i was wondering about going into the automotive field, not necessarily a mechanic, but im not sure what else there is out there in the field.. anyone know about how much a mechanic makes hourly?
Mechanics hourly wages?
- Thread starter suprafanatic
- Start date
suprafanatic said:
around here in WA, you can be a lube tech at a dealer at 18 years old and make 9-12 bucks an hour. that's just for doin oil changes pretty much. no idea what you'd make if you worked in an import shop or somethin along those lines.
I heard being a service writer pays alot.
I think a technician makes somewhere around $20/hr here.
I think a technician makes somewhere around $20/hr here.
im a lube tech at walmart and i make 9.05 an hour all i do is oil change and tire change and various other small things checking fluids etc. mounting and balancing tires all that good stuff another mechanic friend makes around 10.50 an hour and i know another guy he makes 18 an hour it all depends where you live and how much experience you have also.
I make $30 per book hour. That's not saying I make $30 an hour, though. If a job is say, 4 book hours, I get paid $120 for the job whether it takes me 2 hrs., or 2 days. I make a lot more money getting paid the way I do now, but I have a lot of experience as well.
When I started working for a local import shop(back in '94, first time wrenching on cars), I made around $8 an hour. When I worked for Chevrolet doing used car inspection and prep, and doing oil changes, they paid me $12 an hour.
Really, it would depend on where you work, and how much experience or training you have. Today, a degree wouldn't hurt, as automobiles are very sophisticated, and completely computer controlled.
When I started working for a local import shop(back in '94, first time wrenching on cars), I made around $8 an hour. When I worked for Chevrolet doing used car inspection and prep, and doing oil changes, they paid me $12 an hour.
Really, it would depend on where you work, and how much experience or training you have. Today, a degree wouldn't hurt, as automobiles are very sophisticated, and completely computer controlled.
Yellow 13 said:
:bsflag:
Let me educate you about flat rate. A service writer might make $X per hour that he sells, and a technician makes $Y per hour he is assigned. A writer may have to sell hundreds of hours a week to earn decent money. A technician must beat "book" time for every job he does to make decent money. If a writer does not sell, the technician doesn't have a chance to make. If a technician does not produce, the writer can't sell because he's too backed up.
See how that works out?
Fresh kids out of UTI made about $12/hr doing lube @ the Volvo dealership I used to work at.
After they were done at UTI, if we hired them - it was @ $15/hr until they got ASE and Volvo certified. Once certified and doing good work they were bumped to ~$18-$22 hr.
From that point (this would be after ~2 years) there would be a decision on whether to let the mechanic work on a "flat rate" system. Basically, they would get payed book time for repairs. Our best guys could turn 16 hours in an 8 hour day. Pay range for these guys was between $22-$30 an hour - so most of them would be making 100k+ eventually. (usually within 7-10 years was normal).
The mechanics who separated themselves were compensated accordingly - we had three guys who were in the 150k+ every year.
Our best mechanic did not make quite that much - he chose not to go flat rate. Instead, he took all the hard diagnostic jobs. He was paid $55/hour (real time). He became so good at diagnosing all of the complicated systems, corporate stole him and now he is making REALLY good money.
--------
There is a big difference in the ultimate pay you can achieve based on where you work. Be sure to do your research. Your biggest mistake might be to go somewhere because you like the type of car, or the people that work there. You can find interesting and rewarding opportunities in unexpected places - so seek them out.
After they were done at UTI, if we hired them - it was @ $15/hr until they got ASE and Volvo certified. Once certified and doing good work they were bumped to ~$18-$22 hr.
From that point (this would be after ~2 years) there would be a decision on whether to let the mechanic work on a "flat rate" system. Basically, they would get payed book time for repairs. Our best guys could turn 16 hours in an 8 hour day. Pay range for these guys was between $22-$30 an hour - so most of them would be making 100k+ eventually. (usually within 7-10 years was normal).
The mechanics who separated themselves were compensated accordingly - we had three guys who were in the 150k+ every year.
Our best mechanic did not make quite that much - he chose not to go flat rate. Instead, he took all the hard diagnostic jobs. He was paid $55/hour (real time). He became so good at diagnosing all of the complicated systems, corporate stole him and now he is making REALLY good money.
--------
There is a big difference in the ultimate pay you can achieve based on where you work. Be sure to do your research. Your biggest mistake might be to go somewhere because you like the type of car, or the people that work there. You can find interesting and rewarding opportunities in unexpected places - so seek them out.
BlackMKIII said:
I'm with you on that one.
As far as the Honda, Infiniti and Volvo dealership group I was at - the service writers made diddly-squat compared to what a skilled mechanic could make.
Our Infiniti and Volvo guys were payed well, but I don't think any of them was making more than 50k. See my above post to see how that compared to the mechanics.
BlackMKIII said:
Although those variables come into play, it is up to the individual to overcome those problems. I made good money as a service writer and later service manager both. You have to be motivated as the money will not just 'float' your way. I much prefer production pay as compared to hourly or even salary based pay. However, it isnt for everyone.
It all depends on where you work, who you work for, and how much work you get. At my dealership most techs make between $15-30 an hour. Before we were bought out by autonation most of the techs were pulling 60-100k a year, but now the senior tech told me he only made 70k this year with the same work load. Basicaly more suits up top equates to less money for the working man just like everything else.
every place is going to be different. my buddy worked at volvo as a service writer and e was on $700 a week salary plus bonuses every month. i think the smallest one he got was $1300. my uncle was a service manager at a pontiac dealership and he was making around $70,000 a year.
Get into being a specialty mechanic. I hear dealerships are pretty much desperate for them. Some will give you signing bonuses as well.
well, $15 an hour doesnt quite float my boat..lol i was hoping to hear at least $25 an hour... what are some good paying jobs in the automotive field?
You won't be making $25 your first year in the field without experiance as a tech.
Get some experiance and you will work up to that in a few years at most dealerships. Also you will most likely be making that on flat rate salary. You could make $15/hr. but be clocking 80 hours a week and only work 40, so its like getting paid $30/hr. hourly.
I'm, part time, and work off commission. I make 6/hr. if there's no work, and every job pays a different amount. I average 16/hr.
Get some experiance and you will work up to that in a few years at most dealerships. Also you will most likely be making that on flat rate salary. You could make $15/hr. but be clocking 80 hours a week and only work 40, so its like getting paid $30/hr. hourly.
I'm, part time, and work off commission. I make 6/hr. if there's no work, and every job pays a different amount. I average 16/hr.
you will get paid crap if you are starting off but get tons of experience and u will be making good flat rate paper. i didnt like the pay rate starting and the time it took to build it. so i didnt go into the field. but my cousin has been in it a little over a year and makes 17 flat rate now. i make 19 now compared to the 9 i made 3 years ago and i dont do mechanic work. Desk job
I
intense_2jz
Guest
About 13 years ago, I worked for two different Toyota dealers. I was in a toyota sponsered program that was for getting an associates degree through the community college in automotive technology. The program was great but the PRIVATLY OWNED dealers sucked.
The first dealer was ok. They would start techinicians at about $10 an hour. (Far less than what the college advisors told us). And the master technicians were making about $15/hour flat rate and were able to pull about $60k a year
if there was enough work.
The second dealer I worked for was a big mess. From what the other techincians told me: 1. 3 master techinicians were making $15/hour falt rate- They were told they were making too much and there salorys wer changed to $13 per hour-All three quit.. The owner of that dealer also decided to stop paying health insurance without telling anyone and everyone got screwed..
Most of the guys that worked there were off the street with som kind of mechanical experience, no schooling, that way they didn't feel they had to pay them that much... I worked there for about 2 months before they layed me off because of a slow down... They went through a service manager about every 6 months..
Bottom line, here is what I learned: Dealerships are owned privately and are not regulated buy Toyota or any other car manufacturer.. You have to work your ass off to make money.. When work slows down, so does your pay. The dealer is making over $70 per/hour while they only pay you $10-15/hour.
This was just my observation from when I worked for Toyota in 1994. I'm sure there are much better places to work. But it was surprising to see this go on with Toyota.
The first dealer was ok. They would start techinicians at about $10 an hour. (Far less than what the college advisors told us). And the master technicians were making about $15/hour flat rate and were able to pull about $60k a year
if there was enough work.
The second dealer I worked for was a big mess. From what the other techincians told me: 1. 3 master techinicians were making $15/hour falt rate- They were told they were making too much and there salorys wer changed to $13 per hour-All three quit.. The owner of that dealer also decided to stop paying health insurance without telling anyone and everyone got screwed..
Most of the guys that worked there were off the street with som kind of mechanical experience, no schooling, that way they didn't feel they had to pay them that much... I worked there for about 2 months before they layed me off because of a slow down... They went through a service manager about every 6 months..
Bottom line, here is what I learned: Dealerships are owned privately and are not regulated buy Toyota or any other car manufacturer.. You have to work your ass off to make money.. When work slows down, so does your pay. The dealer is making over $70 per/hour while they only pay you $10-15/hour.
This was just my observation from when I worked for Toyota in 1994. I'm sure there are much better places to work. But it was surprising to see this go on with Toyota.
hmm.. some aspects sound good others sound bad..lol.. i think i'll just stick with criminal justice as a major and work on cars for a side hobby