higher than Idaho.
I do part time barn work and my bottom rate is $12/hour and that is what I get, or more. I am an experienced, ex professional racehorse and dressage groom. I am appreciated because I notice things and communicate.
I pay $5 per stall but that includes turnout or bring in blanketing and, stall should have hay and water. Takes about an hour max for 4 stalls.
