Writer Needs to Retool His Figures

The shop rates and salaries Eric Dresser spews forth [“Machinists’ Salary Picture Not So Rosy,” Letters, April 5] are ridiculous. Yes, the high-precision machining and toolmaking industry is much better off than just five years ago.

Where is a job shop charging $150 to $175 per hour for machining and toolmaking services? Perhaps only in Mr. Dresser’s dream shop.

Like our competition, we compensate our employees as the market dictates, and currently the market rate for a highly skilled machinist or toolmaker is about $22 per hour, excluding benefits.

The market rate for our services is $65 per hour; again, not nearly as much as Mr. Dresser assumes.

JOHN MORRISSEY

President, Superior Jig Inc.

Anaheim