salaries

luvsvettes · #1 11-07-2005, 03:15 PM

hey everyone!

This is probably the wrong place for this topic, but I didnt know where else to put it. I am starting in on a 2 year program in automotive technology. I was curious as to what a starting salary would be, then what I can expect after a few years of experience. Any info on this would be appreciated.

travis712 · #2 11-07-2005, 06:13 PM

This isn't a bad spot to put it. A lot of traffic and the subject is off topic. As for salaries, I can't help you there but i'm sure someone would help you out soon.

And welcome to the site.

2.2 Straight six · #3 11-07-2005, 06:34 PM

you can be pretty certain you wont start on much, you have a long ladder to climb before you reach the big money.

im going to be doing motorsport engineering for a uni course.

blindside.AMG · #4 11-07-2005, 08:11 PM

After tech school I started out making $12 an hour and that seemed to be the average of the people who graduated in the same Mercedes class I did. After about two and a half years I make like $50-60k a year now. It also depends a lot on where you work and who you work for. There's no chance in hell I'd be making that much if I worked in Montana at a Ford dealership.

-Josh- · #5 11-07-2005, 08:29 PM

How much you make also depends on how much work the shop you work for brings in. You'll want to find a job for a good dealer for the best opps and $$.

WickedNYCowboy · #6 11-07-2005, 08:49 PM

Dealers have good and bad points. To me heavy duty and marine diesel is where the major money is at.

freakray · #7 11-07-2005, 09:01 PM

salary.com

PWRDbyUNCLEbens · #8 11-07-2005, 11:07 PM

I'm getting into the automotive industry right now (technician). I'm starting out as an entry level tech (with absolutely no experience) hourly at only $10.00/hour learning from the technicians on a team. Eventually when I'm able to make some more money I'll take the two-year course for chrysler and make more money. After a while though the manager will have me go flat rate like everyone else.

It's a tricky buisness, and the dealership route isn't really best IMO. Each dealership is different on how much they pay per job. For example Some dealerships pay out more for an oil change then others.

As for the wages some technicians at my work (A washington dodge dealership) are making $25/hour flat rate.

Also If your getting payed flat rate make sure the dealership is located in a place where people will actually spend money. You don't want to be in a dealership where you spend all of your time suggesting services, and then not have the customer buy anything.

Another thing to take into account if your flat rate is that buisness mayy not always be steady. Maybe during the summer time your making 70 hours per week during the winter time (typicall slow for us) your struggling to make 40 hours because there isn't enough work.

Make sure that you don't have a team leader (if you do have them) that takes all the "gravy" (good work), and leaves you with the shit work.

I'd say ta typical tech who hasn't been arouond for too long makes around $40K.

jon@af · #9 11-07-2005, 11:21 PM

Get good at what you do and do it well at a reputable place. My dad is a tech and he made around 63k last year (I believe).

WickedNYCowboy · #10 11-08-2005, 01:01 PM

You may want to go to a street shop route looking for a place you can buy out or buy in to part of it. But heavy duty diesel is still where there is lacking techs therefore they are willing to pay much much more.

-Josh- · #11 11-08-2005, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_Swigz

Get good at what you do and do it well at a reputable place. My dad is a tech and he made around 63k last year (I believe).

It was more than that

Toksin · #12 11-08-2005, 02:32 PM

WickedNYCowboy is right. Marine and heavy industry are screaming for educated people, there's heaps of money to be made.

flatlander757 · #13 11-08-2005, 02:53 PM

Just wondering, by any chance would you happen to be in the AYES program? If so I'm going through the same thing. I was going to start at a chevy dealership for $8.50/hr, but got a reckless driving ticket

The service manager told me to come back after I've gone to court, if I can argue it down to just speeding I'll have a job, otherwise I think I'm screwed

What kind of pay does marine and heavy industry entail?

Toksin · #14 11-08-2005, 03:42 PM

Apprentices start out on shitty pay, but once you're qualified you get heaps of on the job training and shit like that, and AFAIK it pays a fair bit more than regular automotive work, just because it's so specialised.

Plus, how can you argue with working on a turbocharger thats as big as a whole LT1?

flatlander757 · #15 11-08-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toksin

Apprentices start out on shitty pay, but once you're qualified you get heaps of on the job training and shit like that, and AFAIK it pays a fair bit more than regular automotive work, just because it's so specialised.

Plus, how can you argue with working on a turbocharger thats as big as a whole LT1?

Could you PM me some details on how to get your foot in the door in this type of industry? I'm looking for something to do during my senior year and right after highschool. College isn't for me and mechanical stuff is all I know/care about. I may have screwed myself with a ticket so it could be hard for me to get a job at a dealership or anywhere in automotive that pays well. I'd really appreciate the help!

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