Paying apprentices $18/hr for PEX installs is a joke, switch to commission now

I'm done with flat $18 an hour for my new guys running PEX-A lines on whole-house repipes. They're dragging their feet on SharkBite connections because there's no skin in the game, and I'm footing the bill for slow jobs. Time to go commission-based, 10% of the ticket, and watch productivity skyrocket.

screw that flat rate bs, these kids today expect a paycheck for showing up with their Milwaukee packs half charged.

Don't rush into commission or you'll lose the good ones who need steady pay to cover truck notes.

Felt this when my helper botched a Viega manifold install and I had to redo it after hours.

Haha, tried commission on toilet rough-ins, guy started upsellin bidets like crazy but half the installs leaked.

These young plumbers act like running 1/2 inch PEX is rocket science for $18/hr.

same here, my Ridgid SeeSnake guy takes forever snaking drains on flat pay.

Flat rate is killing small shops, we all know it.

Lol, my apprentice charged a customer extra for 'premium' Uponor fittings without telling me.

Use Jobber to track hours and tie bonuses to completed repipes without full commission.

Man, I remember starting at $15/hr soldering copper lines, felt like slave labor.

Homeowners bitch about prices but won't pay to train real plumbers.

Try hybrid: base $20/hr plus $50 bonus per finished water heater swap.

Finally got my crew on commission after a year of losses, jobs finish 30% faster now.

Insurance companies love seeing us underpay help, leads to more DIY disasters.

Ugh, last apprentice I had on flat stole my Milwaukee bits and quit mid-job.

Yeah, been there with drain line digs, they half-ass it for the check.

Don't do full commission yet, start with incentives for no-call-back jobs.

Haha, paid one guy commission and he started quoting tankless upgrades to everyone.

My PEX crew was lazy on flat until I dangled truck bonuses.

Sucks when you're the one fixing their messes on your dime.

Same boat, apprentice botched a subpanel tie-in for the water line.

Track with Housecall Pro and adjust pay based on customer reviews.

Watched a Tommy Mello vid on this, he swears by performance tiers for plumbers.