Question for the other techs here

[prophiseer]

I'm curious here as to just how underpaid I really am, and was wanting some opinions from the other techs that post on this site . . .

So far, I have 6 years experience in the field, I work 40+ hours a week. Our shop does everything mechanical except for alignments (no equipment to do so, although I can read alignment printouts just fine), everything from motor and tranny pulls/rebuilds to simple oil changes and tire balances. There are only two techs in the shop, me and the mastertech, plus our shop owner who "occasionally" will work on a car too. I have 4 ASE's so far (Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Brakes, Steering & Suspension), and could take the last 4 and pass them in one sitting (as soon as I can afford it). I also have an Associate's degree in Automotive Technology, and can out-diagnose our mastertech on newer 'multi-module' EFI vehicles (think: 98-present), and have a better understanding of how the numerous on-board computers work together. I'm capable of working without supervision (worked as the only tech in the shop for a year and a half). Although I tend to be a bit slow, albeit able to complete tasks under quoted book time, my current comeback rate is 0.05% (really stupid bit of mindlessness).

I hvane't recieved a raise in 2 years now, and in that time have earned my Associates and 3 more ASE's, and worked 1 year of those two as the only tech in the shop. So, for working at a small, independent shop/used car dealership, does $10.50/hr sound extremelly underpaid?

[sharkey]

well to put it into perspective, ive worked at a transmission shop for just over 3 years. i do transmission re/re and differential work, aswell as can diagnose and perform minor repairs. i have no training whatsoever, and i make $14.50/hr (in canadian funds).

id say your underpaid. you should at least get a small raise every year to keep up with inflation.

[grandprixgtp_91]

at our GM dealer we make $25/h canadian, and if we produce over 40 hours a week then we get a bonus and it goes up to $28-30/h depending how much we produce, and if we do electrical we get over $35/h .

Jake

[SappySE107]

Id start my own shop if that is all I was getting paid. You can do better.

[Steevo]

I make 14.50 a hour being the Parts Manager at our store, it is ag stuff, but our techs make upwards of 16 an hour, Melvin makes $27 a hour, but is as old as dirt and know more than mode have forgot.




Plus benefits.

2Wk Paid Vacation
1Wk Sick Leave
50% matching 401K
HSA $1200yr company paid donation
Plus bonuses and I get double to work on computers and junk, and $100 a month consultant fee for me to think shit up.


So, you need a job? We need techs.

[Rhedalert]

shit yeah that is low. I know I'm in a different area and things are $$$ here, but the tire installers at my old auto repair job started at $9ish and would go to $11 quick.

[geoffinbc]

I am not a tech but my dad is a service manager. Techs at my dads work make 28 to 29 and hour flat rate when you are a GM master tech. So if your fast you make more money. One guy (Eric) used to make over $100,000 per year in his younger days. The door rate for paying customers is $104 per hour.

I am a B ticket welder and make $26 an hour and have only been working as a welder for 1 year. I have been welding since I was a kid making various stuff which is proabably why geting qualified was so easy for me. My school is paid by my company I get 100% benefits and a pension. I get $30 in about 4 more months. My raises are about $4 per hour every raise period.

[Guest]

I am not a tech but my dad is a service manager. Techs at my dads work make 28 to 29 and hour flat rate when you are a GM master tech. So if your fast you make more money. One guy (Eric) used to make over $100,000 per year in his younger days. The door rate for paying customers is $104 per hour.

I am a B ticket welder and make $26 an hour and have only been working as a welder for 1 year. I have been welding since I was a kid making various stuff which is proabably why geting qualified was so easy for me. My school is paid by my company I get 100% benefits and a pension. I get $30 in about 4 more months. My raises are about $4 per hour every raise period.

I really think I'm going to persue the welding trade.

Probably do some oil work for now to save some money and to pay for the schooling/tickets.

[bszopi]

Damn, I thought I had Geoff beat... I make just under $24/hr (get charged out at $85/hr) as an electrical designer for an A/M/E engineering firm. I have a BS in Construction Science & Management (ie, General Contractor), yet don't do a damn thing with it. Full benefits, AND we get raises twice a year . I started in Jan 05 @ just under $17/hr, so I've advanced quite decently.

To make you feel not as bad... While I was going through college (after my 6 yrs in the Navy), I worked as a Maintenance guy (and eventually supervisor) for the local mall, 40-50hr per week even while going to school full time (usually 17hr semesters). I started off at $6.50/hr, worked there for over 5 yrs, and when I left I was making $10.50. And I would do anything and everything, from construction, electrical work, security, marketing, supervisor duties, scheduling, etc... Yeah, I felt I was getting boned, but I loved my job. Oh, and I knew that I would get a better job as soon as college was over.

So after all of that.... Yeah, I think you are underpaid. Talk to your boss, and ask him for a raise. You'd probably be suprised, especially if you have all you facts together about why you think you deserve it. If anything, start looking for a job. If they find you valuable enough, they will do what they have to do to keep you.

[SappySE107]

I demanded a raise but all I could do was laugh.

[GPXSS]

$29/hr for a tech? damn.. thats around what i do working in IT. I would change occupations faster than you can blink if I knew I could make the same money within a year working at GM.

[Fiero Brick]

I could start out making $8.50 or $9.00/hr pushing a broom, doing oil changes, and turning a wrench for the more experienced mechanics at the stealerships around here. I would say that you're way underpaid, especially if you don't live in the boonies. Either way, though, you're too skilled to be making $10.50/hr.

A buddy of mine that works at a dealership with a degree from Wyoming Tech and ~5 years experience is making about twice what you are.

[94Camaro]

I make $31/hr sitting around waiting for work to be handed to me. i come in at 9:30, leave at 5:00... no one checks on me and i report to no one. i dont have reports to file and i get to chat/surf the net all day. ahh - the good life lol.

if i could make 30/hour doing auto stuff, i might, but only if i could get the same conditions (minus the chat/surf the net all day).

[prophiseer]

Yeah, I figured I was vastly underpaid . . . even just going by something like Monster.com's salary finder, the average for what I'm at in this zip code is about $18/hr, with $16 being at the low end of the scale. Personally, I really don't think I should have to inquire about a raise, as it should've been given with earning of an Associate's and the ASE's, but shop owners can be so tight they squek when they walk, and cheap labor is cheap labor to them. Granted I do work a tick slow, and I'm paid 40hrs/weel salary, but we never have a vehicle roll back with a complaint based on work I do - it leaves right the first time. But, I have no real benefits at the shop, aside from being able to work on my vehicle when I have the free time, and I can take hours off as needed - if I need to head out for a couple hours for some emergency, it's not a problem. But, no health care, no dental, no retirement or otherwise. I'm thinking my foot is going to come down soon.

I've been keeping an eye out for other jobs, at the dealerships or working for the cities or some corporations, but this area has been dead for the last few months, and no one is currently hiring just yet, on the other hand, many places have been laying people off.

[geoffinbc]

Yea current trends will dictate wether or not you are in a position to demand a raise or up and quit for more money or sit and be quiet because your working right now.

It was tough for me to find a good paying job just last Feb. But the way things are now I could have 3 jobs on the trip from the Tim Hortons I go to on coffee to my work.