Going rates for farm staff?

Jack321 · Feb 4, 2024

THIS IS NOT A JOB ADVERT, ADVICE NEEDED!

My brother is set to retire this year so I'm starting to look at taking someone on full-time (50hrs a week). Ideally whom is experienced and competent, for a general mixture of dairy farm work; Alone milking, tractor driving, calf rearing etc. No accommodation or extra perks included. What can I expect to pay someone in 2024? Bearing in mind the minimum wage is set to increase to £11.44 in April.

Employed or Self Employed?

Northern England

Thanks in advance

Johnnyboxer · Feb 4, 2024

£20/hr self employed

Homesy · Feb 4, 2024

Jack321 said:
THIS IS NOT A JOB ADVERT, ADVICE NEEDED!

My brother is set to retire this year so I'm starting to look at taking someone on full-time (50hrs a week). Ideally whom is experienced and competent, for a general mixture of dairy farm work; Alone milking, tractor driving, calf rearing etc. No accommodation or extra perks included. What can I expect to pay someone in 2024? Bearing in mind the minimum wage is set to increase to £11.44 in April.

Employed or Self Employed?

Northern England

Thanks in advance

Ask yourself how much you would do the same job for ? How much would you need to live on ?

Princess Pooper · Feb 4, 2024

Jack321 said:
THIS IS NOT A JOB ADVERT, ADVICE NEEDED!

My brother is set to retire this year so I'm starting to look at taking someone on full-time (50hrs a week). Ideally whom is experienced and competent, for a general mixture of dairy farm work; Alone milking, tractor driving, calf rearing etc. No accommodation or extra perks included. What can I expect to pay someone in 2024? Bearing in mind the minimum wage is set to increase to £11.44 in April.

Employed or Self Employed?

Northern England

Thanks in advance

If they are full time they should be employed and you may struggle to get someone to do those hours with no accommodation. I would have thought at least £34k. Don't forget you have to pay a pension too.

Jack321 · Feb 4, 2024

Johnnyboxer said:
£20/hr self employed

Is that the going rate up north or down south?

Jack321 · Feb 4, 2024

Princess Pooper said:
If they are full time they should be employed and you may struggle to get someone to do those hours with no accommodation. I would have thought at least £34k. Don't forget you have to pay a pension too.

How much would a pension contribution be?

Jack321 · Feb 4, 2024

Homesy said:
Ask yourself how much you would do the same job for ? How much would you need to live on ?

I pay myself £300 a week but I've no mortgage on farm house and my truck are paid is for by the buisness.

BRB John · Feb 4, 2024

I would of said £18/HR but if you're milking that'll be unsociable hours so £20/HR

£900 a week is probably what you're looking at plus all the rest so probably £1000 a week all in...
Don't you have any children that you could use as cheap labour?

Boysground · Feb 4, 2024

50 hrs a week and just working for you probably wouldn’t get through as being self employed. Employed they will get paid holiday, pension + employer’s contribution so will be better off and your more likely to find someone. No idea of housing where you are but you may have to look into renting something for them. There are farms doing that down here.

Bg

Zippy768 · Feb 4, 2024

Could you get a house built?

suffolksmallholder · Feb 4, 2024

BRB John said:
I would of said £18/HR but if you're milking that'll be unsociable hours so £20/HR

£900 a week is probably what you're looking at plus all the rest so probably £1000 a week all in...
Don't you have any children that you could use as cheap labour?

Offer the farm will be yours one day……
SS

flinty123 · Feb 4, 2024

Two livestock farmers wives have left milking jobs on a nearby dairy farm. They have gone to work in a heated, clean petrol station/shop. They don't have to get changed to do the school run or have to carry wellies and overalls.

They are on around £14 an hour partime. Probably plus holiday pay and perks etc, I guess?

In order to retain staff longterm surely around £18/£20 has to be the set standard for dairy work?

BRB John · Feb 4, 2024

suffolksmallholder said:
Offer the farm will be yours one day……
SS

Exactly best carrot

going
And then leave it to his sister in his will....
Or if your not a complete dingbat give them 10% up front and tell them they'll keep getting more the longer they work...

suffolksmallholder · Feb 4, 2024

BRB John said:
Exactly best carrot going
And then leave it to his sister in his will....
Or if your not a complete dingbat give them 10% up front and tell them they'll keep getting more the longer they work...

I know I shouldn’t laugh though.
SS

BRB John · Feb 4, 2024

suffolksmallholder said:
I know I shouldn’t laugh though.
SS

I just hope there's some young farmers out there reading TFF and hopefully opening their eyes to the dangers.
Even if we have saved one young farmer from the trap of the golden promise then surely all our ranting and moaning has been worth it?...

Anywho I think the answer is start at £18/HR if you don't get any replies increase it too £20 and if you can't afford that then maybe ask yourself is it really worth it then?
Maybe a job in McDonald's would be better?

dinderleat · Feb 4, 2024

Jack321 said:
THIS IS NOT A JOB ADVERT, ADVICE NEEDED!

My brother is set to retire this year so I'm starting to look at taking someone on full-time (50hrs a week). Ideally whom is experienced and competent, for a general mixture of dairy farm work; Alone milking, tractor driving, calf rearing etc. No accommodation or extra perks included. What can I expect to pay someone in 2024? Bearing in mind the minimum wage is set to increase to £11.44 in April.

Employed or Self Employed?

Northern England

Thanks in advance

35k no house
Even at minimum wage doing 50hrs a week is 33k
standard
11.44 x 40hrs £457.6
Over time time and a half
17.16 x 10 hrs £171.6

total £626.20 a week
£ 32,718.4 per year plus pension plus28 days holiday

dinderleat · Feb 4, 2024

Jack321 said:
I pay myself £300 a week but I've no mortgage on farm house and my truck are paid is for by the buisness.

You own the business or do you not have a capital account?

Little squeak · Feb 4, 2024

How profitable is your business Jack? Could the business even afford full time paid labour? How would you feel paying someone more than you get paid yourself? Especially when they rung in sick on the only day out you had organised in months. Maybe the question you should be asking is, "Should I retire at the same time as my brother?"

Jack321 · Feb 4, 2024

BRB John said:
I would of said £18/HR but if you're milking that'll be unsociable hours so £20/HR

£900 a week is probably what you're looking at plus all the rest so probably £1000 a week all in...
Don't you have any children that you could use as cheap labour?

Is that employed or self employed? My Kids aren't old enough to work yet unfortunately

Johnnyboxer · Feb 4, 2024

Jack321 said:
Is that the going rate up north or down south?

Anywhere I would reckon

Going rates for farm staff?

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0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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