Curious - How much do LFS Employees Make? Might want to Apply

[that Fish Guy]

I am Curious.

How much do LFS (Local Fish Store) Employees Make?

I Might want to Apply depending on how much they make an Hour.

I know it will not be a Ton of Money as it does not require a College Degree or anything like that.

But they must make decent money right?

I mean you have to be knowledgeable on Reefing and that is not something that you can do overnight.

It is a Skill.

You must be highly trained and knowledgeable.

So my question is if any of you out there are currently LFS Emplyees or were in the Past how much Money did you make an Hour?

[Reef Frog]

In my area it's in the sub $12 per hour range and few if any are full time. The managers make more but not by a large magnitude. I don't think the typical LFS business model can support many higher paid employees despite their qualifications unless the store has a unique specialty or can service a high end clientele in a big way.

[BrianB421]

That and with the continued increase in quality and consistency with online retailers, the LFS is going the way of the dodo. A LFS in my area just shut down, for instance. Are you looking to work in the industry or just get an employee discount?

[rtparty]

Around here, $8-10 an hour.

[Anthrax15]

Around here, $8-10 an hour.

+1. Thats what I make right now. Just cleaning tanks and helping customers. Doesn't ever feel like a job to me though :rollface:

[fishysteve]

When I worked at my LFS I made $15 / hour under the table.

[ninjamini]

You would do better to get paid in fish and corals.

[cbashaw]

When I worked at an lfs part time I think pay was about $10 an hour but the discounts I got made it worth it.
Of course I spent more than I made at the job because there was always something new coming in that I though would look good in my tank.

[BrianB421]

I went in my LFS with a Will Work 4 Coral offer and he bit. I helped set up tanks and I helped acclimate new shipments. I even worked the floor every now and again. That helped fund the hobby in college.

[that Fish Guy]

When I worked at my LFS I made $15 / hour under the table.

Everyone else said 8-10

How did you get so much?

Were you a Manager?

[fishysteve]

That's what I told them I wanted. Simple as that. No, I wasn't a manager, just cleaned tanks, acclimated new arrivals, and sold livestock.

[albano]

When I worked at my LFS I made $15 / hour under the table.

Everyone else said 8-10

How did you get so much?

Were you a Manager?
What exactly, did you do 'under the table'?

:rolleyes:

[donpachino1983]

My brother work at a wholesaler get 12 $ an hour he does packing and shipping to cleaning tank

[fishysteve]

I got paid under the table, no taxes. I thought everyone knew that phrase. Sorry albano.

[billdogg]

For the 10 or so years I worked at the LFS it was for fish and corals at cost with the occasional freebie tossed in. I thought it was a great deal, but then I was dating the owner.

[Allmost]

I worked at an LFS for a summer, when I was a student, in return for a red Arowana ...

I didnt have to work under the table though :P

[fishysteve]

Oh ****! I didn't do that ! lol

Jesus Christ, get your mind out of the gutter allmost. lol

[that Fish Guy]

That's what I told them I wanted. Simple as that. No, I wasn't a manager, just cleaned tanks, acclimated new arrivals, and sold livestock.

So they gave you 15 and Hour because you asked for it?

Did the other make Minimum Wage because they didn't ask then?

[KafudaFish]

If you don't ask, you won't get.

[fishysteve]

I helped them plumb their original fishroom. So we had a good working relationship.

[albano]

I got paid under the table, no taxes. I thought everyone knew that phrase. Sorry albano.

Yes, I know that phrase... It's one of the first things they told us when I started working for the IRS...
:eek:

[Allmost]

:lol::lol::lol:

[fishysteve]

I guess it's good it wasn't in this country. Lol

[Codski]

I love this tread haha! I might as well work at the LFS because everytime I'm there someone asks if I do and I always respond with "no, but I can still help you." lol

I also told the owner that I worked construction and since they are rebuilding their other shop since it burnt down a few months ago that I could help out and they could just pay me in fish and corals! =P

[ingtar_shinowa]

I think it would be pretty tough to sustain yourself working full time at LFS. There isn't much of a margin there unless you sell alot of dry goods, or have a solid high end clientele. The biggest revenue source is maintenance, but that's the hard work. I live in the biggest town for quite a ways, with people coming here from 4 states to get saltwater stuff, and last year 2 new LFS sprung up and closed down because they couldn't et the business. The only other place has been open for almost 30 years and is a full pet store with freshwater, bids and lizards with a huge dry goods area.

It also helps that the PetSmart is on the opposite end of town.

I'd look at getting on as an apprentice HVAC, Electrician, or plumbing guy personally. Then get a 1 day a week gig for minimum wage or whatever you can get for discounts.

[that Fish Guy]

I helped them plumb their original fishroom. So we had a good working relationship.

So is it kind of like you help once in a Blue Moon when they really need help or do you work Full Time for 15 an Hour?

[fishysteve]

Yep. I've had a full time job at a pharmaceutical company for the last 18 years.