Workamping… doing the math!
Workamping… it’s the jobs that keep most Rv Resorts and Campgrounds operating. Workampers are people with their own Rv’s that seasonally go to resorts and campgrounds to help with the day to day operations… keeping the campground running at a reasonable cost. So what’s a reasonable cost? Well most campgrounds generally operate one of two ways. Work for your site a set number of hours per week, or work for your site plus paid hours over hours needed in exchange for the site. Generally, if the campground has normally empty sites (usually empty, not rented to guests) they will have more workamping couples working for site only (no extra pay hours). This keeps their payroll down or to a minimum. If the campground has the potential to rent site to guests, they generally like to have less workampers and extra work for the site plus more hours up to perhaps fulltime work, 40 hours a week, leaving more sites available for paying guest site rentals.
Having said that, and doing the math, the question is, what does it cost the campground? … what do you get? … what do they get? … and is it really worth it. It all depends on how many hours they want you to work in exchange for the site and utilities.
What does it cost the campground? Well, basically, if they have a site that would normally mostly be empty (not rented to guests, not generating revenues), you staying there would cost the campground about $3.50/day in electric. So it costs the camp about $25/week in actually expenses for you to be there. Lets say they get 18 hours a week in exchange. $25 divided by 18 hours of work equals about $1.36/hour (a) that it costs them, out of their pocket to have you work. Now that’s a good deal for them… having to only pay out $1.36/hr for labor… now you tell me. And yes, they can say that there’s site maintenance, uniforms costs, etc, etc… but basically, it cost them very little per hour to have you work. But keep in mind, the value to you!
So what’s a good deal for you? In exchange you get your site and electric. Generally a average monthly rate to stay most places is $500-$600 per month. So lets use $600. As a worker you save $150 / week, and in exchange work 18 a week. And that comes out to about $8.33/hour for the work you do in exchange for the savings. Okay… not too bad for campground work. Generally for paid hours worked (over the exchange rate of 18 hours) it’s usually around the $8/hr mark, plus a bonus for completing the complete seasonal contract.
Another thought… If you work 18 hours / week in exchange for the site… at the average rate of $8/hr… then the site costs (hours worked in exchange for site) you about $625/month. So in actuality, the camp is getting you to work for your site and pay about the same price as any paying guest would pay for a monthly site. Okay… that seems pretty fair and even… except that you generally ( in some cases) get a site that is not as good as a monthly paying guest. You are working for that same $600/month cost, but getting a lesser site, certainly not a preferred site. And if you can live with that to be were you want to be, then it’s a good exchange.
On a good note… some camps only want 12-16 hours in exchange which is more reasonable. Some require no hours, and you get your site, and paid from the first hour that you work. So, do the math, shop around, and negotiate the terms of your workamper contract. Additionally most offer a 75¢ bonus at the end of your contract for all paid hours worked, or some offer a 10% completion bonus for all dollars earned! So shop around, get what you want, or keep looking! The right contract is out there for you. Could be a biggie: Some include free propane, some have propane at cost ( saves you well over half the retail cost) as part of your contract. Most give you free wi-fi internet. And some have store discounts on merchandise. Some offer discounts for visiting family. Also, make sure that you have a good understanding of what duties are expected in exchange for your workamping job.. plus hours, days off, rate of pay per hour, and contract completions bonus.
BUT BEWARE!!!
Basically anything around 18 hours per week is about even. Anything less is generally better. Anything over 18 is taking advantage of you as a workamper. 24 hours/week is bad… 30+ hours is robbery. But that’s just my perception for what it is worth. If you really want to, or have to be some place particular, you may be at their mercy for the terms of the contract. But that is up to you, and how much more you are willing to do, for less of a return for you efforts.
Some workamper locations really want to “push” the advantage their way, and do one of two things or both. They give you an electric allowance, usually something lower then your needs, so you have to co-pay sometimes up to half of your electric bill. As mentioned above (reference the (a) ) … the cost to the camp would be lowered by half, and their expense for you to work would be about 70¢/hour for the first 18 hours of work. Not what I’d call a good situation for you.
Secondly, some camps want you to work more hours for the site! Some 24 hours, some more, and I’ve seen as high as 32 hrs per week. ARE THEY CRAZY… OR ARE THOSE WORKING THERE CRAZY? But I guess it’s all in what you need and want, and where you have a need to be.
At 24 hrs/wk ( based on $8/hr) the cost you are paying for the site in work dollars is $832/month… more then the guests pay for a premium site! At 28 hours/week = $970/ month. At 32 hrs/week it would be $1109/month. We actually saw a resort last year that wanted 30 hours in exchange for the site, and only gave you a $60 electric allowance. That equals you working 30 hrs x $8/hr (average pay) times (52 wks divided by 12 months) for a monthly rate of $1040. The monthly rate for guests was only $650… You be paying, in terms of work exchanged for site $400 more per month then the gusts pay for their monthly premium sites! Talk about taking advantage of workampers!
Some camps do both more hours plus co-pay for electric… to me this is an insult. But, some people will do it… I’m not sure why.
Based on you working 28 hours per week:
The camps out of pocket expense for you to work is $3.50/day in electric (or $24.50/wk), divided by 28 hours worked is 88¢/hr, cost to the camp. Of course your benefit is the site, valued at $150/wk ($600/month). $150 divided by 28hrs worked equal about $5.35 / hr exchange benefit. 32 hours would be $4.68/hr exchange benefit. And if you have to pay ½ of you electric bill, about $50/month, then your exchange benefit for the 32 hours worked reduced by another $12.50/week, based on 28 hours, equals abut 50¢/hr for a net pay value of $4.85/hr benefit, for the 28 hours that you worked.
Wouldn’t it be terrible to do the math after you are working, and the contract is signed, only to realize that you are paying, via hours worked, much more then the monthly rate for paying guests. So, do the math in advance. Get what you want and need, and enjoy a mutually beneficial arrangement between you and the campground or resort.
For more post about workamping… just use the “labels” tabs to the right at the top of the blog.”FullTime Rving”
Happy Workamping. Taking you to places you want to be at a reasonable cost!
FINAL NOTE: If you have a campground membership like Thousand Trails ( or another company )… the whole workamping terms are even more critical. Since we have two memberships, and can basically go between the two resorts endlessly… once we pay our dues we can use them for nothing extra. We have to pay the dues no matter what, and can camp there for free. Why workamp 18 hours per week just for a site with no additional pay or benefits… when we can stay at the membership parks for free! At an average of $8/hr we would be wasting $624/month by working for no pay in exchange for site. So why work 78 hours per month for no gain? Unless you really wanted to be somewhere you wanted or needed to be. So contracts for pay above the 18 hours is critical in determining the benefits verses the work hours to be done. If I’m gonna workamp 18 hours per week for the site, with no real benefit ( since we can stay at our membership parks for nothing), then the hours above the 18 become critical to out weigh these 18 hours that are basically worked for not real benefit.
Just something to think about. A good place to find workamping jobs across the country… www.Workamper.com
