Are mechanics in demand?

[Sean A]

I have been thinking about what I want to do in life recently and one thing that has been an option for a while is something with cars. I am 16 and I have enjoyed cars for about two years, specifically VAG of course. I am not that mechanically inclined at the moment but I would probably get a two year college education at least. What is the salary like as a mechanic and is it a demanding position at the moment? Thanks.

[Steveo989]

Mechanic salaries are what you make it, really. You can be an avg tech and probably pull in around 45-50k.

Now, if you are going through as many classes as you can, which you should; you can make $100k+ in 5-10 years out of school. The key is to get paid book time, rather than hourly. The cons are if it takes forever to repair a car you make didly, but if you are highly productive and finish jobs 30% faster than book time, you can start another repair on the same car, or other vehicle.

Essentially, you get paid for more hours than you are really there. So you completed 60 hours of work in a 40 hr work week you will get PAID.

Another difficult aspect is finding a shop that pays book time, has a guarantee for slow months (say guarantee 500/week), and has a steady flow of repairs. Who cares if you finished a transmission in 5 hours, and book time gave you 12 if you have no other vehicles to repair for two days after that repair. Always work as though it is busy, so you aren't overwhelmed when it picks up again.


My advice, go through VW/AUDI/BMW school, work for each dealer for 5 years or so, if you can, and then 1. open your own independent German repair shop, hire a service writer and repair and run the business or 2. find a decent independent German shop to work at so you can get book time, and less dealer bs, such as trying to sell them on unneeded repairs etc. There's pressure on techs at stealerships since the tech's worth is measured by their repair output. Which some simply don't have issues with, but they will ask if there really isn't anything wrong with the car.

My advice, go to a high-end school, suck it up and pay the high tuition and do a ramen noodle budget while you accumulate your tools. A tech can, and, likely, should spend around $25,000 during their first 5 years in the trade. The scanners and specialty tools will pay for themselves tenfold in faster book time output. Provided you are working somewhere with a steady flow of vehicles with those needed adapters, toots, etc.

For instance, if you have to wait 45mins to use the new scanner at a busy dealer, you better work 45mins faster elsewhere. Having your own scanner solves this and keeps your output high.
Finally, NEVER LOAN OUT TOOLS, AND ALWAYS LOCK YOUR PERSONAL TOOLS WHEN YOU ARE NOT PRESENT!!! You won't see their return otherwise.

I don't mean to sound like there is a lot of BS in the trade, but if you are the hardest working mofo you will make more than most college grads; if you are a lazy tech, have fun working as a gas station technician making $20k a year and eating ramen every night...

[Sean A]

Mechanic salaries are what you make it, really. You can be an avg tech and probably pull in around 45-50k.

Now, if you are going through as many classes as you can, which you should; you can make $100k+ in 5-10 years out of school. The key is to get paid book time, rather than hourly. The cons are if it takes forever to repair a car you make didly, but if you are highly productive and finish jobs 30% faster than book time, you can start another repair on the same car, or other vehicle.

Essentially, you get paid for more hours than you are really there. So you completed 60 hours of work in a 40 hr work week you will get PAID.

Another difficult aspect is finding a shop that pays book time, has a guarantee for slow months (say guarantee 500/week), and has a steady flow of repairs. Who cares if you finished a transmission in 5 hours, and book time gave you 12 if you have no other vehicles to repair for two days after that repair. Always work as though it is busy, so you aren't overwhelmed when it picks up again.


My advice, go through VW/AUDI/BMW school, work for each dealer for 5 years or so, if you can, and then 1. open your own independent German repair shop, hire a service writer and repair and run the business or 2. find a decent independent German shop to work at so you can get book time, and less dealer bs, such as trying to sell them on unneeded repairs etc. There's pressure on techs at stealerships since the tech's worth is measured by their repair output. Which some simply don't have issues with, but they will ask if there really isn't anything wrong with the car.

My advice, go to a high-end school, suck it up and pay the high tuition and do a ramen noodle budget while you accumulate your tools. A tech can, and, likely, should spend around $25,000 during their first 5 years in the trade. The scanners and specialty tools will pay for themselves tenfold in faster book time output. Provided you are working somewhere with a steady flow of vehicles with those needed adapters, toots, etc.

For instance, if you have to wait 45mins to use the new scanner at a busy dealer, you better work 45mins faster elsewhere. Having your own scanner solves this and keeps your output high.
Finally, NEVER LOAN OUT TOOLS, AND ALWAYS LOCK YOUR PERSONAL TOOLS WHEN YOU ARE NOT PRESENT!!! You won't see their return otherwise.

I don't mean to sound like there is a lot of BS in the trade, but if you are the hardest working mofo you will make more than most college grads; if you are a lazy tech, have fun working as a gas station technician making $20k a year and eating ramen every night...

Thank you very much.

[wolksvagen26]

I have been a technician for 10 years and have dabbled in many different transportation types (automotive, heavy truck and transit vehicles). The main thing you have to do is get a good education. Start with a vocational school offered by your high school and learn as much as you can while you are there. After graduation go to a well respected college for automotive technologies. Plenty of which offer brand specific training in many different makers. Do well and study as much as possible because the things you will learn from them will shape you into a better tech later on as your experience grows.

The days of a dealership technician making anything near 100k is over. Dont be fooled by anyone telling you that you will make $1XX,XXX doing this job. Those days are sadly over due to the recession and lack of money people have. Remember if the customer doesn't have the money the car wont get fixed.

After saying that I have to add. If you love what you do and you try your hardest everyday you clock in, the money will come. It may not be the kind of money that will allow you to live a rockstar lifestyle but it will be decently comfortable.

One more thing. The best thing I ever did is not to narrow myself in education. I went to college for multiple different type of vehicles (automotive, diesel). By doing it this way I didn't limit myself to one type of vehicle and allowed me to really find what I liked. I started my career as an Audi tech and found that dealerships were dying and they were making it harder and harder to make a good living. I made, ok, money but I wasn't happy with it. I then went into the heavy duty side of the industry. This is where I found my passion. I never thought I would turn down working on S4's for working on detroit diesels and large cummins engines but it is where I found that I was the happiest and if it wasn't for taking the diesel classes at college and vocational school I would have never been able to do so.

[Grunge]

If i could go back, i wouldn't pick this trade. there is much easier/higher paying jobs out there. dont get me wrong, i do make a good living, but its hard on your body and you start to hate wrenching for fun. Dont make your hobby your job.

[kmf]

After graduation go to a well respected college for automotive technologies.

This is some bad advice IMO. If you are going to go to college do not be a fool and wast your time there on any type of automotive BS.

If i could go back, i wouldn't pick this trade. there is much easier/higher paying jobs out there. dont get me wrong, i do make a good living, but its hard on your body and you start to hate wrenching for fun. Dont make your hobby your job.

This is good advice.

When I was your age I enjoyed working on friend's old cars - Camaro's, Chevelles, etc. I started out pumping gas and doing light work. I did more and more and got better and better. This was back in the day when mechanics actually knew how things worked and had to fix stuff. I loved diagnosing problems, pulling something all apart and then putting it back together.

Then I hurt my back and still worked. I worked on cars and light duty trucks, I filled in on police tows when I was needed. I then went on to work on heavy trucks and some equipment. I made good money but in the end I was beating the $hiite out of my body.

In the end I got so beat up physically and I absolutely hated it. I was killing myself, buying my own tools (about $75k worth) doing all this stuff while my buddies were making more money than me driving around in company trucks working as electricians, plumbers, HVAC, etc.

My advice to you would to stay in school. I do not care if school is not for you, just do it. You do what you have to do so that you have a great life down the road. Life is a long game made up of multiple moves/choices. The problem is that you have to make so many vital choices at a young age when you do not understand the ramifications of your actions. Hanging in there and going to college is playing chess. Getting out of high school and turning wrenches right off is playing checkers.

If you enjoy working on cars and stuff as a hobby, then keep it as a hobby. Stay in school and get a good job that pays enough money to let you enjoy that hobby. If you still want to work with your hands look into electrical, plumbing, HVAC. Some of the highest paid techs I know work on elevators.

Just my two cents.

[TheRacer02]

I have recently went to school and graduated and now work for land rover ( I am starting as a tire tech) I can tell you one thing you better be prepared to do things you don't want to do and work twice as hard as everyone else. At first I went in at 1pm and was the last one out which is usually 7-8ish but some times 9 cause I have to clean the shop after all techs leave. Be prepared to be a bitch and don't expect to make 50k the first few years no matter what schools tell you. And you better start working out and keep your body it the best shape it can be in I'm only 26 I worked at a machine shop for 10years before switching jobs and it's the same environment. My body hurts all the time feet are sore a lot. It's not a easy job but I love it even spend my time off wrenching and detailing cars to make up for lost funds some people can do it a life time and some just cant hack it but you better know what you want. Or you will feel like an idiot when you realize you hate that industry and only have to start school and start at the bottom again like me.

[wolksvagen26]

I don't understand how going to a college (UTI, Wyotec or OTC) is bad advice. If the op wants to do this for a career and doesn't want to start out as a tire or lube bitch. This is really the best and most rewarding route to go with. The days when you could just open the hood and see what is causing problems are over. Now you have to have an extensive knowledge of computer systems and diagnostics. Especially now when multiplexing (ecu's that make relays and switches obsolete) in transportation is becoming more standard.

Sean A, If this IS something you want to do. Be smart about it and get as much training as you can.

[TheRacer02]

I would strongly suggest a high end automotive school and take all the electives you can hell BMW will pay for there school but u better be in class every day and never late with a 3.8 gpa

[kmf]

I don't understand how going to a college (UTI, Wyotec or OTC) is bad advice.

Because you are going to waste your money and time on something that pigeonholes you into a dead end career. If you are going to go into debt (tuition) and spend the time do it on something with real potential.

Go to college and get a degree in business or whatever and you can do what you want. Work part time turning a wrench while you are going to school. If you get out and still want to do it then do it but you will always have that degree for when you wake up and realize it sucks.

Go on a job site and look at the good high paying jobs. Without a college degree you will not get a single interview for any of them. The morons that work in HR have their little check lists and they all want to see college.

Your degree from UTI, WyoTech, or OTC will not get you $hiite. You might as well have went to clown college.

IN TODAY'S JOB MARKET YOU NEED A DEGREE TO GET A GOOD HIGH PAYING CAREER.

When I first started I thought it was great too. By the time you have done your 10,000th brake job/oil change/engine swap/whatever you will be thinking of this thread wishing you took my advice. I have done all that stuff. I started out pumping gas, changing tires, and oil changes. I worked on cars, trucks (lt, med, hvy), motorcycles, and equipment. I ended up working on a race team and traveled around the country. Now my days consist of OE data exports and Access queries. I find the things I run using Excel and Access much more challenging than what I did turning wrenches.

[wolksvagen26]

Well I guess different strokes for different folks. I have a degree and LOVE my job. I am respected in my company as the lead diesel tech while still being the youngest in the shop. I don't feel that I would be as far now if I had not gone to college.

Just because you had a bad experience as a tech doesn't mean everyone will. Some like it, some don't.

[kmf]

As a mechanic you can make a little money and in the end up beat the **** out of yourself.

I want a career in which I make real money without killing myself. One thing I can say is that out of all the people that I know that got out of it, not a single person wishes they had stayed in. All of them wish they had either gotten out earlier or not gotten into at all.

I don't feel that I would be as far now if I had not gone to college.

Far is a relative term. Some people are happy playing checkers while others want to play chess.

You said you are the youngest in your shop, how old are you?

[deziking]

Be prepared to sell your soul to get mechanic job. Little pay for hard work, back breaking job = Not fun. I finally found decent office job for fleet management services where I get calls from all the vendors around the country, we have about 144k fleet vehicles out there that needs maintenance and do breakdown that needs work. We negotiate with shops and if they charge too much we tell em to **** off and we move the vehicle to different shop. And it keeps going in circle and circles. It's very different from where I was at shops and front desk. This you get your cubicle with 2 screens and phone. You sit 8hrs and pick up calls. Very different and challenging because I'm used to moving around and not sitting all day but $35k starting is not bad for me. Especially where I came from.

[4ringkings]

I see 3 good auto tech jobs in this forum.

But to actually fill these positions, you must invest time and money into yourself.

European vehicles are like IPhones and American/Asia vehicles are like flip phones. Not everyone is cut out for an IPhone. But if you have an Iphone, it is a lot more than a phone.

When I graduated from high school, I knew I loved automobiles, engines, horsepower, anything that ran on a fuel source, but my parents insisted that I attend college. $20K later, I realized, college was not for me...

The whole time I was going to college, my love for European Automobiles grew, and the idea of working on them grew also. So, I did my homework, and made some phone calls to some of my local BMW, Audi, VW, and European Indie shop and asked the service managers, "Where do I start, where should I go to school to become a European Auto Tech." Most said, you should go to UTI, a few said Wyotech...

Five years later, I walked into my first European Technician job as a Register Audi Technician at a dealership 45 minutes away from where I grew up.

I went to school at UTI and it was the best investment I have ever made. With the skills I have acquired, I can travel anywhere in this country or this world and find a job. If you take a little pride and do good work in the automotive field, you may not get rich, but you will never miss a paycheck! And I can tell you, not one of my college graduate buddies can say that.

and remember why they call it a JOB, because you WORK... if it was FUN you would not get paid for it.

For all the hater out there.... I made more money than most of my college graduate buddies did last year...


Good luck!

[kmf]

The whole time I was going to college, my love for European Automobiles grew, and the idea of working on them grew also.

This is where people are cut from a different cloth. Your idea of happiness is working on European automobiles. My idea of happiness would be owning high end European automobiles.

For all the hater out there.... I made more money than most of my college graduate buddies did last year...

The pay scale when you first get out of college is low. I remember talking to my friends a few years out from college about pay and being surprised how they did not make. My cousin made only $30k a year 5 years out of college. I made way more than all of them and did not go to college. Now here we are and they are making $130k or more, have stock options, great bonuses, killer health care plans, etc.

You can do what you want, but I still say to get a real college degree. It is something you will always have that will open doors for you.

I am 42 years old and have done a lot in the automotive field. I would love to know the ages of the rest of you posting advice.

[4ringkings]

True, I have new hobbies now, but I get to build and drive some sick cars at work... 680hps RS6, 650hp 911T, Supercharged Q7, V8 and V10 S8s... just to name a few...

No matter what career path people choose, success comes from within ones self... So if you want to make $100k turning wrenches, you have to bust your ass and if you want to make $150 selling insurance, you have to bust your ass too...

I just went to a few college graduation parties over the last two weeks and I feel bad for the kids, because it is a really competitive job market out there for college graduates and the schools offer no help with job placement. And some have $50k to $100K of debt to start off with.

As a UTI grad, I had multiple entry level job offers all over the country, and if I lost my current business and had to start over in life... All I have to do is make a phone call to UTI employment service and they will find me job openings... They have great Career Development Department and quality auto/diesel/industrial technician are in super high demand.

[kmf]

True, I have new hobbies now, but I get to build and drive some sick cars at work... 680hps RS6, 650hp 911T, Supercharged Q7, V8 and V10 S8s... just to name a few...

Do you think all those people you build those cars for got them by going to clown college or do you think they have degrees from real schools and have high paying jobs that do not destroy their bodies?

In the end you hop into you everyday average car and drive home thinking about how cool someone that did the corporate thing's life is.

No matter what career path people choose, success comes from within ones self... So if you want to make $100k turning wrenches, you have to bust your ass and if you want to make $150 selling insurance, you have to bust your ass too...

I agree that drive is drive, you either have it or you do not but -

1. I deal with an office full of mopes all day long that could not cut it in a shop that slide by fine every single day.
2. You are literally killing yourself to make $100k turning wrenches and there are a lot of mechanics that will never make half of that.

As a UTI grad, I had multiple entry level job offers all over the country, and if I lost my current business and had to start over in life... All I have to do is make a phone call to UTI employment service and they will find me job openings... They have great Career Development Department and quality auto/diesel/industrial technician are in super high demand.

And people with degrees use a combination of the network of friends they made in college and job sites on the internet. People find work every single day. There is no magic going on at UTI or any other place.

[4ringkings]

I am not doing to bad... I currently own a 2000 A4 (beater with 225 whps), a 2010 A4 2.0TFSI Quattro with sport package, and I think I going to need another write off next year, so I probably going to lease a brand new Porsche Cayenne.

Remember, I own my own repair shop... But only three years ago, I was making $50K per year at the dealer...

I did net over $100K last year and I am f-ing around on vortex in the middle of the day. It really depends on the individual, I have learned to work smarter not harder....

And a German Auto Master Tech can salary close to $100k per year, trust me I have worked with them... When I did my apprenticeship at AUDI, the guy I worked under made $175k, but he got to flag both his and my hours each week...

Things like "fix it right the first time" and learning good habits is a must and it is hard work, but I will always have a job.... up turns or down turns in the economy, people need their cars fixed!

I just turned 30 and out of 5 of my closest friend with College Degrees... 3 still live at home with their parents, and 2 of those have no jobs, but have been looking and looking hard....

I can not think of 1 Auto technician friend or past co-worker that is out of work... Most of them have made moves, because of the economy and are making more money? Figure that one out...

College is not for everyone, and making a life as a Auto Tech is not for everyone... That is all I am saying...

Networking, dude, I know everybody... I work on high end German Automobiles.... Lawyers, Doctors, IT, Bond Traders, Hedge Fund Guys, Ad/Marketing/PR people, Accountants, Builders, Entrepreneurs, Insurance, HR, Engineers, Architects and the list goes on...

All to answer a question and help with a favor with just a phone call...

So, you do not need college for networking either...

Oh yeah, and I can say I love my job and some of my customers actually envy me...

[FISCAL]

seriously I think some blue collar people need to get off their high horses

[kmf]

"I was making $50K per year at the dealer..."

"close to $100k per year"

"made $175k"

1. $50k a year at an Audi dealer is not a lot of money.
2. Close to $100k a year is do able for some, not all. Those than can have a high skill level and are willing to spend more than 40 hours a week at their job.
3. $175k? It is amazing how people like to drop these crazy figures that someone else is making. Why is it always someone else?

Things like "fix it right the first time" and learning good habits is a must and it is hard work, but I will always have a job.... up turns or down turns in the economy, people need their cars fixed!

I worked at a few places where we did some repair work on police and fire department vehicles. The possibility of a tire coming off or something breaking do to an improper repair during a high speed chase or responding to a call for a burning home was drummed into my head.

I worked on school buses for a large privately owned company for a period of time also. No one was up my arse there because they owners knew me and the type of mechanic I was but they were very particular about who worked on their buses. You screw up there and a bunch of children could be injured of killed.

When working on Japanese sport bikes, whether it be for street or the race track, there is a huge potential for injury (that can result in death) if something goes wrong. The acceleration and top speeds the machines are capable of are just incredible.

You want to talk about doing it right the first time, try being at the race track and having 1 hour to do what would normally take 3 hours to do so your rider can get back out there, not crash and die because of something you did wrong, and hopefully win the race.

I think I have the do it right the first time thing down a long time ago.

Networking, dude, I know everybody... I work on high end German Automobiles.... Lawyers, Doctors, IT, Bond Traders, Hedge Fund Guys, Ad/Marketing/PR people, Accountants, Builders, Entrepreneurs, Insurance, HR, Engineers, Architects and the list goes on...

The janitor that cleans their buildings knows all those people too. The barber and dry cleaner. Probably the person working the drive through at Dunks knows them too. Add $2.00 to that and you can get yourself a cup of coffee.

When you get sick of turning wrenches for a living and want to do something else call them all up and ask them for a job and see what they do for you.

Oh yeah, and I can say I love my job and some of my customers actually envy me...

They should make a movie about you.......if not a least a reality TV show.

[Quattro Krant]

I have been thinking about what I want to do in life recently and one thing that has been an option for a while is something with cars. I am 16 and I have enjoyed cars for about two years, specifically VAG of course. I am not that mechanically inclined at the moment but I would probably get a two year college education at least. What is the salary like as a mechanic and is it a demanding position at the moment? Thanks.

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Working on cars SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If my son ever wants to work on cars, I'll break everyone of his fingers. Ever met a tech that's over 40 and doesn't hate life? That's because there aren't any. If you decide to work on cars, you will *HATE* cars. I want to bulldoze all cars and melt them. Cars suck. Fuk cars.

[4ringkings]

Do you think all those people you build those cars for got them by going to clown college or do you think they have degrees from real schools and have high paying jobs that do not destroy their bodies?

In the end you hop into you everyday average car and drive home thinking about how cool someone that did the corporate thing's life is.

You could consider my two Audi A4s average cars. And I could actually afford to buy a pre-owned Audi A8 or a 996 C4S, but I get to drive them at work.

And this is the working smarter, not harder part:

I would rather reinvest my moneys into my growing auto repair business or a piece of real estate... Guess what, one day I will have an 100% office job, the 996/997 Turbo, and a few pieces of real estate.... All with a "clown college degree"...

The janitor that cleans their buildings knows all those people too. The barber and dry cleaner. Probably the person working the drive through at Dunks knows them too. Add $2.00 to that and you can get yourself a cup of coffee.

When you get sick of turning wrenches for a living and want to do something else call them all up and ask them for a job and see what they do for you.

WOW, I think you have got into the wrong career field & you are venting in this thread.

If you have ever owned your own business, you would know that you need to have a lawyer, an accountant, an insurance guy, someone to do your marketing/advertising/branding.... let me know when I start lose you.... a banker (you keep your money with him, and he helps you with capital as your business grows), a finance person (you have him help you invest the money you make), an IT guy (he helps with the computers/phones/printers/ect.), a barber (he cuts your hair, and sometime you "network" by talking to the guy in the next chair.), a cleaning service (they clean the office and bathrooms), a dry cleaner (they clean and press your clothes, and they have one of those "networking" boards with all the business cards on them), and the list goes on....

It might be hard for you to believe, but I have met most of these people by servicing their vehicles... With a "clown college degree."

They should make a movie about you.......if not a least a reality TV show.

Sorry, that I enjoy my career choice, it has been challenging, rewarding and I have always been able to put food on the table and some.

But you know what Sean A (if you are still subscribed)... don't work with your hands, I guess it really sucks and I should just be on a "reality TV show."

KMF, please enlighten us...

Where is this guarantied $150K per year job, were all you need to do is graduate from a "real college", just punch a time card, sit in a big corner office, with no stress for 40 hours a week?????

Let me know how that search works out for you...

Haters gonna hate!

[kmf]

When I was your age I was a giant too (except I could spell better). Talk to me in 10 years when your body is beat to $h!t and getting to drive someone else's car at work doesn't cut it any more.

To the OP - you can do what you want but play it smart. The things you do when you are young are like building the foundation of your house. Build it right and you can do whatever you want. Do not just think of right now, think 10, 20, 30, 50 years on down the road.

You like cars and working on them? Become a mechanic and that will not be the case anymore.

There are no guarantees in anything but playing your cards smart always helps. If you want to turn wrenches then do it part time while you go to school. Go into the military and get paid to learn how to fix vehicles, discipline, team work, see the world, and then when you get out use the GI Bill to help you pay for school.

In these threads people come in telling grand stories with all the money everyone makes. I have been in the field almost 25 years and I can tell you that not all mechanics make the kind of money that gets thrown around in internet discussions. I was at a buddies house yesterday that is a Mercedes tech. There were a few other guys he worked with. I dropped the figures mentioned in this thread and they all said "yeah right", they would be happy to go back to getting 40 hours a week every week like they did before the economy went bad.

When you get sick of turning wrenches or you cannot do it anymore do to injuries what are you going to do. Right now the big focus for non-blue collar jobs is Excel and Access. You do not really develop those skills working out in the shop.

[Quattro Krant]

You like cars and working on them? Become a mechanic and that will not be the case anymore.

Could not have said it any better. I *HATED* cars as soon as I started to sell them for a living. If I won the Mega Millions, I'd buy a 30ton Cat bulldozer and crush every car at Adesa. Fuk cars.

[Brendon1098]

Be prepared to sell your soul to get mechanic job. Little pay for hard work, back breaking job = Not fun. I finally found decent office job for fleet management services where I get calls from all the vendors around the country, we have about 144k fleet vehicles out there that needs maintenance and do breakdown that needs work. We negotiate with shops and if they charge too much we tell em to **** off and we move the vehicle to different shop.

I used to HATE dealing with you guys. UGHHH national accounts.

Many a time i'd have to call you guys and you'd want your special rate and blah blah blah. Cool, how about this for an idea, your clients truck needs brakes and is unsafe to drive, pay my diag time and tow it out because thats the only way it's going out of here, or pay what I'm quoting you and suck it up.

*end rant* oh and it's not personal to you, just in general.

[Quattro Krant]

Be prepared to sell your soul to get mechanic job.

That's about the last thing on the earth I'd ever sell my soul for, a job as a wrench

[Brett92]

In these threads people come in telling grand stories with all the money everyone makes. I have been in the field almost 25 years and I can tell you that not all mechanics make the kind of money that gets thrown around in internet discussions. I was at a buddies house yesterday that is a Mercedes tech. There were a few other guys he worked with. I dropped the figures mentioned in this thread and they all said "yeah right", they would be happy to go back to getting 40 hours a week every week like they did before the economy went bad.

Yeah, I hate to call anyone out for lying, but I've never met a mechanic that did really well, like 100K a year. I mean, I know a few mechanics, and I would estimate that they make $30k-40K, which I think is good money for down "South".

I know this is anecdotal, but one guy in particular lives in a ratty trailer, but is supposedly ASE Dual certified and has 8 years of experience at a local Ford dealer. He's nice as hell, but him and his wife (she works too) seem to barely make it. He apparently does a lot of side jobs too, which I've noticed a lot of mechanics do. Seems like if they were pulling in great money, they wouldn't do as many side jobs. I personally can't imagine replacing someone's heater core on my Saturday afternoon unless I NEED the money. Maybe they have a million dollars under their mattress.

With that said, I'm not trying to direct anyone away from being a mechanic. I think it's an honest man's job, and I respect them more-so than some of these people who get 4 year degrees in History/Language Arts from these crappy, online colleges that prey on people who hold tightly to an American Dream. Seriously, what do you do with a Bachelor's degree in Chinese History? (a friend has this degree) Most universities want someone with the terminal degree in their field. I guess you could teach at a highschool, or community college, but outside of that there's no vocation for that degree.

I think I've managed to piss off both white and blue collar people with my post. Mission Accomplished.

[Quattro Krant]

Yeah, I hate to call anyone out for lying, but I've never met a mechanic that did really well, like 100K a year. I mean, I know a few mechanics, and I would estimate that they make $30k-40K, which I think is good money for down "South".

I be that they are basing that figure on beating shop rate for one job, then going on to the next job while still collecting from the first one. Then multiplying that figure, which is NOT what they always make, and giving some b.s. calculation of income.

Again, I'd rather fight off great white sharks while wearing a steak suit then be a mechanic for a living.

[jerseygli]

There are no guarantees in anything but playing your cards smart always helps. If you want to turn wrenches then do it part time while you go to school. Go into the military and get paid to learn how to fix vehicles, discipline, team work, see the world, and then when you get out use the GI Bill to help you pay for school.

This isn't a bad route if the military is of interest to the OP. You could do a 4 year contract in a motor pool and if you hate being a mechanic at the end of the contract you get out and have the GI Bill.

Fwiw, I have heard that the guys who can work on medium and heavy duty trucks and upfit are becoming few and far between so there may be more demand (read: $$$) in that area of the field.

[kmf]

This isn't a bad route if the military is of interest to the OP. You could do a 4 year contract in a motor pool and if you hate being a mechanic at the end of the contract you get out and have the GI Bill.

Do not just limit the choices to the motor pool. The military has soooo many things that need to be serviced on a regular basis that you could pick a lot of things to work on.

You will also learn discipline, teamwork, and attention to detail. You can travel the world.

[GTiTOM]

I am not that mechanically inclined at the moment

I'm not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but if you're not mechanically inclined, then how do you know you want to be a mechanic? Being inclined means you have a natural affinity and ability towards it --- you can develop the skills, but if you don't have the innate ability to be able to do it, then it might not be something you want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on getting an education for. For example, I'd never go to art school because I know that no matter how much training I get, I just don't have an affinity for visuals.

I'd imagine that most people who go into the field professionally got into it because they knew they were mechanically inclined and liked working on their own cars on the side. There are plenty of jobs that involve cars (sales, service manager, or any number of jobs that a normal company would have, like marketing or finance or engineering) that aren't being a mechanic.

Also, someone mentioned the military. I've been looking into the National Guard for the last year or so, and if I wasn't 2x your age, I would have already signed up. They'll pay for a good chunk of your education (if you're in Massachusetts, they'll pay 100% of all costs at state schools) and will train you how to do a job in exchange for 3 years (or 6 or 8) of giving them 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. I'd rather be 21 with no debt, 3 years of college paid for, and 3 years experience working as a mechanic on any number of military vehicles than be 21 and have $50k in student loan debt for a trade school --- especially if at 21 you realized you didn't want to actually be a mechanic anymore

[O2VW1.8T]

Being a mechanic can pay good but i would do something else. listen to Quattro Krant lol.. Been a tech for 6 years wish i wasn't in too much debt so i can go back to school so i can get paid the same but easier on the body.

[SLAB]

I've been a tech for about 7-8 years. income varies from $60-80k /year. i'm topped out in my field.

having said that, I HATE DOING THIS JOB

im not going to be able to do this forever as it is physically intensive, plus i feel like im stuck...the job isnt mentally challenging anymore, plus i hate fixing my own car now.

there are some parts that i enjoy, but the biggest problem is working FLAT RATE and busting my ass.

what other occupation could i be in that makes this kind of money? ive thought about it many times, but still stuck.