Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Most ridiculous Celtic Tiger wages

24

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,750 ✭✭✭fleet_admiral


    AnonoBoy wrote: »
    I probably didn't 'deserve' the 80k annual salary I was on as a jizz mopper but I worked hard for it I can tells ya.
    Were you a fluffer on the side?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    This thread is just going to be all schadenfreude, gloating and bragging, isn't it? :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,643 ✭✭✭mulbot


    fm wrote: »
    it's that now and more

    can you pm me any companies that pay this and are looking for fitters? Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,885 ✭✭✭✭MEGA BRO WOLF 5000


    15 p/h working as a labourer on sites where it was common to be given up to 30 hours OT most of which came from weekends when the rate was much much higher. I remember going into the foremans office one bad week when I only got around 900 euros asking how could anyone live on this!! It was common to arrive in on Monday morning to see someone had signed you in for work all weekend meaning I already earned €300-400 before I even started work. Three cars, two motorbikes, as much disposable income as I wanted. If only I wasn't young and foolish I might actually have some of that now. Working twice as hard for half as much.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 667 ✭✭✭fm


    mulbot wrote: »
    can you pm me any companies that pay this and are looking for fitters? Thanks

    Done.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 234 ✭✭FreeFallin


    I remember hearing that bar staff in the UCD student bar were on €60-80k a year. No surprise it had to shut in the end if this was the case.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 667 ✭✭✭OneOfThem


    We have all heard the stories of plumbers getting 1500 a week or more firing their change into the bin after leaving the shop with their breakfast roll and lads getting about 3 quid for every cavity block they put down but what's the most ridiculous wage for a simple job you remember from the tiger? and how are they faring now?

    A lot of the people getting ridiculous wages during the tiger squandered it all on their own overpriced residential unit with f*ck off pillars outside it and a plastic Jaccuzzi for 5k that's most likely broken now.

    This probably isn't what you're hoping to hear, but most of the 1500 a week throwing thier change in the bin plumbers etc I knew from back then, simply upsticked with thier significant savings to head off on an adventure after thier unfettered years of luxury here and are making even more abroad now in Australia or Canada or the middle east whilst amassing even larger savings and living an even more grandiose lifestyle. So that's nice for them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 11,733 ✭✭✭✭John_Rambo


    I assume plumbers were making good money back in the day.
    As my Dad rang up a plumber to get one of the sink taps in the bathroom changed years ago. Would of been around 2003/2004 (perhaps earlier) and he got a quote for a 80 euro call out charge and parts and labor on top.
    Obviously my dad felt that was well too much so he decided to do it himself. So he gets a new tap, turns off the water and busts out the spanners. Around 20 minutes later the brand new tap is working.

    80 euro call out charge and what ever he would decide to charge on top of that!!!? The tap was just siezed. No water was coming out. There wasnt an emergency or anything. My Dad was just ringing up a plumber to see when he could come out and fix it.

    I had an issue in my house, something similar to Dad's issue. I naturally thought the best course of action was to call a professional, and did so. A desperately hung over guy arrived (three hours late) in his Pajero and was too goosed to do the job (too goosed to drive by the smell of him). Said he'd come back later in the week with the right tools and demanded €90!! without doing anything! "Assessment and call out fee" he told me. When I refused he got aggressive and told me I'd have no problem paying a doctor to call out to me to sort out a sick child!

    I had a feeling things weren't right when a tardy drunk plumber fixing a tap was comparing himself to a sober doctor attending to a sick child.

    He was fairly drunk and aggressive, no problem cursing and shouting in front of the kids! I have a feeling he was on more then booze too. Thankfully our trusty (large) family dog reacted to his carry on and helped me escort him back to his Pajero! Mad situation, lots of bemused head scratching as he tore off down the road.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭Sh1tbag OToole


    OneOfThem wrote: »
    This probably isn't what you're hoping to hear, but most of the 1500 a week throwing thier change in the bin plumbers etc I knew from back then, simply upsticked with thier significant savings to head off on an adventure after thier unfettered years of luxury here and are making even more abroad now in Australia or Canada or the middle east whilst amassing even larger savings and living an even more grandiose lifestyle. So that's nice for them.

    Sure why wouldn't I be hoping to hear that? Good to see the ordinary man get ahead instead of the usual "he had it all but now it's all gone back to the bank" story you hear all the time


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,006 ✭✭✭_Tombstone_


    How the hell are these prices creeping back in?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,577 ✭✭✭Bonzo Delaney


    And we wonder why houses are too expensive to build.

    Nothing to do with the price of tradespeople be it 750€ a week or not
    The standard of house built nowadays is at least four fold times of a better construction than say pre1998-2007. And this is reflected in the added cost also every stage of the construction is tested and certified for structrual and energy saving performance. Thus peace of mind for the seller and vendor. actually the tradesperson that works on a house is probably the cheapest professional on site per hour.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,250 ✭✭✭✭mfceiling


    Mate of mine got a call on a Friday...1000 sterling in his hand for an 8 hour shift on Saturday...yes please!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    Sure why wouldn't I be hoping to hear that? Good to see the ordinary man get ahead instead of the usual "he had it all but now it's all gone back to the bank" story you hear all the time

    Come on. Your entire OP is ridiculous wages for the little people.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,681 ✭✭✭JustTheOne


    scwazrh wrote: »
    Big rates are starting to come back again .A good few companies in dublin are now paying 750 a week take home for tradesmen .

    Standard rate for a tradesperson.

    It's a trade trade specialised job, its that pay because not everyone can do it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    Nothing to do with the price of tradespeople be it 750€ a week or not
    The standard of house built nowadays is at least four fold times of a better construction than say pre1998-2007. And this is reflected in the added cost also every stage of the construction is tested and certified for structrual and energy saving performance. Thus peace of mind for the seller and vendor. actually the tradesperson that works on a house is probably the cheapest professional on site per hour.

    Do you really mean pre 1998? Really. Are you saying that boom time houses were good quality?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,681 ✭✭✭JustTheOne


    I assume plumbers were making good money back in the day.
    As my Dad rang up a plumber to get one of the sink taps in the bathroom changed years ago. Would of been around 2003/2004 (perhaps earlier) and he got a quote for a 80 euro call out charge and parts and labor on top.
    Obviously my dad felt that was well too much so he decided to do it himself. So he gets a new tap, turns off the water and busts out the spanners. Around 20 minutes later the brand new tap is working.

    80 euro call out charge and what ever he would decide to charge on top of that!!!? The tap was just siezed. No water was coming out. There wasnt an emergency or anything. My Dad was just ringing up a plumber to see when he could come out and fix it.


    Ok lets take this self employed example.

    Overheads.

    Paye
    prsi
    corporation tax
    Public liability
    personal liability
    van for tools
    Tax on van
    Insurance on van
    Diesel for van
    parts for van(service, tyres etc)
    tools
    overalls
    Equipment
    accountant fees
    vat returns

    On top of all that he has to make a living.

    That 80 Euro covers the time it takes to get to your house.

    Do you expect him to drive there for free?

    With self employed its generally a 1/3 rule.

    Whatever money you get about 1/3 you will keep for yourself after all your overheads.

    People like yourself think he gets to just pocket the 80 Euro and whatever on top.

    It just doesn't happen like that.


  • Posts: 2,745 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I had a carpenter here for 4 days last week. Paid €1400 cash.

    Expensive yes, but the quality of his workmanship is outstanding. I don't mind paying extra for quality so in my eyes I got value for money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,344 ✭✭✭Littlehorny


    Used to take home a thousand a week as a concrete finisher, suppose there was some skill in knowing how to get a good finish on concrete floors but christ a couple of weeks at it and you were qualified :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    One of my favourite tales of Celtic Tiger wages was when McDonalds were featured in a number of media outlets bemoaning the fact that they couldn't fill the manger's role in their O'Connell Street branch. The salary was a mere €100,000 - that is not a typo!! I think this was circa 2004/5. I remember asking myself (and likely my mother) "why did I go to university again?".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    But of a hobby horse of mine but Joe Duffy STILL (after a few cuts) takes home more than Barry O'Bama.

    For a while he took home more than Grorge W and Tory Blair COMBINED.

    Think about that.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    One of my favourite tales of Celtic Tiger wages was when McDonalds were featured in a number of media outlets bemoaning the fact that they couldn't fill the manger's role in their O'Connell Street branch. The salary was a mere €100,000 - that is not a typo!! I think this was circa 2004/5. I remember asking myself (and likely my mother) "why did I go to university again?".

    Are you sure you're remembering that right? Even in the boom that would be a ridiculously huge figure for a fast food manager, and not in line with McDonalds normal Manager salary in other branches...not even close.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    What sort of work were ya doing for it though and how many hours a week?

    I'm not saying what I did because it will identify me to some people but I worked 35 to 40 hours a week most weeks.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    But of a hobby horse of mine but Joe Duffy STILL (after a few cuts) takes home more than Barry O'Bama.

    For a while he took home more than Grorge W and Tory Blair COMBINED.

    Think about that.

    The president gets free housing and food though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,484 ✭✭✭✭Ush1


    I'm not saying what I did because it will identify me to some people but I worked 35 to 40 hours a week most weeks.

    #mysteriouswealthyMarleigh Loose Wrongdoing


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,577 ✭✭✭Bonzo Delaney


    Do you really mean pre 1998? Really. Are you saying that boom time houses were good quality?

    Read my post again 1998-2007 = boom time
    Houses pre 98 were built and sold pound for pound not saying they were of a comparable construction to nowadays but you got what you paid for.
    1998-2007 lower quality work and a lot of people involved in construction from the labours to the planning control officers getting a lot of money for doing little or nothing to shoddy workmanship.
    2008-2011 not a whole lot going on and any body that hadn't jumped ship and kept working were doing it for the sake of working and keeping their name out there working at a loss also. Myself included.
    2012-2015 a bit of a pick up people are a lot more clued in now and know the value of getting work done and the tradespeople doing the work

    It's al relative to the work done where 25€hr might seem steep to put new skirting on but great value for some nice joinery on a stairs. Swings and roundabouts.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    Read my post again 1998-2007 = boom time
    Houses pre 98 were built and sold pound for pound not saying they were of a comparable construction to nowadays but you got what you paid for.
    1998-2007 lower quality work and a lot of people involved in construction from the labours to the planning control officers getting a lot of money for doing little or nothing to shoddy workmanship.
    2008-2011 not a whole lot going on and any body that hadn't jumped ship and kept working were doing it for the sake of working and keeping their name out there working at a loss also. Myself included.
    2012-2015 a bit of a pick up people are a lot more clued in now and know the value of getting work done and the tradespeople doing the work

    It's al relative to the work done where 25€hr might seem steep to put new skirting on but great value for some nice joinery on a stairs. Swings and roundabouts.

    You said The standard of house built nowadays is at least four fold times of a better construction than say pre1998-2007.

    Meaning it got better from 1998-2007. However your new post seems accurate.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,577 ✭✭✭Bonzo Delaney


    You said The standard of house built nowadays is at least four fold times of a better construction than say pre1998-2007.

    Meaning it got better from 1998-2007. However your new post seems accurate.

    Sorry what I ment was houses built now are at least four times better than anything built between 98-07 pound for pound.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14,158 ✭✭✭✭hufpc8w3adnk65


    TheTorment wrote: »
    I had a carpenter here for 4 days last week. Paid €1400 cash.

    Expensive yes, but the quality of his workmanship is outstanding. I don't mind paying extra for quality so in my eyes I got value for money.

    Works out at around 14.50 an hour profit not a shabby wage but no where near what people would instantly think that he was paying himself when seeing prices quoted


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    Are you sure you're remembering that right? Even in the boom that would be a ridiculously huge figure for a fast food manager, and not in line with McDonalds normal Manager salary in other branches...not even close.

    Yes.

    Apparently the O'Connell Street branch was turning over bazillions per square foot at the time (I suspect it's but doing quite as well now given the degradation of the area)


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,488 ✭✭✭mahoganygas


    I started in a job in financial services. There was a cantankerous senior manager on the floor who didn't speak to anybody. He snarled at them. They hid him away in a corner cubicle away from people.
    After a couple of months working beside him I couldn't figure out what he actually did all day long.

    I asked a couple of questions. Turns out he got turned down for promotion so decided to down tools for the best part of a year and a half. He was on a six figure salary so just waited it out until the redundancy cheque arrived. Which was substantial.

    He was lecturing on the side and used his day to prepare lecture notes. When they finally cut him loose he sailed into a new company and was promoted within a year.


Advertisement
Advertisement