Is it Worth Being a Technician/Mechanic in 2024?! Flat Rate?!

[@michaelking9373]

Have been a tech for 40 years, flat rate is the only pay program that the more you know the less money you make, better off to play stupid, and get the easy work.

[@attiumeyami417]

let me guess, they give u the heavy jobs that dont pay because u got experience and they shove the easy brake jobs to the noobs. yup been there done that. f that shit

[@castajc82]

It’s all about finding the right shop. Sadly that’s how it is in most places.

[@mrmurdx8956]

Facts ASE do not guarantee you a pay raise. Facts having experience and 10k plus in tools don't get you a raise. Only leaving for another shop will.

[@attiumeyami417]

or switching to other trades.

[@Soundsofthewood]

I don't know if other jobs are like this. The only way to make more money is to keep jumping to other jobs or just self employment.

[@MostGenericUser]

Flat rate is an outdated system that should have died out a long time ago. It makes no sense how we get paid different then virtually every other trade. If you can be a good tech you can easily do another trade and make more money with better benefits with way less invested. Until guaranteed good pay is the norm this industry will continue to lose techs in mass.

[@joebrenner4428]

According to Washington State law, employers are required to pay employee’s at least the minimum wage or an agreed wage rate, whichever amount is higher. This also applies to employees that are auto technicians and paid a flat rate. Such employees must be paid at least minimum wage or a higher agreed wage for all hours worked. Generally, if there is no other contract in place, the law doesn’t prevent an employer from lowering an employee’s wage prospectively. However, if the work has already been performed at a higher agreed rate, the employer must pay the employee the agreed wage for the hours already worked. For example, if an employee and employer agree that the worker will earn an agreed flat rate of $500 for a job and the employee performs the work under this agreement, the employer cannot later reduce their flat rate wage to $400 after the work has already been completed.

[@DEmechanic2000]

I’m 23 and been in the field since 17. I’ve always been independent but hourly, started this new job 8 months ago though that’s flat rate with guarantee. I’m hourly until I flag 35 hours then I’m flat rate, and it’s great ! I hit my hours weekly always I average 40-45 hours weekly some weeks I go well into high 50’s (granted labor times a a little lower from dealer since our hourly and flat rate rates are higher than dealer) and for my age I’m well going to hit 80-100k by end of year hopefully

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

That’s awesome. Keep it up and best of Iuck to you

[@robertarce5399]

You remind me so much of myself when I was your age,all I can say is Good luck.

[@dmack7328]

I have been in the biz closing in on 50 years. The modern day tech will make bank going forward, the shortage is no better. The electrical side of tech work is weeding out the parts changers.

[@cameroni6656]

My dealer didn’t pay for ASEs (having them, doing them, and/or recertifying them) , did not give me raises for my specialist brand certifications and made me pay for training THEN reimburse me. Money was tough. I wanted to better myself and it didn’t do shit. I work for the government now and I’m happy I’d say

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Nice bro!

[@happygarage6310]

It's nice to see upcoming texhs with a good attitude like yourself. I will disagree with you on the dealership being a great place to grow, respectfully. If a person has the desire and aptitude fir diagnostic troubleshooting the dealer may stifle your growth. My dealer experience, at Toyota ironically enough, was not ideal for my skills. I made the most money at the dealer as a mid level expert. While my pay rate went up as I claimed master, and MDT status, even got Supra certified, my paycheck stagnated. Yes you can get great training and experience with high volume at a dealer, flat rate is an exercise in time and workflow management after all, one must remember that all that training is a transferable skill. And you are correct, you should get ASE certifications, but unfortunately in many areas around the country the best way to get a measurable raise is to quit and go to another shop. You touched on good points, yes it is worth becoming a tech in 2024, 2025, and so on. The skills an auto technician learns is transferable to several areas, and the knowledge and aptitude required means there is little monotony in the field.

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

@happygarage6310 good to hear another stand point from someone seasoned! Glad to hear your thoughts on it. Definitely quitting and leaving gets you a raise. And good point I forgot to mention. The higher the ranks you climb the harder diag and warranty jobs you get which greatly affect your pay!

[@Soundsofthewood]

I think I should've gotten the clue a long time ago about this industry. Most of the people retiring that I worked with. They were in their 60's and 70's. The way that things are going now. You're going out in your uniform.

[@MikesMotorsports]

the only place you will make good money is working for any company with vehicles that they do there own fleet maintenance on, trust me

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Working fleet is always good!

[@rickybungalow8839]

Flat rate would be great in a world where I could teleport home and be doing something else when it’s slow but if you are on company property, you should be getting paid for your time

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Well said

[@flatratetechpodcast]

You have to quit to get a raise in this industry.

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

That’s something I hear a lot

[@Toyotatech86]

I love the flat rate system. NorCal based. High volume Toyota. Been at Toyota for 9 years now and I can support a family of 5, own a home ,2 cars, etc. all off my income. I do run all day and flag a lot of hours but it’s definitely worth it. If anyone enjoys working on cars and likes labor intensive jobs then I say yes most definitely get in the field.

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Glad to hear that! Definitely many pros and cons on this subject and it all just depends on the individual and what works for them and what they are looking for

[@eddieds312]

Yes the flate rate system "Can" suck But before you knock it be sure you can hake it because if you suck at flate your probably going to run into problems when your hourly

[@Artburg]

22yrs Northeast Benz dealer tech. Flat rate 👍🏻, flag 70+hrs a week

[@erat91]

Industrial mechanics looking at auto techs like:👀

[@attiumeyami417]

bro im like..... yo u got the brain and the brawn wtf do u insist on not getting paid!!!!! come over here bro just make a run for it its not to late!

[@josephvazquez9834]

GREAT VIDEO THANKS BRO

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed it

[@andrewhendricks4629]

Hey young blood the guys in the office that's above you that has 20yrs like you said they said the same thing your are saying now but 20yrs passed them and where are they now in the same place you are only older so my advice to you is use the industry don't let them use .

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Yes sir. Great point. I will squeeze everything I can out of the industry but I won’t let it squeeze me

[@sydneykillian3685]

@@BustedKnucklesGarage1if this is your passion, do it but other jobs you can grab with experience you already have, that don’t always higher, government jobs, prevailing wage jobs, electrician and networking. One of the best ways to interview and audition is fixing a persons boat or car the owner will see your attention to detail if he is that type person.

[@ItzSev101]

I love this dose help me with what I kinda been seening at my auto shop I use to work at but question do u need to have a degree to start a entry-level or dose it depend on the owner when I was working at auto shop one of my co worker didn't have a degree but he knew what he was doing and did a great job. So u think I would have a chance to get into an auto shop if I had a little over year of basics experience. I was just helper didn't do lot but mainly just putting head light back lights front and back bumper as well

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Yeah you definitely don’t need a degree or even trade school. Dealerships will take you as entry level. You just have to work hard and show you want to be there and learn and you’ll grow!

[@ph1lthyvision]

Flat rate would be ok if it was a flat rate. That 6.5 hour clutch job the customer would pay is 2.2 hours warranty because manufacturing defect. Ive been doing this 18 years now and im still mad the dealers can screw the service dept in this way. Writers/techs and service dept should not lose for taking care of customers.

[@jamesspash5561]

Flat rate is great for the lube tech, or breaks guy. But the Real tech who trouble shoots and diagnoses. By the hour. ASC tests are BS. Just pass a test without real knowledge.

[@mlara98796]

I believe it is definitely worth it to be a mechanic in 2024 because the world looks up to us. Everyone drives a car now a days and they all brake. The world as a whole would fall apart without mechanics. We will get paid better soon! I understand flatrate can suck but do side jobs. Thank you for this video!

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

I agree with you and you made a good point for sure! Hopefully the pay gets better soon for technician retention

[@rexisretro]

They do indeed all brake haha

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

@rexisretro yeah they do. Electric, gas, diesel all need certified and capable techs to work on them

[@IMPACTRATED]

Good video bro, its still definitely worth it. U in the bay area or just rockin the stevens creek shirt?

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Thank you I appreciate it! And no my cousin worked there so just rocking the shirt

[@thekidmanny377]

Apparently my dealer had a guarantee before I joined and then when I did they took it away

[@ronsimmaculatedetailing6335]

Ase tests are not easy idc what no one says. The average joe won’t pass them on the first try. You really do have to have some type of knowledge about the different systems. With that being said, working for a corporation is hell. All they do is push car count and sales at the expense of the technicians. They don’t want you to leave on time, the customer is always right and you have to put the customer that broke down on the highway 5 mins before close above going home to your wife and kids.Getting up going to work literally has me thinking about veering off to the side and going into the lake. 😭 3 more weeks my hell will be over. I’ll work on my own stuff at home.

[@WrenchingMafia]

I love flat rate been doing this for 16 years, making 6 figures can't complain.

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Yes sir. Definitely good money in it

[@Adam-kk7nw]

​@BustedKnucklesGarage1, 😊did you hear ai robot r being trained to do oil change and tire rotation they said by 2027 they be released

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

@Adam-kk7nw I did not hear that. That’s crazy!

[@ghost13829]

A guarantee for 80...? What in the. Never hear of no 80hour guarantee is weekly or biweekly?

[@BustedKnucklesGarage1]

Bi weekly. 40 a week

[@z37iw47]

This is by far the worst trade. I wish i would have listened to the old timers when i was your age. You want to drive nice cars or do you want to fix them for other people? Get out while your young!

[@heystarfish100]

Management is not steady in the industry. They come and go as much as the technicians. You can’t tie your horse to anybody in the business. There are brands of vehicles where almost all work is warranty and being paid at reduced time rates. This guy is young and dumb. Just wait until you get older in this business because you are screwed. Your body gets worn out and your ability to keep pushing yourself hard becomes impaired. I would avoid this career. Sure you can make money at times but often times it’s incredibly inconsistent. You can’t count on anything as everyday is an adventure and every week your balls will be busted no matter how skilled you are. You could make 32 hours on Monday and by Friday your chances of booking 43 hours for the entire week is still high. Picking up after hours side jobs becomes a necessity rather than a bonus and over time that just adds more problems than it alleviates. There are many other trades that are a better career choice to you reach retirement age. Nobody in the automotive service department management gives a flying fig about you, your needs or how much money you are making. It’s always all about them.

[@benboyer2776]

I hate to be negative, but this is spot on unfortunately….

[@attiumeyami417]

let me put it as simple as I can for the fine folks that are thinking about joining this "fine industry" in an economic time like this.... if ur a programmer u get paid 60-70k/year starting and work in a safe environment with AC with mabey a 500$-1000$ investment in a decent computer. if ur a plumber u make about 60k a year to use ur hands. u may have to deal with a roach or 2 but ur tool cost is not out of this world unless ur running an operation but in that case the sky is the limit in terms of pay. so why would u even think about an industry that requires u to use both brain and hands but is unwilling to pay u even the bare minimum of these other 2 industries while also requiring u to invest thousands of dollars in tools and breath in poisonous carbon monoxide gas for 8 hours/day. like are u st*pid? its 2024, with this economy we dont have time for jobs that dont pay. we can't afford to not get paid.... news flash they can pay but they dont want too so dont waste ur time. please listen to this warning before u dump thousands in tools. its a scam! u deserve atleast 80k for dealing with the bs these "fine engineers" (sarcasm) are making nowadays.

[@CloudStrife-zk6uv]

Ahhhh.....no.