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Just read that the average installer in Portland makes 18% more than the national rate
Found it in a trade report from the Floor Covering Institute. It's not just cost of living, it's a union density thing. Makes me rethink my whole rate sheet. Anyone else in a high-wage area seeing this gap?
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grantt116mo ago
Guess my Portland vacation just turned into a job hunt. Time to charge my clients the "union envy" fee.
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hannah_fox6mo ago
My cousin in Seattle had to add a 15% "market adjustment" to her graphic design rates last year just to stay afloat. It's the only way to make it work when rent jumps like that. I started doing the same thing after my landlord raised my studio rent by $300 a month. Clients might grumble at first, but they understand when you break down the math. It's better than having to move your whole business or take on a ton of extra work just to cover basics.
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lunab976mo ago
Been there, done that. When I got priced out of my old neighborhood, I just added a flat "cost of living" line to my estimates. Clients get it if you explain it's about keeping your business local. Honestly, most people would rather pay a bit more than lose a good contractor to another city. What kind of work are you looking for out there?
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