Pay rates

[atomicarcheologist]

What are the current pay rates for Jr Hp and Sr HP?  Other groups too may enter into discussion, but I am most interested in the HP grade pay.

[Dave Warren]

This is a pretty loaded question, partner. This is like asking what a relief pitcher makes in the big leagues. It depends on the situation.

I think a safe bet to say is that a Sr. HP can make anywhere from $22 an hour plus $50 a day per diem to $30+ an hour with no per diem. There can be an extra $2-$4 an hour Health and Welfare bonus if you don't take a company's insurance package. There can be thousands of dollars in bonuses, if you stay somewhere for a certain amount of time. There are safe worker, and project completion bonuses. Once again, its all about what you let them type above the dotted line. I think you can take the numbers I gave you and find that they are pretty close to what you will see industry-wide.

Some people will make more and will brag about how much more they make than everyone else. Bottom line: Those are normally different circumstances and they might have known someone who "hooked them up" with that job. Those big money jobs are not the standard. Just a heads up before anyone decides this is where they want to get their feet wet.

One mans opinion..............

[Shonkatoys]

I would say Dave is about right.  You may get more toward the high end for a clearance, NRRPT or school.  Northern states more than southern states usually. but then you have to look at cost of living.

[RRhoads]

i can't remember the last time i was getting 50 bucks a day in Diem..
the low end is like 80 a day (PV & Columbia)
Many plants in the NE pay 90-110 a day in Diem..
the pay is about what Dave said..Depending on all that other stuff & returnee blah blah.

[atomicarcheologist]

Thank you Dave Warren.  Those are the rates that I had ranged for Statutory employment.  Perhaps some people with knowledge of wages for the plant industry would respond?  Government grades are welcome too.  Those who admit to being coporate are welcome also.

[Rennhack]

Thank you Dave Warren.  Those are the rates that I had ranged for Statutory employment.  Perhaps some people with knowledge of wages for the plant industry would respond?  Government grades are welcome too.  Those who admit to being coporate are welcome also.

Just prepare a salary survey and mail it to me.  I'll make an online version that everyone can use anonymously.  Then we can evaluate the statistics properly.

[Dave Warren]

As soon as I got a few props from my peeps, you cut me off.
Where's the love, Dawg?

[Shonkatoys]

Hey Dave I noticed you are a Health Physics Specialist. I am a Health Physics Specialist for Shonka.  What are they suppose to make?  I guess thats why we have to anonymously post to the great and wonderful wizard of Nukeworker.  Mr. Renhack.  He can take these anonymously and come up with a good number.

[rjc4243]

Dave, always gets the good jobs. But it still is the good old boys that stick together that look out for each other.

The pay rates stated by Dave are pretty much average.

PD is different at various locations.  Watch out for travel pay and paid holidays.  Some sites even pay vacation.

Check out everything befoe commiting.

[Kenny73]

what's per diem?

[Nuclear NASCAR]

what's per diem?

adv.
By the day; per day.

More of the definition here: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=per%20diem

[Rennhack]

adv.
By the day; per day.

adj.
Reckoned on a daily basis; daily.
Paid by the day.

n. pl. per diems
An allowance for daily expenses.  <-----------------------------

[wlrun3@aol.com]

Maximum allowable per diem rates are established by the government (gsa.gov)...current average (total) for our business is $80 per day...you are allowed this to work away (usually greater than 50 miles) from your established home and is non taxable...this arrangement is only allowed for one year of continuous work at that job...there are additional relevant but minor details.

[Rennhack]

Less than one year, not "one year".

[Rennhack]

Click here for Per Diem Rates.

[Rad_Toy]

For a Sr. tech at Clinton, it's 28.00 and change with 90 a day. But you got to remember, your paying union dues.  That's about the best in the mid-west.

[Dave Warren]

Here is a dilemma for all our tax experts:

You are NOT getting per diem at a job site in Tennessee.
You work there for all of 2004.
You have a home in Indiana that you are still paying a mortgage on, and you are paying rent to live in Tennessee.
What can you write off?
What is eligible under "working away from home" deductions?
Anybody have an educated guess or a good tax person in Tennessee?
I think I have the answer, but it never hurts to get some input from my fellow highly-educated counterparts.

[Rad_Toy]

Sounds to me like your getting all your money back..

[Rennhack]

Here is a dilemma for all our tax experts:

You are NOT getting per diem at a job site in Tennessee.
You work there for all of 2004.
You have a home in Indiana that you are still paying a mortgage on, and you are paying rent to live in Tennessee.
What can you write off?
What is eligible under "working away from home" deductions?
Anybody have an educated guess or a good tax person in Tennessee?
I think I have the answer, but it never hurts to get some input from my fellow highly-educated counterparts.

There are no legal tax deductions in your example.  If you were there less than a year, then you could claim 50% meals, and 100% lodging up to conus rates, plus travel.

[Dave Warren]

So in other words, I need to find a good CPA.....(wink, wink)

[NukeWifeKW]

You can't declare yourself a resident of Tennessee if you have a home in Indiana unless you've actually done what most people do when they move:  fill out change of address, register to vote, get a TN license, those kinds of things. 

However, you can deduct certain expenses, such as your rent, etc, if you're not getting per diem on your taxes. 

You can go the cheap route and get Turbo Tax, which will explain what you can and can't take, or pay the fee and have someone do your taxes.  Some folks swear by H&R Block.  Others prefer to find a good CPA.  I'd recommend that once you have your tax information together, you find one sooner, rather than later.  The earlier you are, the better service you'll get.

[rjc4243]

Dave,

PAY DE MAN.

I am in the same boat but at least I had 4 different states last year.

CT, PA, GA, NJ.

All the states want their share also.  CT is the worse.

Have a good day.

[Rennhack]

You can't declare yourself a resident of Tennessee if you have a home in Indiana unless you've actually done what most people do when they move:  fill out change of address, register to vote, get a TN license, those kinds of things. 

However, you can deduct certain expenses, such as your rent, etc, if you're not getting per diem on your taxes. 

You can go the cheap route and get Turbo Tax, which will explain what you can and can't take, or pay the fee and have someone do your taxes.  Some folks swear by H&R Block.  Others prefer to find a good CPA.  I'd recommend that once you have your tax information together, you find one sooner, rather than later.  The earlier you are, the better service you'll get.

Not true for Dave, he stated he was there for ALL of 1 year (actually longer).  If you are on location for anything close to 1 year, you CAN NOT claim duplicate expences, no matter what.  TRUST ME.  I really, really, really know what I am talking about.

[atomicarcheologist]

I thank all of you for your attention to this matter, but feel that it's time to resteer the topic back to the original.  I am interested in pay rates for HP techs.  The discussion of expenses is enlightening, but not on topic. 
The statutory (itinerant) employees have had their wages posted.  Are any others wishing to contribute?

[alphadude]

Dave, was the job considered contractor TEMP or perm assignment?
Those are the keys to the tax situation?  I have taken temp assignments longer than a year and get to deduct expenses.  You are just not allowed perdiam.  It comes down to the cost of doing business.

[Dave Warren]

I think it just became a temporary assignment.
You answered my question.

[mathef]

Looking for additonal information for the average pay with overtime included for In House I&C Techs in the Southern Nuke Industry.  Any help would be appreciatted.

thanks
frank

[atomicarcheologist]

No response from anyone other than the road crews? 

[atomicarcheologist]

Good luck with your answer.  I have been trying to get pay scales for a couple of weeks now.  It would seem that only the road crew posts their pay.

[Nuclear NASCAR]

Looking for additonal information for the average pay with overtime included for In House I&C Techs in the Southern Nuke Industry.  Any help would be appreciatted.

thanks
frank

Not southern area, but the midwest is in the $30/hr range. 

[graydragon67]

Atomic,  I'm a DOD RCT at the norfolk naval shipyard.  I'm guessing we do approximately the same as an HP.  Then again I could be off target.  Anyhow, our pay is based on your Pay Grade which you can look up on www.donhr.navy.mil.  Presently as a GS-8-9 I'm making about 24.6/hr.  With on and off OT (pending on the schedule of boats/carriers).  The highest NON supervisor pay grade is a GS-10-10 which tops out at 29.49/hr. 

If you hit the road you are allowed diem pending on the area that you go to.  I believe it ranges from 50-110/day.  Those being say down in GA or the high bucks in Pearl Harbour. 

Hope this helps.

[vikingfan]

not sure if this will help or not but here goes, most sr. decon techs working for big blue (bartlett) make about 14$hr and 80-90 a day on average. but if your working d.o.e. the pay can be upwards of 22$ + an hour. if you work for another nuclear service company a decon tech you may make somewhere around 16$ an hr.

[sclong51]

I see no one is posting here, but maybe this will get it started.  PG&E had a posting for a house tech the end of February, starting pay just over $36/hr.  The current outages going on seem to range from $22/hr to $28/hr with per diem from $70 to $112.50 to none.

It is hard for me to believe that wages are not higher.  When I worked at a project in the St. Louis area they paid the Sr techs $26/hr, but the laborers were getting $28/hr.  In IL tech are getting $25/hr, journeyman electricial $38/hr.

It is hard to believe that tech pay isn't higher.  Most of the house tech at the plants I have worked at are making more than $30/hr.

Don't start with the PerDiem thing.  Skilled workers (ie electricial, pipefitters, welders, etc) are all making $35/hr or more.  When you work 6/12s, get $25/hr $100/day you get $2900/wk.  When you you are getting $35/hr you are getting $3080/wk.

I guess most senior don't consider themselves "skilled" and are happy with getting less than the individuals emptying the trash.

What will it take for techs to say enough.  With or without PerDiem we should be getting $40/hr or more.  I believe companies would bid more if the techs would just agree they are worth more.

What will it take for techs to make more?

[ageoldtech]

The average age of a senior tech is over fifty plus. It want be long before were all dead and the young ones that are left will get the big bucks.

[illegalsmile]

even if you're there for less than one yr you have to be careful. If the job is expected to last one year or more and you left on your own or were terminated for cause, you may not be entitled to deduct expenses.

[Dustball]

I see no one is posting here, but maybe this will get it started.  PG&E had a posting for a house tech the end of February, starting pay just over $36/hr. 

STARTING WAGE over $36/hr for a house mouse?  Either they have no room for advancement opportunities or we're getting screwed.  We should have contacted PG&E RPs prior to our last union negotiations.  I would be curious to find out what extras or premiums would be included in that.

I think getting a straight number from house RP's will be just as difficult as road RP's.  We have a base pay.  Our starting wage is 75% of the base.  In addition we have foreman pay/shift premium/fire brigade premium if you qualify.  To get to 100% of the pay you have to be here for 7 years.  Right now that "base" pay is $35.05.  Hope it helps.

[Mike McFarlin]

The average age of a senior tech is over fifty plus. It want be long before were all dead and the young ones that are left will get the big bucks.

Speak for yourself, you young whipper snapper!

[ALARA LOU]

It has been a very long time since I was on the road. How much can I expect to make per year working outages and special projects? I have over 25 years experience as an, RP Tech, ALARA Engineer/Coordinator, and RP supervisor.

[RADBASTARD]

You can expect $22-$25 hour,$80 -$100 per diem a day, $1-$3 an hour in bonus's.

There are a few exceptions as a contract tech ,bonus's at  dc cook are $3000-$3500 ,diem at ip2 and pilgram are around $135 a day.Fermi,millstone,and i think fitz may have given some good bouns's in the past can't say now.
Duke power pays the lowest in the country!
I thought slave wages in the south had been abolished ,but I guess not in the DUKE SYSTEM!
Florida plants, dc cook,wolf creek,clinton,and of course diablo pay the best hourly wages.

Good luck with that whole contract hp thing.

[RRhoads]

Hey..you are forgetting about "B" GREAT bennies like 401k & 401k match & Insurance..Um..i know iam forgetting ..oh yeah! 1/2 a day sick time a month! And an Award Program...I can't even count how times i got one of those!
Boy..i betcha can't wait!

[RRhoads]

STARTING WAGE over $36/hr for a house mouse?  Either they have no room for advancement opportunities or we're getting screwed.  We should have contacted PG&E RPs prior to our last union negotiations.  I would be curious to find out what extras or premiums would be included in that.

I think getting a straight number from house RP's will be just as difficult as road RP's.  We have a base pay.  Our starting wage is 75% of the base.  In addition we have foreman pay/shift premium/fire brigade premium if you qualify.  To get to 100% of the pay you have to be here for 7 years.  Right now that "base" pay is $35.05.  Hope it helps.

Where i work...we hire HP's "topped out" at Journeyman wage, ~$32/hr..You can get more(~3/hr) $$ if you're a lead either outage or non-outage..a raise this year will get us to ~$33/hr.

[ALARA LOU]

Thanks for the information on hourly rates and PerDiem. Now, all I need to know is the average number of weeks per year a contract RP Tech / ALARA Specialist can expect to work. What I am trying to do is figure out how much per year I will make if I need to go back on the road.

[illegalsmile]

if the schedule works at it's best for you, you might get 6 outages/yr, most likely 4 or 5. that would give you 20-24 wks/ yr. if it's been a while since you worked any commercial plants, you may have a hard time getting in on special projects like FP cleanouts, new fuel receipt and such. These, if you can get 'em, usually give you 40 hrs/wk and can go anywhere from 4 wks up. As for Bennies, insurance is pretty high, 401k's don't give you much and if there is any paid sick time for a contractor, I haven't seen it. I'd say, figure $50k-65k/yr including per diem.

[hamsamich]

I know some guys work way more than I do;  I only work 5 to 7 months a year.  If you REALLY want to work, there might be jobs, but not ALWAYS power plant jobs, and you may not get but 40 to 50 hours of work a week, and per diem may not be available.  There are always trade-offs, and things aren't always what they seem.  For instance, you could work out in Idaho if you really wanted to during the "off season".  I've worked for 20 to 27$ an hour and per diem of 85 to 135 a day.  I've heard of moderately higher rates occasionally coming up but not much lower.  Bonus will be as high as 3500$ for 6 weeks of work, as low as nothing. Alara, rad engineer, instrument tech, and a couple other type of specialists can make a good bit more, but sometimes those guys won't get the 72 hour work weeks.  Supervisors and "lead techs" (if they have them) get paid from 0 to 15 dollars an hour MORE than regular rate but again, they may not get 72 hours and they may not get time and a half at the much higher rate.

As a regular senior technician not living the life of luxury when working, you should be able to BANK an average of 8 grand a month plus a little unemployment to boot later on, depending on how you spend your perdiem.

[ALARA LOU]

So, just to make sure I understand this, a senior RP Tech with a good resume can expect to make at LEAST $40k (NOT counting PerDiem) if they work ONLY 4 outages/year at commercial plants?

I also want to thank all who have responded to my post. The information provided will be most helpful if I go back on the road.

[thenukeman]

True about the 40 K, But if you break up your quarters right and are smart about per diem you should make about 70K counting diem and Unemployment. Remember Diem is untaxable so it is actually worth more.  File in Massachusetts, Remember you can do this if you have never worked there or live there by filing a combined wage claim if you work outages in more than 1 state. That is under the interstate claim section in this forum if there are questions.

[ALARA LOU]

Thank you.

Now, can anyone tell me how best to get life & disability insurance? Fortunately my wife has excellent medical coverage so I am all set on that front.

[illegalsmile]

1) get a government job
2)marry someone with a government job
3) get a house job
4)start your own company.
those are the best routes for a contract HP/RP/RC Tech to get good bennies.

[sclong51]

Just a note to Dustball, I see that PG&E post house jobs on July 19 on Nukeworker and it says starting pay $36.30/hr.  After talking to some tech that have been there they top out over $40/hr.

[RRhoads]

Just a note to Dustball, I see that PG&E post house jobs on July 19 on Nukeworker and it says starting pay $36.30/hr.  After talking to some tech that have been there they top out over $40/hr.

I wonder if a person could buy a house & live there, grossing $1600/week when they get maxed out???

[atomicarcheologist]

You can expect $22-$25 hour,$80 -$100 per diem a day, $1-$3 an hour in bonus's.

There are a few exceptions as a contract tech ,bonus's at  dc cook are $3000-$3500 ,diem at ip2 and pilgram are around $135 a day.Fermi,millstone,and i think fitz may have given some good bouns's in the past can't say now.
Duke power pays the lowest in the country!
I thought slave wages in the south had been abolished ,but I guess not in the DUKE SYSTEM!
Florida plants, dc cook,wolf creek,clinton,and of course diablo pay the best hourly wages.

Good luck with that whole contract hp thing.

Are these numbers still good or has wages gone up in the last while?  Are Sr. HP techs at $22-25/hour for contract work?

[Rennhack]

Are these numbers still good or has wages gone up in the last while?  Are Sr. HP techs at $22-25/hour for contract work?

Change much in 6 months?  Those numbers are good numbers.  Some jobs pay up to $31/hr for techs plus diem.

[hamsamich]

from what I've seen and heard the pay range is 20 to 31 for bartlett jobs, excluding bonuses.  Diablo is much higher, but only because bartlett doesn't get their cut there.  Clinton is the highest bartlett job at 31ish because of the union I believe.  There are a couple of high paying jobs out there in the high 20s per hour but end up being in the low 30s because of a nice bonus.  Most jobs are right around 22 to 26 an hour not including a small bonus.  Bartlett diem averages about 100 bucks a day with a range of 85 to 155.  IP pays 155 per day.  Southern plants like the Duke system are lowest usually at 20/85.

[UncaBuffalo]

Diablo is much higher, but only because bartlett doesn't get their cut there.

That's a good point. 

Diablo doesn't end up spending any more for RP techs than they would if they went thru a contract company...but, because they pass the middle-man's cut on to the employee, they are able to buy the undying loyalty of 'their' road-techs.

I think more utilities would choose direct-hire if they would benchmark Diablo and see all the benefits of an extremely happy workgroup.



And, to bring this back on topic, 'much higher' is in the  $36 to $41/hour range... 

[vikingfan]

what about pay for refuelers, mco's, IVVI techs, etc, etc and other postions ?? besides just hp's

[UncaBuffalo]

what about pay for refuelers, mco's, IVVI techs, etc, etc and other postions ?? besides just hp's

At Diablo, we all come in union and are within a few dollars of each other...

[fueldryer]

what about pay for refuelers, mco's, IVVI techs, etc, etc and other postions ?? besides just hp's

I'm a Refueler,MCO, shift supervisor and the money is pretty damn good.And my rate stays the same no matter what site or state I'm at.The only thing that changes is the PD,usually goes up depending on the area.Or I just go on expenses if the Hotel/Motel rates are to high.Why stay in a shithole.

[Brett LaVigne]

I wonder if a person could buy a house & live there, grossing $1600/week when they get maxed out???

Well...If you have a couple hundred thousand as a downpayment and don't mind having a $2500 - $3500/month payment, I am sure you can get yourself into a "starter" home.

I am staying in Los Osos, CA in a 1300 sq ft house (vacation rental) that is worth somewhere around $1 million (probably due to the view). There is a Sh*t box of a house down the street from me that is in serious dis-repair, has no view and is going for $475K.

I have also seen some little homes in downtown SLO for the low to mid $200's.

So no...$40/hour isn't going to let you buy anything decent close to the plant without a substantial down payment. Way over priced here, California is a "special" place that is very proud of their realestate. Great place to visit though.

[vikingfan]

as a refuel floor tech ( IVVI)/ reactor internal mods. my pay rate is pretty nice an stays the same no matter what site and our per diem is the same at every site also, plus they just raised our diem rate too

[desertdog]

Duke power pays the lowest in the country!

NOT!


Duke may have the lowest overall numbers but if you factor in the obscenely high cost of living in So Cal,  SONGS definitely is the lowest paying outage.  $23/hour for >7year senior RP with $100/day pd.
57.5 hours paid on an average outage week. 

I never worked Duke as they were always the lowest paying. Now I find that I have worked for worse pay.  I am doing everything to reroute my outage/work schedule to avoid making that mistake again.

[B.PRESGROVE]

Dont know if anyone has posted this yet but the pay for DOE facilities usually starts low but over time gets to be pretty good.  You have to give it about 3 to 5 years but the usual top out for house pukes is about 25/hr and for rent-a-techs about 27/hr + perd.

[Marlin]

Dont know if anyone has posted this yet but the pay for DOE facilities usually starts low but over time gets to be pretty good.  You have to give it about 3 to 5 years but the usual top out for house pukes is about 25/hr and for rent-a-techs about 27/hr + perd.

This is true, BossLady is a house tech at Y-12 here in Oakridge.

[Brett LaVigne]

as a refuel floor tech ( IVVI)/ reactor internal mods. my pay rate is pretty nice an stays the same no matter what site and our per diem is the same at every site also, plus they just raised our diem rate too

Wow, consitant pay and per diem from site to site...what a concept!!! How do I sign up for this job???

[HAIRDUDE]

EEEk ... $25/hr for house techs? Not around here. House seniors here at PI make a LOT more than that. Hhhhmmmmm ... maybe we have it better than I thought up here in the frozen north 

[B.PRESGROVE]

Cost of living my friend, cost of living.

[SloGlo]

EEEk ... $25/hr for house techs? Not around here. House seniors here at PI make a LOT more than that. Hhhhmmmmm ... maybe we have it better than I thought up here in the frozen north 

yassir yinz due.  plus yinz ain't gotta moe grass all yeer long.

[Scamp_Walker]

As a 23 Year + expierenced project manager, I am currently on a 3 year project making $140.00 per hour for a 50 hour week.  I don't get OT pay and my per diem stops after the first year.

[UncaBuffalo]

I don't get OT pay and my per diem stops after the first year.

gee...bummer... 

[Already Gone]

As a 23 Year + expierenced project manager, I am currently on a 3 year project making $140.00 per hour for a 50 hour week.  I don't get OT pay and my per diem stops after the first year.

If it was a 3 year project, you should never have gotten per diem in the first place.  Actually, you can get it but you have to pay taxes on it.  http://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch01.html#d0e542

That 140 looks good.  My radcon math tells me you'll be pulling a million out of this deal.  If you can live in your car and eat out of the dumpster for 3 years, you will be a millionaire.  Enjoy!

[Fermi2]

I have a question for you RP types.

Can you negotiate a pay rate on an individual basis?

For example, if you're a Senior HP and you're interested in going to an outage at a plant can you call Bartlett or whoever and say here are my qualifications, I'd like to do this outage for such and such?

Or say it's a guy like me, I'm a former ELT and passed the NRRPT.

Or is it simply a matter of this is the rate for this outage for this company, take it or leave it.

Mike

[Already Gone]

It depends on the contract, but there are varying rates based on "qualifications".  Negotiating, per se, is not part of the package, but it may be done by "reclassifying" a tech.

Example:  I worked at Beaver Valley in 2001.  There was a chart of pay rates that looked like a tax table.  I was a Sr. HP, NRRPT, non-returnee.  I was paid $19.76/hr.
Two years later at SONGS, I was paid $21.00 for being a non-returnee with >7yrs as a Sr. HP.  The next year, I got $22.50.

I put "qualifications" in quotes, because they use arbitrary things like the >7yrs or being a returnee.  Even the term "returnee" can mean many things.  sometimes it means that you worked that site within two outage cycles; other times it means the you worked in that system.

If they really want you to go to an outage, but the money isn't enough, they can sometimes get you in as a lead tech. or as an ALARA tech.  ALARA is the big cookie of the HP business.  It is the way they can pay an HP tech (with no more education or qualifications than any other ANSI 3.1 tech) an extra $5 to $10 an hour by giving him a desk and making him hang lead for the outage.  There are only so many of those slots, and they tend to go to the most capable techs, but sometimes they go to "favorites".

[SloGlo]

I have a question for you RP types.

Can you negotiate a pay rate on an individual basis?

yessanknow.  depends on da individual 'n on da site.  bartlett has done individual contracts wit tex in da past.  first, they were stellar techs, 'n two there was a shortage of techs for that site.  dune individual contracts is knot a norm in da biz.  butt, as wit non-nukleer life, yinz muss carpe diem. 

[SloGlo]

As a 23 Year + expierenced project manager, I am currently on a 3 year project making $140.00 per hour for a 50 hour week.  I don't get OT pay and my per diem stops after the first year.

yinz git teen payed our lee?  pit tee.

[Mike McFarlin]

As a 23 Year + expierenced project manager, I am currently on a 3 year project making $140.00 per hour for a 50 hour week.  I don't get OT pay and my per diem stops after the first year.

Any openings?

[B.PRESGROVE]

As a 23 Year + expierenced project manager, I am currently on a 3 year project making $140.00 per hour for a 50 hour week.  I don't get OT pay and my per diem stops after the first year.

Eh, not bad, not bad.

[gonzo_4362]

can anybody tell me what a jr. tech should make please? "starting wage that is"

[RRhoads]

starting wage pay!

[gonzo_4362]

yes starting wage pay

[HydroDave63]

yes starting wage pay

I'm sure at Laguna Verde it's less than at Diablo, care to specify which plant(s) ?

[gonzo_4362]

actually its for a doe contract?

[HydroDave63]

actually its for a doe contract?

I'll bet it's been answered in this very thread, scroll up , there are DOE folks here...

[TEX-INSP]

Pay rates for NDE/QC people in the nuke world ranges from 30-39/ hr from what I see

[Skypuppy]

Unless the tax code has changed considerably, there is no magic "maximum per diem."  The gov't posts (separately) housing and food allowances on a usually city/state basis.  That only means that if you get per diem money, then you don't have to keep detailed records if you get the posted rates or lower.  If you keep detailed records and you receive more per diem than you spend, you owe income taxes on the overage.

If you keep detailed records and have "reasonable expenses," even if you receive say, $200/day and their allowance is only $100/day, you can deduct all $200/day as non-taxable expenses.

Detailed records include receipts for *everything," including food, lodging, taxi, laundry, and etc. for all expenses incurred on the road that would be considerably cheaper than you pay for at home.

If you get audited, you must have a home which includes sleeping, bathing, and cooking facilities, else all per diem is taxable as income.

If your per diem is cut for a particular day because you were sick, and you're still at the job area, the IRS *can* view ALL your per diem as taxable income.  If your per diem is a steady 7 days a week for the duration and you're at the job area (which must be greater than 50 miles from home,) then it is unlikely to be viewed as taxable.

If a junior tech gets less per diem than a "senior" tech, then both techs per diem *can* be viewed by the IRS as income, as living expenses are the same for all.  How we've gotten away with this one for all these years is we've been dang lucky.

Don't forget that many states base their income taxes on whatever your adjusted gross income is for the feds.

One can receive per diem for travel days, but there are some time of day limits and I don't know those details.  Like if you leave home after 1800, you may not qualify for per diem for that day for anything but lodging.

[mostlyharmless]

In south carolina at savannah river site we make a little over 30ph plus we get to pay for insurance(app.5kpyr for a family) and have company match 50% up to 6% (new hires are different).  The shift folks work a rotating 11.7 hr shift with time and a half on sundays and anything over 40. Holidays worked are time and a half plus eight. The mind numbing boredom is free. I love being home but I miss the road. Wish I could have it both ways.

[UncaBuffalo]

In south carolina at savannah river site we make a little over 30ph plus we get to pay for insurance(app.5kpyr for a family) and have company match 50% up to 6% (new hires are different).  The shift folks work a rotating 11.7 hr shift with time and a half on sundays and anything over 40. Holidays worked are time and a half plus eight. The mind numbing boredom is free. I love being home but I miss the road. Wish I could have it both ways.

!!!

[Already Gone]

You are soooo close to being correct.  However, close to correct is wrong.  The tax code for unreimbursed employee business expenses has not changed significantly, but you have made some serious errors.

The Ferderal per diem rates are "maximum" rates.  That doesn't mean that an employer can't pay more.  It means that they are the maximum amounts that an employer can pay under an accountable plan without requiring the employees to prove the expenses.

Keeping detailed records does NOT make your per diem taxable if it would not otherwise be taxable.

You can NOT deduct $200 of expenses if you are given a $100 reimbursement.  What you can deduct is the difference between your expenses and what you are reimbursed for.  It has to be done on an annual basis -- you add up all the expenses for the year, subtract all the reimbursements, and deduct what is left.

If your employer gives you more per diem than the published maximum rate - for even one day - you may have to account for all of your expenses for the entire year.

There is no requirement for an employer to pay the same per diem to Jr's as to Sr. Techs.  In fact, they are not required to pay per diem at all.  They can choose to offer different reimbursement schedules to different job classifications if they desire.  This does NOT make the per diem taxable as pay as long as the employer doesn't exceed the maximum rates and doesn't pay for days when te employee is not eligible.

Withholding per diem for a sick day - while a despicable practice - does NOT make the rest of the per diem taxable as income.  Employers MAY (but are in no way required to ) reimburse travel and living expenses for days that you are away from your tax home.  If they have reason to believe that you were not away from your tax home, they are not under any obligation to cover expenses.  Since per diem is only treated as tax-free reimbursement if it is paid under an accountable plan, you actually do have to prove that you were away from home on business in order to be eligible. Being "sick" on a Friday and/or a Monday brings that into doubt.  Even if you can produce a hotel bill for those days, the "for business" part can still trip you up.  The best bet is to not work for a company if they use this tactic when it is not reasonable.  Unless you are abusing the sick days, it is just as reasonable for the employer to assume that you were actually sick and to treat the day like any other day off and pay the per diem.  They're
pretty much within their rights either way, but that doesn't mean that you have to accept employment with them.

There is no statutory limit as to the distance one must be away from home to receive per diem.  All that is required is that you be "away from home".  Generally, employers use 50 miles, but the distance could be more or less depending on the circumstances.  If you are working 8 hours per day and are only 60 miles from home, you have plenty of opportunity to return home each night, and your employer may decide that you do not need per diem. Or, you could be working 13 hours a day and be only 40 miles from home, but returning home each night is impractical or unsafe.  In this case, you could be reimbursed for your living expenses without breaking any rules.

There are no time of day limits on travel days.  You are entitled to the lodging for any day when you spend the night away from home.  The first and last day, you are entitled to only 1/2 of the meals and incidental expenses.  To apply this practically, my company pays a full day of per diem starting wwith the first day of travel to a job - and no per diem on the last day of travel home.  This actually overpays the employee by 1/2 of the M&IE portion on the first day and underrpays him by the same amount on the last day of travel home - so it is a wash and easier to account for.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15.pdf

Page 11 describes briefly the rules for an accountable and non-accountable plan.

[desertdog]

Thanks again Beercourt for explaining this in easy to understand terms.  I have read those tax guides numerous times. Each time I think I am understanding what they're saying, the legalese throws me for a loop.

Also thanks for the link. Each time I go back to find the section I was look for, it takes another hour of sifting through all of that other stuff.

[patriotsailor01]

I was a Navy ELT several years ago and am considering applying for Jr. positions for the first year just to get into the system and refresh myself. I'm wondering what Jr. Positions pay though.

[RTRT]

At STP for in house: Junior RP I     27.98             
                               Junior RP II     28.74
                            Associate RP I     29.49
                            Associate RP II     30.63
                            RP Tech I     31.76
                            RP Tech II           32.89
                            Senior RP I          34.03
                            Senior RP II         36.30
                     Journeyman RP Tech    37.81

                             For Contractors: Non Local/Outage
                                                   
                                  Adv. R P Tech.        27.87
                                  Sr. R P Tech.          26.77
                                  Associate R P Tech. 25.68
                                  Jr. R P Tech.             20.70                                 

[Rennhack]

At STP for in house: Junior RP I     27.98             
                               Junior RP II     28.74
                            Associate RP I     29.49
                            Associate RP II     30.63
                            RP Tech I     31.76
                            RP Tech II           32.89
                            Senior RP I          34.03
                            Senior RP II         36.30
                     Journeyman RP Tech    37.81

                             For Contractors: Non Local/Outage
                                                   
                                  Adv. R P Tech.        27.87
                                  Sr. R P Tech.          26.77
                                  Associate R P Tech. 25.68
                                  Jr. R P Tech.             20.70                                 

Thanks for sharing.

[patriotsailor01]

Thanks for the info, gives me an idea of where I will be at. Now, how to get an in house position....

[sscone]

At STP for in house: Junior RP I     27.98             
                               Junior RP II     28.74
                            Associate RP I     29.49
                            Associate RP II     30.63
                            RP Tech I     31.76
                            RP Tech II           32.89
                            Senior RP I          34.03
                            Senior RP II         36.30
                     Journeyman RP Tech    37.81

                             For Contractors: Non Local/Outage
                                                   
                                  Adv. R P Tech.        27.87
                                  Sr. R P Tech.          26.77
                                  Associate R P Tech. 25.68
                                  Jr. R P Tech.             20.70                                 

Thats pretty good. Thats prob. on the upscale. I have been paid as a contractor. 17-22 an hour. Just depends on where ya go.

[RAD-GHOST]

Funny, the worst seven second house Junior is worth more than the best seven year contractor Senior.....

There's LOGIC in there somewhere....

Remember Stevey, everything's bigger in Texass!

RG....

[cairnit]

Remember RG that most house techs, including the "worst seven second Junior" have a union that forces the pay scale up. Most of the contract techs don't have that luxury.

[techtoolong]

Does anyone know the contractor and house rates at Salem-Hope Creek ?  I am curious because we join the IBEW there but I am guessing there is a big difference in the pay scales.

[stownsend]

Joining the IBEW at Salem for a shutdown does not mean you signed under the same contract for house HP's.But I could be wrong.

[sscone]

Remember Stevey, everything's bigger in Texass!

RG....

Please don't call me Stevey.

[cairnit]

Does anyone know the contractor and house rates at Salem-Hope Creek ?  I am curious because we join the IBEW there but I am guessing there is a big difference in the pay scales.

stownsend, I believe that is what the quote above is saying. So....anyone know the real answer or is the answer just DUH?.

[RAD-GHOST]

Please don't call me Stevey.

I will tomorrow....

[MR BIG]

Joining the IBEW at Salem for a shutdown does not mean you signed under the same contract for house HP's.But I could be wrong.

No, You DO NOT get union scale like the house, but you still have to pay dues! Why would anyone do that? And you have people complaining on here about paying dues to the NPUA. At least when you get a job thru them you get union scale. Last fall 4 outages were staffed with NPUA company techs and got union scale Fed PD & Fed travel, with a guaranteed end date.

[tymekeeper]

Sooooo......was wondering if anyone ever found out what the pay rates for housetechs at Salem/Hope Creek were?  How do they compare to contactor rates?

[techtoolong]

I am wondering too ? what is the IBEW doing for supplemental workers at Salem/Hope Creek ?  Maybe you should vote in the other guys...NPUA,  They might actually represent you !

[atomicarcheologist]

So, after a couple of years, how are the hourly wages for HP techs doing?  Going up, down, or sideways?  Road techs, utility house techs, disposal site techs, DOE techs, all are welcome to reply.   

[Radiationman85]

We Hanford house Sr. HPTs are making 37ph with a pay increase in April putting the pay at about 39ph. Lead techs make an additional 5% and supervisors 10%

[Radiationman85]

Hanford Jr HPs start at 26ph and ends at 33ph. After that there is a 2 step increase for SR pay currently at 37ph and every year there is a 4% increase in pay. Leads make an additional 5% and supervisors 10%. Oh and a trainee with a DOE core and no experience starts at 23ph.(trainee jobs are hard to find however)

[pbooth]

Pick your sites wisely and to be a JR, these days is very hard, not only wage wise also trying to get your time in. But it's a lot better wage wise than it used to be. pbooth

[nickscott13]

It sucks to get started in RP unless you have a connection.  Lately it seems like as long as you know an RPM or a supervisor somewhere you can start as a JR with absolutely no nuclear history.  Then you can sit at a SOP with a chip on your shoulder like you are someone despite the fact you dont know anything.  (seen too many of them lately.)  If you want to be an RP, and you actually WANT to be good at your job, just take whatever JR jobs you can get.  In my experience, if you work hard, show people you want to learn, do your job and keep your mouth shut, do the resume builder jobs, and have a good attitude, then work will come find you.  In the last 3 years I have met and worked with way too many JRs that feel entitled because they know someone, yet they dont want to work or prove that they are worth much more than the chair they sit on at the SOP.  Just my opinion.  Work hard, ask questions, prove you want to learn, and have a good attitude and you will be fine. (with that being said, if you run into that SR who feels the need to treat you like a POS because they think they are still in high school and they are the senior and you are the freshman, well, feel free to tell them off)

Nick

[atomicarcheologist]

 Radiationman85, thanks for your comments.  That's the information I was looking for on this thread.  It would appear that my post last week got deleted in the shortening of this old thread by the moderator (kudos to you, tell Mike you deserve a raise!), which I think was done to bring the new data in against the old.
pbooth & nickscott13, while your opinions are valid they belong elsewhere.  We need money numbers here and other stuff really does detract. 

[atomicarcheologist]

 Radiationman85, again, thanks for your input.  It would appear as though there are now duplicate threads running now!

[Rennhack]

Radiationman85, again, thanks for your input.  It would appear as though there are now duplicate threads running now!

Link to the other, and ask Marlin or NN to merge them.

[atomicarcheologist]

Steering this thread gently back to course... is the listed wages for Jr and Sr HPs at Hanford par for the power plant industry?
What's pay like in DOE?
What's pay like at disposal sites?
What's pay like at .......?


PS   Thanks, Narlin.

[nickscott13]

Ah, yes pay rates.  I just became an 18.1 last spring.  While I was on the road working commercial as a JR, you could expect anywhere from $14.50 - 21.50 per hour depending on your classifacation as a JR.  Jrs < 6 mos normally 14-16.  Jrs 6-12 mos normally 14-18.  Jrs > 1 year, normally 16-22.  This of course is the traveling rate with whatever the contract gives for per diem included.  It really just depends on the plant.  For example, Point Beach has a structured JR scale like what I mentioned above, but St. Lucie pays 15 no matter your time.  It also depends on if the plant takes 18.1s or not.  You just have to do your homework.  Talk to the recruiter.

[hamsamich]

pay for house techs at DOE SRR SRS seems to be aobut 32ish top senior.

[moochiebubble]

Yes , pay here at Sandia @ 32$ with full bennies ( no diem ) 

[SloGlo]

We Hanford house Sr. HPTs are making 37ph with a pay increase in April putting the pay at about 39ph. Lead techs make an additional 5% and supervisors 10%

any hiring in the near future?

[Bonds 25]

Pay rates here at Columbia are $38.06 for Techs and $40.91 for Leads.  Annual raises depends on the contract year (3-4%).............and thanks to our 180 day outage (that was supposed to be 70) you wont find a Tech who hasn't made at least $140,000 this year.  Some of us lucky folks have made $160,000+ 

P.S.  You're welcome Uncle Sam (jerk)

[sscone]

Pay rates here at Columbia are $38.06 for Techs and $40.91 for Leads.  Annual raises depends on the contract year (3-4%).............and thanks to our 180 day outage (that was supposed to be 70) you wont find a Tech who hasn't made at least $140,000 this year.  Some of us lucky folks have made $160,000+ 

P.S.  You're welcome Uncle Sam (jerk)

Any chance they maybe hiring any time soon?

[HydroDave63]

http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,27349.msg154267.html#msg154267

[atomicarcheologist]

http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,27349.msg154267.html#msg154267

While I didn't have a chance to read every post on this referenced thread, I did scan them and didn't see any amounts that would reference pay rates on the site.  So, I'm wondering why HydroDave63 would post this information on this thread, bored and trying to stir a pot?  Or potted and trying to stir a bore? 

[Content1]

You can expect $22-$25 hour,$80 -$100 per diem a day, $1-$3 an hour in bonus's.

There are a few exceptions as a contract tech ,bonus's at  dc cook are $3000-$3500 ,diem at ip2 and pilgram are around $135 a day.Fermi,millstone,and i think fitz may have given some good bouns's in the past can't say now.
Duke power pays the lowest in the country!
I thought slave wages in the south had been abolished ,but I guess not in the DUKE SYSTEM!
Florida plants, dc cook,wolf creek,clinton,and of course diablo pay the best hourly wages.

Good luck with that whole contract hp thing.

This is a quote from a very old post of seven years ago.  I saw in Ohio at Perry today posted the wage for a senior tech is $25/hour.  It seems with the minimum wage going up to $10/hour, a senior tech wage has not changed much while inflation has.  Is this makings of the slow death of our industry, with wage deceleration?

[SloGlo]

well come two the reel whirld. pay rates jumped inn the 80s n bin creeping since.

[Content1]

If that is the case give another 30 years and the pay will equal the minimum wage.

[SloGlo]

pritty sure minimum wage increases will swallow hp wage rates before then.

[Content1]

Once the wage is close to the minimum wage, Mc Donalds will starting raiding the HP tech pool.

[Content1]

Once the wage is close to the minimum wage, Mc Donalds will starting raiding the HP tech pool.

Candidates:
Must be in PADS system and have worked in a commercial power plant within the last year, and have current NUF RP certification.
Must be able to carry 50 pounds.
Wear protective clothing in hot or cold environments.
Must be able to climb ladders.
Must be able to pass all required site specific exams.
Must be physically fit to be able to wear respiratory equipment

If the Senior HP tech could do all this and worked at a NPP with NUF during the last year, why would they settle for such a wage?  It sounds like they should be happy with whatever they can get for this wage.