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In November and December of 2010, we conducted our annual wage survey for ranch hands in the Sandhills area. There were 9 employers who responded to our request for information. Four had cow/calf/yearling operations, three had cow/calf operations, one takes in pairs and one did not specify. Two of the respondents said they run over 1,000 head, one runs 800-1,000head, two have 300-500 head and the others did not specify the size of their operations. These 9 employers represented a total of 14 full time employees and 11 part-time employees. Of these, there were nine general ranch hands, one ranch foreman and three ranch managers. The average years of employment for the ranch hands was 6 years. The managers averaged working for their employer for 13.5 years and the foreman had been employed for 15 years.
The cash wages for the ranch hands ranged from $1900/month to $3750/month. One employer paid an hourly rate of $12 rather than a monthly salary. The foreman’s cash wages were $4250/month and the average cash wage for the ranch managers was $3,066/month. Six hired part time help or day workers. The cash wages paid to part time employees or day workers ranged from $7/hr-$12/hr. One employer paid day workers $100/day.
The employers were asked what the starting wage was for new ranch hands. Those wages ranged from $1500 to $2800 for an average of $2100. One started ranch hands at $10/hr. The starting wage for part time help ranged from $1500/month-$2300/month. On an hourly basis, the starting wage range was $9-$12/hr.
Eight of the respondents paid bonuses to their full time employees. The bonus for general ranch hands ranged from $500-$5000/year for an average of $1,400. Bonuses for managers ranged from $1,000-$20,000 and the bonus for the foreman ranged from $1000-$10,000/year. The bonuses are given either annually or twice a year. Those giving bonuses twice a year, give them at these times: after calving, after haying, at Christmas, after weaning, and in the spring and in the fall.
All of the employers provided housing for their employees. The value placed on the housing ranged from $250/month-$700/month for an average of $470. Eight provided utilities, which ranged from $5-$350/month for an average of $197.50/month. Eight employers also provided beef to employees. On an annual basis, the average value of the beef was $1025. The range in the value of the beef was $150-$1600. One employer also gave employees $50/month for groceries.
Four provided some health insurance. The employee’s share ranged from $150/month-$290/month for an average of $200. The employer’s share ranged from $250-$350/month for an average of $300/month. Two employers had a retirement plan in which they contributed to the employees retirement fund. The range was from $5,000-$10,000/year. One employer paid 3% of the employee’s gross salary to the retirement fund.
All but one employer estimated the average hours worked per week was 50. Five employers specified the number of vacation days given to employees. The vacation days ranged from 5-15 for an average of 12. Five respondents also specified the number of holidays allowed, which ranged from 5-7, with 5 being the most common. One allowed for one Saturday/month and Sundays off and one said they provide $1600 of paid time off. Two indicated that they allow days when the employee requests time off. All indicated sick days are given as needed.
Four employers require applicants to provide references and provide references to potential employees. Three require three references from a potential employee. Three provide written job descriptions to employees.
Nine allow employees to have pets. Two specified no house pets. Six allowed employees to have horses. They placed a value of keeping the horses from $250/year-$2,000/year. The number of horses allowed per employee ranged from 2-10. Four allowed employees to have cattle. The number of cows allowed mostly ranged from 2-50 head, although one ranch manager was allowed 300 cows. The annual value placed on keeping the cows ranged from $950/year-$15,000/year. One specified that employees were not allowed to run cows.
Employers were asked what skills they feel are essential for employees to have. Five said cattle knowledge was essential, four indicated the ability to run machinery and being a self starter were very important. Three said honesty was essential. Riding and horse knowledge, being a quick learner and the ability to follow orders were each named by two respondents. Other skills named included: fencing, good work ethic, desire to work, being on time, and learning new tasks. They were also asked about their expectations for their employees. Five named honesty and four cited self-reliance/self-starter. Other expectations included: be neat, take care of equipment, polite, drug-free, ambition, trustworthy, strong work ethic, work hard, use time efficiently, give a fair day’s work and not be a clock-watcher, take initiative, and willingness to go the extra mile. The employers were also asked about what they thought were the challenges they face when hiring employees. Their responses were: finding good people, lack of experience, job opportunities for spouses and spouses willing to live in the country, not knowing if the employee will be a good fit for the ranch, honesty, skilled thinker, putting the ranch first, health insurance costs, liability, finding non-drinkers and non-smokers willing to work; dependable employees.
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