Labor Module

The Labor Module handles all crew costs for your concrete projects, from foremen to unskilled laborers. ForgeX automatically calculates base labor costs plus all burden costs (FICA, FUTA, SUTA, auto costs).

info

This guide covers Traditional Mode (per-scope labor). For Timeline Mode where labor is managed at bid level with visual scheduling and automatic cost distribution, see Timeline Bidding.

Labor Roles

ForgeX includes 8 standard labor roles with default hourly rates:

Role	Default Rate	Typical Responsibilities
On Site Executive PM Work	$71.83/hr	Project oversight, client relations
On Site Safety	$46.41/hr	Safety management, inspections
Labor Foreman	$38.68/hr	Crew supervision, quality control
Junior Foreman	$32.05/hr	Assistant foreman, crew lead
Operator	$29.84/hr	Equipment operation (dozer, excavator)
Skilled Labor	$27.63/hr	Experienced concrete workers
Finisher	$27.63/hr	Concrete finishing specialists
Unskilled Labor	$24.31/hr	General laborers, helpers

note

Default rates are configured by admins and can be customized per bid in Bid Settings.

Adding Labor to a Scope

Step 1: Navigate to Labor Tab

Open your scope
Click the "Labor" tab
You'll see the labor table with all 8 roles as columns

Step 2: Enter Labor Data

The labor table is organized with roles as columns and input fields as rows:

┌─────────────┬────────┬────────┬─────────┬──────────┬──────────┬─────────┬─────────┬──────────┐
│             │   PM   │ Safety │ Foreman │  Junior  │ Operator │ Skilled │Finisher │Unskilled │
│             │  Work  │        │         │  Foreman │          │         │         │          │
├─────────────┼────────┼────────┼─────────┼──────────┼──────────┼─────────┼─────────┼──────────┤
│ QTY         │ [  0 ] │ [  0 ] │  [  2 ] │   [  1 ] │   [  1 ] │  [  4 ] │  [  2 ] │  [  3 ]  │
│ Hours/Day   │ [  0 ] │ [  0 ] │  [  8 ] │   [  8 ] │   [  8 ] │  [  8 ] │  [  8 ] │  [  8 ]  │
│ Rate/Hr     │[$71.83]│[$46.41]│ [$38.68]│  [$32.05]│  [$29.84]│ [$27.63]│ [$27.63]│ [$24.31] │
│ $/Day       │  $0.00 │  $0.00 │ $618.88 │  $256.40 │  $238.72 │ $883.62 │ $441.81 │ $583.44  │
│ Days        │ [  0 ] │ [  0 ] │  [  5 ] │   [  5 ] │   [  5 ] │  [  5 ] │  [  5 ] │  [  5 ]  │
│ Sub-Total   │  $0.00 │  $0.00 │$3,094.40│ $1,282.00│ $1,193.60│$4,418.10│$2,209.05│ $2,917.20│
├─────────────┴────────┴────────┴─────────┴──────────┴──────────┴─────────┴─────────┴──────────┤
│ Grand Total:                                                                      $15,114.35  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Input Fields Explained

QTYnumberrequired

Number of workers in this role

Examples:

Foreman: 1-2
Skilled Labor: 4-8
Unskilled Labor: 2-6

Hours/Daynumberrequired

Hours per worker per day

Standard: 8 hours Overtime: 10-12 hours

Rate/Hrnumber

Hourly rate (auto-filled from defaults)

Editable if you need to adjust for:

Prevailing wage jobs
Special agreements
Union rates

$/Daynumber

Daily cost (auto-calculated but EDITABLE)

Calculated as: QTY × Hours/Day × Rate/Hr

Override for flat daily rates or special agreements

Daysnumberrequired

Total days for this crew composition

Examples:

Short job: 2-5 days
Medium job: 5-10 days
Large job: 15-30 days

How Labor Costs Calculate

Base Cost Calculation

Base_Cost = QTY × Hours_Per_Day × Rate_Per_Hour × Days

Example: Foreman

QTY: 2
Hours/Day: 8
Rate/Hr: $38.68
Days: 5
Base Cost: 2 × 8 × $38.68 × 5 = $3,094.40

$/Day Field (Auto vs Manual)

The $/Day field is special — it auto-calculates but you can override it:

Auto-Calculated:

$/Day = QTY × Hours/Day × Rate/Hr

Manual Override Use Cases:

Flat Daily Rate Contract
- Auto: $618.88
- Override: $650.00
- Sub-Total uses: $650 × 5 days = $3,250
Special Agreement
- Auto: $883.62
- Override: $800.00 (negotiated rate)
- Sub-Total uses: $800 × 5 days = $4,000

tip

When to override $/Day: Use when you have flat daily rates, lump sum agreements, or special pricing that doesn't fit the hourly calculation.

Burden Costs (Auto-Applied)

ForgeX automatically adds labor burden costs:

Burden Type	Rate	Applied To
FICA	7.65%	Base cost
FUTA	0.6%	Base cost
SUTA	Variable (state)	Base cost
Auto Depreciation	1-2%	Base cost (if applicable)
Auto Fuel	0.5-1%	Base cost (if applicable)
Auto Insurance	0.3-0.5%	Base cost (if applicable)

note

Burden costs are configured in Admin → Percentages and automatically applied. You don't need to manually calculate them.

Total Labor Cost Example

Crew for 5 days:

2× Foreman @ $38.68/hr × 8 hrs × 5 days = $3,094.40
4× Skilled @ $27.63/hr × 8 hrs × 5 days = $4,418.10
3× Unskilled @ $24.31/hr × 8 hrs × 5 days = $2,917.20
Base Total: $10,429.70

Burden (approximate):

FICA (7.65%): $797.87
FUTA (0.6%): $62.58
SUTA (varies): ~$100
Auto costs: ~$150
Total Burden: ~$1,110

GRAND TOTAL: $10,429.70 + $1,110 = ~$11,540

Typical Crew Compositions

Small Slab Pour (100 CY)

Role	QTY	Days	Notes
Foreman	1	2	Supervise pour and finishing
Finisher	2	2	Screeding and troweling
Skilled Labor	2	2	Placing and spreading
Unskilled Labor	2	2	Helpers, cleanup

Total crew: 7 workers × 2 days = 14 man-days

Large Slab Pour (500 CY)

Role	QTY	Days	Notes
On Site Safety	1	3	Safety oversight
Labor Foreman	2	3	Crew supervision
Operator	1	3	Laser screed operation
Finisher	4	3	Finishing large area
Skilled Labor	6	3	Placing concrete
Unskilled Labor	4	3	Helpers, cleanup

Total crew: 18 workers × 3 days = 54 man-days

Drilled Pier Foundation (20 piers)

Role	QTY	Days	Notes
Foreman	1	10	Supervise drilling and pour
Operator	2	10	Drill rig operators
Skilled Labor	2	10	Cage installation, form setup
Unskilled Labor	3	10	Helpers, cleanup, spoils

Total crew: 8 workers × 10 days = 80 man-days

Multi-Story Elevated Deck

Role	QTY	Days	Notes
On Site PM Work	0.5	20	Part-time oversight
On Site Safety	1	20	Full-time safety
Labor Foreman	2	20	Crew leads per deck
Junior Foreman	2	20	Assistant supervision
Operator	2	20	Concrete pump, hoist
Finisher	4	20	Deck finishing
Skilled Labor	8	20	Rebar, formwork, pour
Unskilled Labor	6	20	Helpers, cleanup

Total crew: 25.5 workers × 20 days = 510 man-days

tip

PM Work as 0.5 QTY: For part-time roles, use fractional QTY. Example: PM visits site 4 hours/day = 0.5 QTY × 8 hours = 4 hours billed.

Labor Productivity Rates

Use these industry averages to estimate days required:

Concrete Placing

Work Type	CY per Man-Day	Notes
Slab on Grade	15-25 CY	With concrete pump
Elevated Slab	8-12 CY	More challenging access
Footings	10-15 CY	Hand placing, more labor
Walls	6-10 CY	Formwork + pour
Piers (drilled)	5-8 CY	Includes drilling time

Example Calculation:

Pour size: 200 CY elevated slab
Productivity: 10 CY per man-day
Man-days needed: 200 ÷ 10 = 20 man-days
Crew size: 10 workers
Days: 20 ÷ 10 = 2 days

Formwork

Work Type	SF per Man-Day	Notes
Slab Edge Forms	80-120 SF	Simple edge forms
Wall Forms	40-60 SF	Plywood + bracing
Column Forms	30-50 SF	Round or square
Elevated Deck Forms	25-40 SF	Complex shoring

Rebar Installation

Work Type	LBS per Man-Day	Notes
Slab Mesh	800-1,200 lbs	Simple grid
Footing Rebar	600-800 lbs	More congested
Wall Rebar	400-600 lbs	Vertical placement
Cage Installation	300-500 lbs	Prefab cages

Prevailing Wage Jobs

For government projects with prevailing wage requirements:

Adjusting Rates for Prevailing Wage

Check Prevailing Wage Schedule

Obtain current prevailing wage rates for your county/state.

Open Bid Settings

Click "Bid Settings" button on bid detail page.

Update Labor Rates

Edit each role's hourly rate to match prevailing wage.

Example rates (Texas, 2025):

Cement Mason: $28.50/hr → $45.20/hr
Laborer: $24.31/hr → $38.75/hr
Operator: $29.84/hr → $52.10/hr

Save Changes

Click Save on each updated rate. All labor costs recalculate automatically.

warning

Prevailing wage compliance: Ensure you're using the correct wage determination (WD) number and rates are current. Underpaying can result in penalties.

Overtime Considerations

For jobs requiring overtime work:

Overtime Calculation Options

Option 1: Adjust Hours/Day

For 10-hour days (2 hours OT per day):

Regular: 8 hrs @ $27.63 = $221.04
OT: 2 hrs @ $41.45 (1.5×) = $82.90
Total: $303.94/day

Option 2: Use Blended Rate

Calculate blended rate for 10-hour day:

Blended = (8 × $27.63 + 2 × $41.45) ÷ 10 = $30.33/hr

Enter as Rate/Hr override:

Hours/Day: 10
Rate/Hr: $30.33 (override)
$/Day: Auto-calculates to $303.30

Option 3: Override $/Day

Manually calculate daily cost including OT:

$/Day: $303.94 (manual override)
Days: 5
Sub-Total: $1,519.70

Special Labor Scenarios

Part-Time Roles

Scenario: PM visits site 2 days per week, 4 hours per visit

Method 1: Fractional QTY

QTY: 0.5
Hours/Day: 8
Days: 10 (total project days)
Result: 0.5 × 8 × 10 = 40 hours billed

Method 2: Actual Hours

QTY: 1
Hours/Day: 4
Days: 10
Result: 1 × 4 × 10 = 40 hours billed

Both methods give same result. Use whichever makes more sense for your tracking.

Mobilization/Demobilization

For one-time setup/teardown costs:

Option 1: Add to Days

Regular work: 5 days
Add mobilization: 0.5 day
Add demobilization: 0.5 day
Total days: 6

Option 2: Separate Misc Item Create a "Mobilization" item in Misc module:

Description: "Crew Mobilization/Demobilization"
Quantity: 1
Rate: $2,500 (lump sum)

Skilled vs Unskilled Mix

Rule of thumb: 60% skilled, 40% unskilled for concrete work

Example crew of 10:

Foreman: 1
Skilled: 5 (50%)
Unskilled: 4 (40%)
Total: 10 workers (60% skilled including foreman)

Adjust based on:

More skilled for complex work (elevated decks, heavy rebar)
More unskilled for simple work (slab on grade, cleanup)

Labor Cost Rollup

Labor costs roll up through the cost system:

Individual Labor Item
        ↓
    Scope Labor Cost (sum all labor items in scope)
        ↓
    Scope Labor Cost × Multiplier (if scope has multiplier > 1)
        ↓
    Bid Labor Cost (sum all scopes)
        ↓
    Apply Module Markups (WC, overhead, profit, GL pollution)
        ↓
    Bid Total (all modules + overhead + profit)

Module Markups Applied to Labor

Markup Type	Typical %	Applied To
Workers' Comp (WC)	15-25%	Labor only
Overhead	10-15%	All costs
Profit	5-10%	All costs
GL Pollution	1-2%	All costs

note

Module markups are configured in Admin → Percentages and apply automatically to labor costs.

Reviewing Labor Costs

Labor Cost Summary

After adding labor to all scopes, review totals:

Go to Bid Detail page
View cost breakdown by module
Check labor percentage of total bid

Typical Labor % of Total Bid:

Simple slab: 25-35% labor
Elevated deck: 35-45% labor
Complex formwork: 40-50% labor

If your labor % is outside these ranges, review:

Hours per day realistic?
Crew size appropriate?
Days estimate accurate?
Productivity rate assumptions valid?

Compare to Historical Bids

tip

Best practice: Before finalizing labor estimate, review similar past jobs:

Search for comparable bids
Check actual labor hours used
Compare your estimate to actual
Adjust if needed based on lessons learned

Common Labor Estimating Mistakes

warning

Avoid These Pitfalls:

Mistake	Impact	How to Avoid
Underestimating days	Tight schedule, stressed crew	Add contingency day
Too small crew	Job takes longer than bid	Use productivity rates
Forgetting mobilization	Hidden cost not in bid	Add 0.5-1 day
Not accounting for weather	Delays eat profit	Add weather contingency
Wrong skill mix	Inefficient crew	Follow 60% skilled guideline
Missing burden costs	Profit disappears	ForgeX auto-applies burden
Using wrong rates	Prevailing wage penalty	Verify wage requirements

Tips for Accurate Labor Estimating

💬Talk to Your Foreman

Before finalizing labor estimate:

Review plans with foreman
Get input on crew size and days
Discuss any special challenges
Adjust estimate based on experience

🧮Use Productivity Calculators

Calculate man-days using productivity rates:

Man-Days = Work_Quantity ÷ Productivity_Rate
Days = Man-Days ÷ Crew_Size

Example:

200 CY elevated slab
10 CY per man-day productivity
20 man-days ÷ 10 crew = 2 days

📈Account for Learning Curve

First day is slower, later days faster:

Day 1: 80% productivity
Days 2-3: 100% productivity
Days 4+: 110% productivity (crew in rhythm)

For short jobs (2-3 days), use conservative productivity.

🌧️Weather Contingency

For outdoor work:

Short job (2-5 days): Add 0.5 day
Medium job (5-15 days): Add 1-2 days
Long job (15+ days): Add 10% to days

Or add weather days in Misc module as lump sum.

Next Steps

🚚

Labor Roles​

Adding Labor to a Scope​

Step 1: Navigate to Labor Tab​

Step 2: Enter Labor Data​

Input Fields Explained​

How Labor Costs Calculate​

Base Cost Calculation​

$/Day Field (Auto vs Manual)​

Burden Costs (Auto-Applied)​

Total Labor Cost Example​

Typical Crew Compositions​

Small Slab Pour (100 CY)​

Large Slab Pour (500 CY)​

Drilled Pier Foundation (20 piers)​

Multi-Story Elevated Deck​

Labor Productivity Rates​

Concrete Placing​

Formwork​

Rebar Installation​

Prevailing Wage Jobs​

Adjusting Rates for Prevailing Wage​

Overtime Considerations​

Overtime Calculation Options​

Special Labor Scenarios​

Part-Time Roles​

Mobilization/Demobilization​

Skilled vs Unskilled Mix​

Labor Cost Rollup​

Module Markups Applied to Labor​

Reviewing Labor Costs​

Labor Cost Summary​

Compare to Historical Bids​

Common Labor Estimating Mistakes​

Tips for Accurate Labor Estimating​

Next Steps​

Equipment Module

Materials Module

Bid Settings

Estimator Workflow

Timeline Bidding

Labor Roles

Adding Labor to a Scope

Step 1: Navigate to Labor Tab

Step 2: Enter Labor Data

Input Fields Explained

How Labor Costs Calculate

Base Cost Calculation

$/Day Field (Auto vs Manual)

Burden Costs (Auto-Applied)

Total Labor Cost Example

Typical Crew Compositions

Small Slab Pour (100 CY)

Large Slab Pour (500 CY)

Drilled Pier Foundation (20 piers)

Multi-Story Elevated Deck

Labor Productivity Rates

Concrete Placing

Formwork

Rebar Installation

Prevailing Wage Jobs

Adjusting Rates for Prevailing Wage

Overtime Considerations

Overtime Calculation Options

Special Labor Scenarios

Part-Time Roles

Mobilization/Demobilization

Skilled vs Unskilled Mix

Labor Cost Rollup

Module Markups Applied to Labor

Reviewing Labor Costs

Labor Cost Summary

Compare to Historical Bids

Common Labor Estimating Mistakes

Tips for Accurate Labor Estimating

Next Steps