Mechanic Shortage!? Let’s talk about starting wages.

[@joem5110]

Mechanic is the only job that pays $30,000 a year and they want you to own $80,000 in tools.

[@nicmainville9954]

And annually work $30,000-$50,000 worth of overtime for free.

[@Saturntabbytype2]

Same as a joiner in ther uk

[@Dieselpwr]

Yep

[@Slice_of_Crime]

@Aesthetics622 it takes significantly more time to do anything under a car when it's not on a lift and then the mechanic is also at the mercy of the weather like rain and snow.

[@Yourcomputertutordotnet]

It's prolly twice that now

[@Cakebattered]

There's rarely a worker shortage, just pay shortages.

[@bone3594]

Absolutely true!

[@motorcitymadman146]

That's why they have DEI and illegals pouring in.

[@smokepeddler]

Yes, especially when cheap labor is imported in masses south of the border.

[@francismarion6400]

Agree but should a decent truck really cost $80k?

[@smokepeddler]

@@francismarion6400 no. They don't make trucks for the average Joe. They're all luxury for people that don't use them for work.

[@OG_ArthurSlugworth]

They wanna pay trades $25-28 an hour yet the stoner 16 year old at McDonald’s is starting at $20… there’s some big box stores in my area starting cashiers at $25!…. If cashiers are starting at $25 I should be making $100.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Yup. Raise the minimum wage to 25$ per hour… but you better be paying trades at 35$ per hour to start. Then nobody can afford anything. Crazy times.

[@MegaSuperMiracle]

No person got ahead by demeaning others. If retail store pays more that certain industry, it isn’t retails store fault.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Right, it’s the industries fault. We need to demand more pay in my industry. That’s the point.

[@fastinradfordable]

I started at $5.15/hr in 2008 Virginia. West coast I make $35+😎

[@kolbpilot]

We're to the point that 90% of the jobs should pay the same. Make it minimum wage. Just think how cheap everything would be ?

[@TheNefastor]

Bosses : "let's shaft workers to provide for the shareholders." Also bosses : "I wonder why I can't find any loyal workers".

[@nicmainville9954]

But those parasites are "essential", according to the investors themselves.

[@TOOL_MARKS]

THIS DESCRIBES THE ENTIRE AMERICAN ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL. 😠😡

[@TheNefastor]

@@TOOL_MARKS American ? That's the entire world that works like that. Name one country where shareholders take a backseat to employees.

[@ELDTAdventures-tp9jy]

Most businesses are small businesses and therefore family businesses that pay market rates. If you believe you can pay above-market rates to your help, have it my friend . . .

[@francismarion6400]

Also Biden: Let's regulate all decent family owned businesses out of business.

[@miRichie]

Overworked and underpaid. I’m a welder and feel the same. Unless you’re union you are absolutely lowballed at every employer and it just doesn’t make sense for young people to spend multiple years at a shit hole employer and hope they will be loyal to you. They won’t be

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Truth!! My fiancée is in production/welding. She is paid pretty dang good, but it’s Union and she got lucky welders are underpaid for sure. Gotta job hop sometimes.

[@user-jc7bg8hh1w]

The crazy thing is I make more per hour than that an all I do lift boxes

[@WwoJakkk]

@@user-jc7bg8hh1w what job is that

[@889976889]

As a fellow welder I second this! I know so many people I went to welding school with who got into other fields do to low pay. Even if your union you still aren’t paid that well. I make more than union contractors are starting out at.

[@Evilslayer73]

i quit welding in 2018 i was at 23 $ with over 25 years experiences ,underpaid ,and overworked

[@davidw.5185]

$26 per hour with zero debt and no wife or kids gets you a used car and a small apartment. That's a fairly limited life. You can live on that, but you won't flourish.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Yup. Split bills, don’t be foolishly spending. That’s still doable. 👍👍

[@OldBeaterGarage]

$26 to START; once you've got experience and use your head you can move up or start your own gig.

[@AmalgamationofMan]

​@@OldBeaterGarageThe problem today is showing initiative and going above and beyond no longer advances your career. It gets you used and abused in 2024.

[@captaintoyota3171]

Doable? FOR A SKILLED TRADE? PAY YOUR MECHANICS AND CONST WORKERS GOOD OR U GET JUNK. This lowest bid society hurts everyone

[@expertsider]

you might get by in the US but not in Canada

[@reubenmorris487]

The executives and upper management of these big companies are taking TOO much money - that's the reason the businesses run off the backs of the mechanics.

[@cruzergo]

yes the parasite class is sucking too much value from the mechanics.

[@kyles234]

As well as taxes that the businesses have to pay

[@A_friend_of_Aristotle]

What an executive makes has no impact or bearing on what a technician makes. None. What drives wages is the same dynamic that drives the price of everything else: supply and demand. Supply for technician labor is tight right now, which this is good for wages. Any employer who is paying less then the average wage does not understand the dynamics. At some point, unless they're stupid, employers will realize this and start paying competitive wages. In the meantime, young techs like this man are in the driver's seat. There is a lot of mobility possible as a diesel technician, you need to realize this first, then you need to be willing to move to another type of diesel powered technology, or move to a region of the US that pays better wages.

[@wumi2419]

@@A_friend_of_Aristotle unless money that executives get somehow appears out of thin air, all paychecks come from the same pool. And things become a lot more difficult once you realize that there are costs, profit margins and added value. What do you think is more likely to follow if technician's pay rises? 1. Executives cut their paychecks to keep prices and sales the same; 2. Price of service increases, then sales decrease because of higher price, then pay is lowered back because sales are low.

[@squidvis]

​@@A_friend_of_Aristotle It's seriously 2024 and you still believe in supply and demand?!?!? What rock you been living under and what's the rent like? 😂😂😂

[@hammondclarkson9201]

Not a single mechanic in Germany buys his own tools. This is crazy in the US.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

We do a lot of things backwards here.

[@paradiselost9946]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic still a few mile ahead of here in the land down under...

[@failranch9542]

As an American who has been to Germany, I’ll just say that the Germans get a lot of things right.

[@bradleypollack5658]

US is a mega capitalist nation! That’s why everything is backward to Europe!!

[@thejackel1844]

@@paradiselost9946 Why don't you move there ?...

[@terryeffinp]

I am a journeyman diesel technician, when I started out in 2013 I was 19 years old, I started at 17.53 an hour. The going rate for someone who worked at a gas station at that time was around 8 dollars an hour. I was making a killing as a kid. Our apprentices today start off around 22-23 an hour. Target is paying people almost 20 dollars an hour to stock shelves in our region. If I was 19 again, today, living with my parents, I could not afford to buy the tools that I currently have, the tools I bought over the past decade. Current retail on my tool inventory including my toolbox is $99,000. Stuff that I bought in 2014 has almost doubled in price, it is insane. I agree entirely with what you are saying. Why would a young man take up the liability, the physical costs to your body, use what little expendable income they have to buy tools, get filthy dirty in the hot, the cold, snow, and rain, when they can stock shelves for almost the same money (by the time you deduct what is spent on tools annually it is basically the same pay) in a climate controlled environment. Sure stocking shelves has little upward potential, but it is easy right now, and humans often times are very short sighted. It is very hard to find technicians. It is even harder to find technicians that are genuinely good at what they do. It is insane how many people I have seen come and go over the years, they just couldn't cut it. The person who hired me said, "This industry is becoming so complex that we need people who were capable of going to college, but who just chose not to." Starting wage should be around 25-30 an hour for an apprentice depending on region and type of work, a journeyman should be around 50-55 an hour depending on region and type of work.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Spot on. 👍

[@mikethemechanic7395]

Senior Diesel mechanic here. 23 years. Started in 2001. Paid off my tools in 3 years. You are right about how things are. The one good thing now. We don’t have apprenticeships anymore. Green guys make high 20s right away. The starting pay is way higher then when I first started. Max pay is a lot quicker. Tools are so much more in 2024. At least there are many options. When I first started in 2001. It was snap on or Mac maybe Sears. The shortage made everyone do the same work now. It does not matter if you have 1 year or 20 plus. You will do brake jobs and dirty work no matter what. Sometimes I have a choice if something technical needs to be done. We are treated way different also. I can take days off and make up my time for appointments. In 2001. You got yelled at for taking time off or take vacation.

[@mrmurdx8956]

Bro you got ripped off starting at 17 an hour as to getting 25 an hour

[@kwashelby2010]

"Why would a young man take up the liability, the physical costs to your body, use what little expendable income they have to buy tools, get filthy dirty in the hot, the cold, snow, and rain". Because you want to be a mechanic. Both my parents have college degrees, my dad a masters, my brother a masters. I, however, am a mechanic. 30 years in, bootstrapped, I own my own shop and just like working on cars.

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

One of my friends was making $17 an hour at Roehl as a new diesel tech back in 2011. Now he's a heroin addict and pawned off of the SnapOn tools that his parent's cosigned on.

[@garyday6681]

Basic house is $400000. $26 dollar hourly pay high risk of getting hurt and buying your own tools makes this unthinkable for a rational person.

[@TagGeorge]

What are you talking about risk? If you listen to the typical hype that tries to justify corporate profits the only people taking risk is the investors. That must be true.

[@rainmant5724]

Working on cars sucks. I was mis-led in the late 80's that car repair was a great career. After paying signifcant money in tools, you get to work in dirty/dangerous environment. No shop that I know has a air conditioned shop, and most places are owned by small businesses. So no medical insurance, 401k, sick leave, etc. Everybody was married to get medical insurance, as they had no intention to offering it to employees. Veteran mechanics (mid 30's), had significant physical trouble with backs, shoulders, and knees. The chemicals like anti-freeze, brake clean, carb cleaner, and a few others were known carcinogens. Two shops i worked at, the shop foreman/veterans told me to get out of working on cars before you get stuck and start a family, etc. My employer took things out of my paycheck, like uniforms and shop supplies. One time while working on a vehicle I reached over and accidentally broke a sensor. So they stapled a bill on my time card and paycheck!! I worked at a dealer that didn't have to pay over time. Supposedly if you are on some sort of incentive plan (like keeping your job), then time and a half isn't a thing. I saw the writing on the wall in just 2 years, and went to night school at a community college for computer programming. I went to work at a Best Buy and the pay/benefits were better. Eventually I got a job in a regular large company, and many times I think how easy computer programming is compared to the crap I after high school.

[@Ja50nkAt]

The chemical exposure is the worst part, you get cancer after 20 years of exposure or really less the employer isn't liable, you're on your own. It's just a scam.

[@exil3dlivecom]

Damn.... good for you.

[@Mr_BUSINESS_24_7]

they were telling me to get out in 1997 when I started.

[@Black_Wolf_XY]

Mechanic here. You are right on point with a mechanic being a master trade/literal jack of all trades.

[@chrisjackson1266]

"Why'd it take an extra 40 mins?" "I like my fingers where they are, thanks"

[@frankdelucey2137]

Me needing stitches in my hand but wrapping it up with bandaids, paper towels and electrical tape just to finish up the job. Lol

[@michaelEdge-g3d]

I'm close to 66 and have been a mechanic since I was 18. At 43 I was able to land a city job and make a livable wage. If I were just starting out I think I would go in a different direction. Excellent video! Hits the nail on the head.

[@Jay-fx4tx]

Most of the time when i hear corporations or the govt talking about a "worker shortage". What it really means is : There arent enough people willing to do this particular job for nothing. If we dont flood the market with workers and drive wages down we might actually have to PAY people to do it.

[@motorcitymadman146]

AI and Robots will replace human workers in our life time. Let's see what scraps we get. Enough to support the CEOs pay I'm sure.

[@TheASG2010]

And the US govenment keeps the border open so there's a continual supply of slave labor

[@smokepeddler]

Illegal immigrants will replaced you for half the money

[@francismarion6400]

Don't worry uncle Joe is bringing in your replacement. You should have finished high school kiddo.

[@Jay-fx4tx]

@@francismarion6400 im retired. Take your own advice kid

[@christopherstimpson6540]

I owned my own tools and the boss decided I was not worth what the shop across the street had offered. So during lunch I got some help and pushed my tool boxes across the street. Mechanics are highly mobile. You can also set up your own shop too. Been there and did that. I'm 62 and still working but I work nice and slow. I don't hurry for anyone. At 62 I even move slow 😁.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Congrats on that. We can move around for sure. I’m on my third shop in under 2 years. Pay increases every time.

[@TheNefastor]

I'm an engineer and younger but I also never hurry for anyone. I get paid for a 9 to 5, that means I'm out at 5:01. And I work slow because I get it right the first time, unlike the dummies who look real busy, screw up and them do unpaid overtime fixing their own stupid.

[@AsviniKumar4747]

​@TheNefastor what branch of engineering and are you in the US?

[@craigman7262]

lol but shop owners will say “I can’t find anybody and ppl are lazy”. Yeah not work for peanuts

[@HarrisonFjord-n3v]

62 and still don't have your own shop...

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

I've gotten the whole "your generation just doesn't want to work" after declining a job because the pay was too low. A, no, I don't really want to work for you. B, I have a job already, you're just not paying enough to motivate me to switch.

[@seanlevoy9446]

I'm gen x and have witnessed the decline of America in real time. I abhor the whole "lift yourself by your bootstraps" take, many older people have. We are headed towards Weimar conditions, and it's been engineered on purpose. God bless.

[@ashleyaries9299]

@@seanlevoy9446 I did diesel tech and eventually ended up at Shelton Ferrari after working as a PCA tech on race cars. Did it for 8 years, there is no amount of money that would make me do it again, and I agree with your comment. Ive seen the exact same downward slide. I hate automobiles and I hate doing mechanics. The decline is stunning, and it amazes me that people simply can't see it.

[@aymanhawari2589]

Dollar end game

[@chuckfinley3152]

It’s been planned for over a century

[@neilhanley3468]

Dude, I'm 50 and got tired of hearing people say that! I totally get it! You guys don't wanna do what they did just because they did it. I feel like you guys know there gotta be better than the shit scraps we're given. Also during the lockdowns I asked those old fauks if they would wanna work a 8 hr shift wearing a mask amd of course they said they wouldn't, yet expect you to do it... smh

[@seanspringer2396]

I work in California where they just passed the 20$hr for fast food. As an entry level tech. I’m now making less than someone who flips burgers.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Your first problem is living in California.

[@seanspringer2396]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic true, problem is, all my family/ extended family is from here, so 🤷‍♂️

[@GoyslopGladiator]

I remember I got a job at a local mechanic shop. They told me I needed to buy my own tools, almost $30,000 worth. The job barely paid that much per year, I quit that moment.

[@wagu7003]

All that should have been made clear by the employer before the hire.

[@OldBeaterGarage]

@Aesthetics622 $30K won't buy you enough SO tools to do your job!

[@COBRO98]

$30,000 won't even get you half of the tools and box you need to work in an independent shop anymore. You will spend $100,000+ over 20 years in tools.

[@shawn576]

It's whack mechanics need to buy their own tools. I'm an electrician so my tools are cheap as shit. All of my sockets are $5 junk from Amazon and it's more than strong enough for what I do. Mechanics need impact rated tools that are like $20 instead of $5. Every single tool is 3-4x as expensive, but you get paid less than me. My main tool is a brushed M18 impact driver that I paid $80 CAD for about 6 years ago. A proper impact wrench for a mechanic is like $200 minimum. A 12 inch extension for my tool is about $12. A 12 inch extension for your tool is $30. My tools are small enough and light enough to carry in a backpack. Your tools are much larger and much heavier, so you need a big expensive tool cabinet. The numbers just don't work. The economy doesn't want mechanics to exist.

[@meatpuppet7712]

I was talking with a woman I work with last week. She happened to mention her boyfriend works at a ford dealership just around the corner from my house. She also mentioned that she makes more money than he does. Curious, I asked what he made because being a certified Ford mechanic I thought they must pay pretty good......$20 an hour. My jaw hit the ground because they charge $97.00 an hour for labor.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Crazy right!? Kind of insulting at times.

[@jaredjared4451]

That's all a Ford dealership is charging for Labor?? Which city are you in because even the Nissan Dealer in my medium, Midwest city is $160.00 per hour

[@OldBeaterGarage]

$97! That's low. Dealerships here in CO is $150+!

[@djrickyb]

$140+ an hour in Maryland at the stealerships! It was $97 back around 2003

[@meatpuppet7712]

@@jaredjared4451 I live in a small pisshole town in the middle of nowhere Maine with a population of about 4,000 people and about a one-hour drive from any sizable city....and to be honest That $97 figure was the last price I knew they had which was from a decade ago when I had to go in to pick up a work truck and that's what they had posted on the wall for hourly rates. It certainly has gone up since then, but I don't know the exact amount.

[@Aaron-or6ov]

I was a former auto tech 25 years at a dealership. I agree with everything you say and what others in the comments say. But one thing that’s not brought up a lot is the wear and tears on your body. Even with what we get paid or got paid it’s not enough to justify what our body goes through daily, our body slows down a lot after awhile. We are constantly every day bending over. Reaching. Lifting heavy items. Bleeding from cuts. Being in oddball positions, Putting our body’s through hell. That slows you down a lot. And also there is no air conditioning. If it’s hot or cold outside it’s hot and cold inside. And forget about raining days. And health insurance is in my opinion some of the worst you can have as an auto tech. These dealers offer the lowest form of health insurance they can. Just putting my opinion and experience into the comments.

[@Gromitdog1]

You forgot exposure to vibration, unpredictable very loud noises, toxic chemicals and fumes associated with them, dust and other particles of questionable origin and health implications (brake dust etc). You don't see many old mechanics for a reason.

[@Aaron-or6ov]

@@Gromitdog1 you are spot on. I completely forgot about those.

[@macy-gu6vl]

I worked AT&T construction it can be hard on the body and accidents do happen.

[@clutchitup8565]

My buddy's dad works for Honda dealership after 40 years his arms shoulders and wrists are crippled he is basically crippled at retirement

[@Aaron-or6ov]

@@clutchitup8565 I told a few younger guys next time they go to a shop. Notice how the younger guys move around compared to the older ones. It’s night and day. I hope your friends dad is able to get help and back to some semblance of normalcy. Sad to hear that.

[@MLFranklin]

There is only a shortage at the wages shops are willing to pay. If they pay more they have more than enough job applicants.

[@alanbeshore943]

"A" level guys need to be paid more. A lot more. New people see the difficulty of the job, then they see that even at the top of the profession, its not worth it, so out the door they go.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Right, across the board! There’s gotta be incentive to stay in the industry too. Top and senior techs worth their money should be making $40 and up all day long.

[@mattmechanic]

This is exactly what I’m struggling with now, reached my 2nd year as an automotive tech and finding that the pay at my current company isn’t enough to own a home in my area. Where is the living wage?

[@eisenkrieg553]

​@CJdieseltech If you marry that bleak prospect of undervalued work with the bleak prospect of ever having a wife, kids, and a home, then it's absolutely obvious why this machine is starting to break down. I like to use this scenario as an example: Imagine being a grunt working wastewater treatment, a real nasty job. You get paid $25 an hour and get to work 50 hours a week. But your housing options are so expensive that you and at least 2 other guys have to split rent on a 2bd1bth apartment. And you have no girlfriend. What. Incentive. Do. You. Have?

[@KGauto_Diagnostics]

Out here in Texas, I'm paid 75 / hour as the top diagnostician. I move between 2 shops and on call/remote in for 31 other shops during the day. I also have my own diag and programming business that also makes great money. (Over 400k gross in 2023) You can still do really well as a tech if you train constantly, find a niche, and put the hours in.

[@RATCHETMAN1001]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic if it was straight up 40 an hour not book time

[@OtisFlint]

When you add your expenses, you make less than almost every other trade. That extra couple bucks/hr compared to a warehouse job doesn't even begin to cover tools. Diesel is better than passenger cars, but in my area union carpenters have a $90/hr compensation package with the bennies, and electricians are closer to $100/hr ($65 + FULL benefits, annuity, etc). Lineman make $150k now, if they're lazy and don't take much OT. Being a mechanic just isn't worth it.

[@jasonkoplen2554]

The market is still too over saturated. Take a look around, how many dealerships, shops, quick lubes, tire centers, do you see closing their doors? They’ve been crying “ tech shortage “ for 30+ yrs trying to sucker young people into this hellscape of a career. It’s all a ruse to pile as many techs into the industry as possible so they can continue to suppress wages, and prop up the auto industry on the backs of technicians. Don’t fall for it! This industry will do everything it can to keep paying garbage wages, and won’t change until the last tool box closes.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

I’ve noticed a lot of companies cry out for techs but work is so slow they got half the shop just sitting around. I’ve also heard many times now of techs from the 90s and 2000s that had the same wage we do currently…

[@jasonkoplen2554]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic I’ve only worked in car/light truck and they pay flat rate, so there’s always a few times a year where everyone in the shop is sitting around not getting paid. I wasn’t working in automotive but started in the trades during the late 90s and yes I earned $15 - $20 an hour avg and the rent on my house was $750 a month. The wages in the trades now are a joke, especially beings that there’s a lot more opportunity with tech jobs and such that didn’t exist back then. They scream “ nobody wants to work “ but who the hell is going to go do manual labor in poor working conditions when you can get the same if not better pay sitting in a climate controlled office? Even retail / restaurant jobs are paying better these days.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Absolutely. It’s crazy hearing people got paid similar rates 30 years ago, blows my mind.

[@Codyd99749]

Beyond the knowledge needed, exposure to harmful chemicals, exhaust, cleaners ect is should come with extra compensation as it will take time off your life or take money to treat

[@masterimperium4886]

The pay still has to be directly related to supply of mechanics and demand of vehicles to be worked on. Too many technicians are willing to work for less that is the problem.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Yeah, this is certainly true in some areas. Especially in the automotive field. Valid point. 👌

[@biometal770]

That's right. This is why we need to restrict immigration.

[@val.d1986]

Yup, and most of those guys are worthless. They break everything, or half ass everything, misdiagnostics. The for less guys I DO NOT TRUST. From experience, cause i hired one as my first employee. Every single car I had to double check hoist setup, and questions about how to do every job. Its why i fired his ass and worked alone for about 6 1/2 yrs after.

[@bondjames652]

Back in the day the Mechanic made 50% of what the shop charges.

[@TheJohnbjunior]

And will again or the shortage now will pale in comparison to another 2 years

[@williammitchell3145]

This really is how it should be. I have a few buddies here in NJ who own shops and pay out 50% of labor to their techs. In addition, if a tech upsells, 70% of the profit is paid out to the tech. At the end of the day, shop owners are landlords. Making a 50% margin on labor as well as 30% on upsells, plus the markup on parts and supplies is really easy money for shop owners. Even when calculating what is costs to keep the lights on. Anything more is just pure greed on the shop owner's part.

[@chrishorbatt3504]

That's what it was when I started

[@GL0697]

This is the problem the labor rates haven't moved up much at this point in the us labor rates should be over $300 per hour as complicated as these vehicles are.

[@RATCHETMAN1001]

remember those days

[@chrishorbatt3504]

What you're saying is 100% right I worked as an auto mechanic right out of high school and actually made pretty decent money but then when all the Jiffy Lubes and All Tune and Lubes came around all the pay scales dropped and it just wasn't worth it anymore. I went into commercial HVAC and never looked back

[@michaeln4018]

General question. What’s to stop you from opening your own shop? Bringing in business yourself? Cuts out the hourly pay situation and you can build a reputation that will keep customers coming back. It only takes doing great work to 1 customer and word will get out.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Not really much stopping me, that’s my end goal. Being patient and learning as much as possible before going solo.

[@COBRO98]

You're looking at $300,000 to start your own shop plus $100,000+ in boxes/tools.

[@bluelightguy1]

Any mechanic anywhere should be around 50-80$ an hour

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Agreed

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Critical thinking is one of the biggest tools in a mechanics box. Vehicles are incredibly difficult to fix these days, it’s far from just turning wrenches. A simple horn circuit goes through multiple modules now. Diagnosing a semi truck or car is a lot like the medical field actually. Of course it’s not the same thing, but I could EASILY draw up several similarities. That being said, I agree medical field should make much more, as long as they are good at what they do and don’t just spout “the book” at their patients.

[@raider762]

@@WorstPaperCut Sure... the same medical field that kills over 300k people through malpractice every year.

[@StrongerThanBigfoot]

@@WorstPaperCutYou’re crazy. I was a nurse before a diesel mechanic and a nurse has nothing on a diesel mechanic. Nurses have to follow orders. Diesel mechanic’s absolutely need critical thinking skills.

[@mysoap23]

@@WorstPaperCut making a mistake on a vehicle can end someone's life as well if not multiple people

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

This is one of the reasons I left the dealership game and work for a municipality, I make more money than a buddy of mine who is a Toyota master tech and do an 1/4 of the work. They don’t pay you what your worth, but want you to pump out the repairs like your flipping burgers.

[@fastinradfordable]

Some people can Others can’t😎

[@hlq2action310]

"pump out the repairs like your flipping burgers" 😁

[@biometal770]

Flat rate, tool expense, difficulty of repairs, and crap benefits drove me away. The difficulty and expense of being a mechanic is not worth it for the crappy pay. I worked as an ASE certified mechanic for the dealerships for 10 years. Quit and went to school. Now I'm being paid well, but I wish I didn't need to do that. Being a mechanic was a very rewarding job, but the compensation and expense just isn't worth it.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

What industry did you end up in, if you dont mind me asking?

[@biometal770]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic Ended up in science. Got a bachelor's in biology. Landed a job as a field service engineer working on scientific equipment. In hindsight, probably should have gotten an engineering degree, since that is more similar to mechanic work. Oh well, being a field service engineer is a nice combination of my mechanic and scientific training. Compensation is around 70k per year (in the US), lots of vacation, per diem, etc. Bad part is travel, but it's not too extensive.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Damn, good stuff. Congrats on that.

[@biometal770]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic You're welcome. Also, brother in law was also previously in the car business. He quit, did not go to school, now he services industrial AC systems. Travels a fair amount, but also makes over 6 figures now. If I hadn't gone to school, I would strongly consider that as well.

[@WorstPaperCut]

college is not a scam...only go to college if its for medical or stem, every other major in college is a scam

[@rumplestiltskin509]

Totally agreed !! 40 year Master tech from PA here. An auto tech has to know at least five trades and we have to fight to get $25 an hour and only get that with 10 years or more of experience. Technicians are greatly underappreciated and underpaid. I'm retired now, and I have people asking all the time to work on their cars and trucks, but I refused. I do only work for myself.

[@drewmurray2583]

I am considering becoming a homeless drug addict. I have worked without a single vacation for almost 20 years and things keep getting worse. I have cuts on my hands that never heal, my knees and legs are always sore and things keep getting more expensive in Canada. 50% of my income goes to taxes, all I can buy is food and pay rent.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Hang in there. It’s tough out there. It’s been years since my last vacation as well. All while watching others take multiple vacations per year. Gotta stay focused, and relax where you can.

[@georgeallen7667]

In other words, You are a slave.

[@fastinradfordable]

Do it. When you come back you’ll appreciate every dollar more. I traveled the country for a few years. Found a nice ranch in Cali where I was so valuable they paid me just to stay and hang around. I used it to train for a marathon like a pro at age 34. I won a major marathon in Cali living under a bridge. Now I’m Back wrenching and kicking ass

[@GordonFreeman307]

Well you live in Canada buddy it’s not the us

[@georgeallen7667]

@@GordonFreeman307 your taxes are also +50%.... welcome to slavery.

[@bradburbage8558]

I tell everyone not to be an auto tech. I made more in the 90s than today. No respect.

[@joecummings1260]

I'm almost 63 and I've been doing this my whole life. All I can say is stupid little pencil pushers and f****** offices are of the opinion anyone who gets dirty doing their job is nothing but a manual laborer

[@jd9119]

Well you are. But that doesn't mean you can unionize and take some demands to your employer. Even farmworkers have unions.

[@richieb74]

@@jd9119big difference between general laborer and a tech. Did you watch the video?

[@jd9119]

@@richieb74 The point is literally everybody can unionize if they want to. Even the mid-level management can. They'd have to organize and find a way to be effective.

[@matthewharrington2431]

I’m a Marie mechanic and a heavy truck mechanic and auto mechanic you said all the right stuff, buddy

[@shelbyM-r9h]

i left 6-7 years ago and dont miss it at all. went to construction and got paid for those 50-60hr weeks. i wont touch a car for less than 50hr now.

[@MegaSuperfatguy]

It all comes down to three things: what makes you happy, what your skills are, and what your skills are worth. It's usually a lopsided triangle and rare for someone to make a decent wage with their skills and they're happy with what they do, where they work, etc. People complain about the value of McDonald's workers not being worth 20/hour. I'm the type of person that wouldn't take that job for 50/hour because I'd rather blow my brains out before working fast food. I know I'm not the only one. We can't demand services and demean them simultaneously. I'm a tractor mechanic myself. I know I'm worth 50k a year, bare minimum. I was at a place paying that with great benefits, but the company itself was so horrible I had to leave before I snapped. I've known the industry was hurting for mechanics, but I still expected to have to fight for 50k/year. I actually had zero issues with finding a new job that'd pay that for me walking in the door. My old company shit themselves when I put in my notice. Was a good feeling.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

I hear ya. Sometimes you can’t have it all and just need to shift your perspective on life. I don’t think things are going to get better for a while.

[@Hello57748]

This is really true. I always loved working on cars, and thought about being a mechanic. Ended up choosing to be an engineer, due to the pay. Vehicles are super complex, and it’s insane that a career that requires that much knowledge is so underpaid.

[@myprivatewar]

awesome and fun skill....terrible career path.

[@chains6558]

I was a machinist that made injection molds with tight tolerances . I had nephews starting out in one of them big warehouses that are popping up everywhere for almost the same pay . After 35 years I walked.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Pretty crazy when you start asking people with “easy” jobs or “low skill” jobs what they make… and then find out it’s almost the same or better. Side note: this is the reason universal basic income would never work. Same concept.

[@philliplawson2001]

lets see.... Dealer fix rate $180-220 a hour..... mechanics might be lucky these days to get $40. not even 20% and all the tools training ect. out of that 20%. not to mention that retirement plan of a broken body, and cancer. And the office staff is making more then you.

[@RivIrie]

Yep, office staff is usually very wasteful, a very wasteful use of a company’s money

[@COBRO98]

$220 labor rate and the mechanic is getting $25 of it, let that sink in. That's 11% of the money going to the mechanic doing all of the work.

[@baits9301]

I was a mechanic in Austraia for 14 years , my mom was a labourer earning more than i was . I left the trade 20 years ago and will never go back . Once over the fence you will realise there is more money and alot easier work , without getting dirty .

[@Go4Corvette]

In 1982 I was making $80K+ a year with GM gasoline vehicles, when I retired in 2023 I was making $120K+ a year and I only did diagnostics for a large used car company and never got dirty. I was certified and licensed for everything and learned from the beginning that being an electronics/drivability specialist and doing the brain work paid a lot more than being a general mechanic. Nowadays they want you to be a bumper-to-bumper technician. When I first started there was no such thing. No one is an expert at everything nor can they afford to be. You must stand above the rest and not be the average guy to demand pay and respect or own your own shop.

[@MB-rr1fb]

$40 an hour in 1982...............BS that was the hourly rate at a dealership for Labor ..........................maybe you made that working 80 hours a week

[@Go4Corvette]

@@MB-rr1fb No BS just in the right place at the right time with the right people. With my contract, I received 50% of the labor and 10% of the parts so working flag hours it was easy to double my hours every week in a very busy shop. Also, I was one of only 1500 specially trained technicians in the whole USA at the time to diagnose drivability problems that other shops could not fix as part of a customer satisfaction program. I was a licensed California test/repair emissions technician that I was paid for separately as well. I inspected all of the Deloreans used in the first Back to the Future movie for Universal Studios in Universal City, CA. In high school, I worked part-time 3 nights a week as a bus boy for a high-end Chinese restaurant in Universal City, and with tips, I averaged $900 a week. Forget McDonald's if you want to make real money, lol.

[@bluelightguy1]

So from 1982 to 2023 you only made 40k more ?? Wasted years

[@Go4Corvette]

@@bluelightguy1 It's funny how people make judgments without the facts. You may have wasted your life but I did many jobs and owned many businesses. The $120K was after my divorce, I sold my businesses, home, 3 corvettes and I no longer cared about making money. My four kids were done with their universities so I was done. I worked 3 more years waited till I was 62 then retired and now travel the country in my RV van with no worries.

[@bluelightguy1]

@@Go4Corvette im happy for you

[@BREEZYM6015]

I agree. I make $28 an hour as a slot technician in Las Vegas. Diesel mechanics should make more per hour.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Thanks! That’s interesting, probably a pretty in demand job in that area I would imagine. 👍

[@ericheisler5351]

Many shops go flat rate. Techs get paid based on the hours they bill. Shop bills 1.5 hours for a brake job, then tech gets compensated for 1.5 hours regardless of how long it took him. Most shops will agree to 33-50%, so shop bills $99 an hour tech gets between $33-$49.5 an hour.

[@CameronBrown-ph9do]

Man, I picked the wrong spot to do slot tech work, I was stuck at 21 doing slot tech work. It's... not really in demand it's just a small world

[@TheeAbstractHero]

@@ericheisler5351 Our labor rate in the auto shop I work for is $200 an hour. I see less than 20 percent of that.

[@bryanhale6337]

Mechanics should make as much as their knowledge of vehicles. Alot of mechanics are just parts changers and actually have no knowledge other than what youtube provides

[@CharlesJohnstone-c2n]

here in texas. i got in the trade and was shocked how the girl at jc penny was making more than me at jc penny than working on mack trucks, trailers, generators and cars and having to buy my tools. i quit. never wanted anything to do with automotive.... then i was delivery driver and it wasnt going so well so i got back in automotive. now the pay is good and uts beeb two years. very comopetitive . no college or car payments but still! seems like everyone is doing wayy better. i still like the trade.

[@290.preston]

Do what feels right

[@GeraldGuevara]

I read there was a time where the hourly rate the shop charges goes 50/50 shop and mechanics. Now shop charges more per hour but that money doesn't really go to mechanics, because I don't see the wages go up, however the work involved and knowledge required did go up.

[@COBRO98]

It's true I was there. 40-50% of the labor rate went to the mechanic. Now it's 6-12% that goes to the mechanic while they expect him to have 3x as many tools and twice the knowledge.

[@danielletownsend4237]

I'm an industrial electromechanical tech. My husband is a master mechanic at a dealership. Between the tool bill, flat rate, and culture at the dealerships, there's no way I would tell a young person to be a vehicle mechanic.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Automotive side of mechanics is about the worst place to be.

[@davidhazel36]

The Auto recycling company i work for pays me more than that. I went to school to be an automotive technician but never used it professionally because the wages were not there. So I printed tee shirts for 22 an hour at 19. I know guys making 25+hour for removing used parts from junk cars. Please stop voting! You can not change or stop the criminal gov with a vote!!

[@Skoora]

Here in Georgia seems to be plenty of mechanic or auto tech jobs….as long as you’re Ok with 17-25 an hour …..😂

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Exactly. 👍

[@MrROTD]

That's not all, they expect you to go over the vehicle with a fine toothed comb and find anything they can upsell.

[@lencox2x296]

Here in Germany the average is 18,5€/h. By law at least 24 days paid vacation. For Tarif its 30 days, 37 hours a week plus 70% month income of vacation payment. Of cause all tools are supplied by the company. Its unbelievable, that an employer must bring their own tools worth of 1000s of dollars. That's sounds like a scam for me as German.

[@olivergoncalves1217]

you can make more changing oil from your home garage.

[@JerrySpann-fn4kw]

I dont care if I am making only a dollar or two more than someone working in a warehouse if I'm making $30 an hour. Also, if I'm doing something I enjoy, its really not work.

[@CutACrow]

People take mechanics for granted because customers think driving is a Right not a Privilege. Doesnt help manufacturers have a replace not repair policy with planned obsolescence built into their cars and trucks. The deck is stacked against the mechanic and everyone is tired of grabbing the shit end of the stick. If only mechanics grouped up and spoke as a collective instead of individuals we might see change but trying to get car guys to band together is like getting a American V8 enthusiast to shake hands with a inline 4 turbo enthusiast. Just look at the tribalism amongst just car brands. We are divided, we have been conquered, and now leveraged into squeezing for a few drops of juice. Until great change comes, we will remain a tarnished working class in both social status and financial stability stacking various tools and a never ending list of specality tools as opposed to stacking money. If only hardware was permanently standarizied and more analog with technology assisting as opposed to a shit ton of technology being asssited by analog systems.

[@MrTimeless101]

everything is about pay. Productivity has skyrocketed since 1980 but wages are still where they were back then.

[@ThePCxbox]

I saw an ad for celltower work paying UP TO 25 an hour Keep in mind theyre out of town all the time, have to climb over 100 feet in any kind of weather one way and work insane hours. And in service based jobs theyre starting to dock pay for drivetime. Meaning youre really only getting fully paid for 4 hours a day This is outrageous. These are career fields paying like its a temp job at a warehouse. Something. Has. Got. To. Give.

[@first001]

Too many migrants deluding the demand for labor.

[@CodySnell_87]

Thats 100 percent accurate even for non diesel mechanics. I have 20 years experience working on cars and some places wanted to start me at like 20$ an hour. Ive done everything from offroad shops to full frame off builds. I can weld and fabricate also. I ended up going into a maintenace job for $30 an hour a few years ago where I didnt have to buy any tools or have any certifications. With 3 years of maintenace experience I was starting a new maint job at $30 an hour with 20 years car mechanic experience i couldnt find any jobs paying over 25 to start. And the mechanic jobs were way harder on you and more stressful imo. I am back to working on cars now but I work for my buddies shop 2 days a week for 45 an hour and work for myself on my own customers cars the other 2-3 days a week. Working to make other people rich is something I have zero desire to be a part of anymore.

[@michaeldunagan8268]

Tools and cabinet costs are what kept me from doing a third week working as a mechanic for a living. Staring at thousands of dollars of stuff to buy all while making a whopping $8.40 per hour circa 2002.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Amazon and eBay make the cost of entry much more affordable these days.

[@michaeldunagan8268]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic Yah, still....no Harbor Freight back in the day either. Also though: My 1999 Toyota Solara 3.0L is already too rough for me. I could never imagine being able to work on post-2005 vehicles with VVT et al., let alone being fast enough to make a living at it.

[@mdjones905]

Everybody wants to be paid for what they do but don’t want to pay a mechanic for what they do. When your car quits, ride a mule or walk.

[@deanyanko3326]

I think we get ripped off a lot an instalation of a distributor on a 20 year old vehicle cost me $427.oo the part listed for $69.00

[@joshnabours9102]

Oh wait, you built American cities to be impossible to walk. You will have to fix your car yourself or buy a new one if you are not going to pay for it.

[@shaunedwards4893]

Its always been bad working as a mechanic. Im 63 now. Put 10 years with a company from 89 to 99. My pension is $160.00 a month. So life is hard for the working man.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

That’s a terrible pension, sorry to hear that.

[@CajunMusings]

as an old electronics tech, it still amazes me how much crossover there is now. When I went to tech school...the electronics guys and the diesel were totally separate....now they might as well be the same department. heck...I could even see shops where the electronics/diagnostics is a job all to itself

[@bradenriley9066]

I worked at a peterbilt where there were two electrical guy's. One day shift guy and one swing shift guy. That's almost all they did was diag electrical.

[@dontomes1898]

Right I am 61 ase master tech no shop will pay me proper so I went to business in my own shop in 1997

[@jonyoung6405]

There is never a shortage of broken machines.

[@dacat8171]

Correct. But if there is a shortage of spare parts, the broken machine remains broken.

[@tat2zz68]

​@@dacat8171decades ago vehicle parts were repaired and not just replced. Technicians now diagnose and parts swap. Mechanics are nowhere near as skilled now as they were.

[@dacat8171]

@@tat2zz68 True. But it is cheaper to replace than to repair properly. The complexity of the parts is much higher than it was in the past.

[@thegreatchickenoverlord5976]

​@tat2zz68 You show your ignorance. Yes decades ago mechanics fixed componenents. These days, components cant be fixed, and on the off chance that they can be fixed, its never worth it for the customer. Most alternators are sealed these days. You cant replace a bearing if theres no way to press a bearing out. And lets say that there is, which would the customer rather pay for, $10 for a bearing, +$200 in labor to replace it, + $50 to take off and put on the thing, or $50 to take off and put on the alternator + $180 for a brand new reman or replacement alternator?

[@dacat8171]

@@thegreatchickenoverlord5976 Yeah, I recently paid the price for repairing a starter about 5 years ago, because a different part failed. Next time I will replace the entire unit and I then know that all the parts of the unit start with zero mileage and will last up to the mileage I removed the unit earlier.

[@Brian-lu3tf]

Sad thing is, the pay per flat rate hour for a tech is not much higher than it was in the 90s, but the hours in the book on many jobs is actually lower. Used to be 1/3 to 1/2 the flat labor shop rate went to the tech, now if it is 15% it is alot. Its a joke. I saw the tech shortage coming 20 years ago, managed to escape the business entirely 10 years ago, would not even think of going back. Even when I jumped to service advisor in the early 2000's because I saw the writing on the wall, we started out working Mon-Fri and sat until noon. Then it became Sat all day, and opening at 7AM and close at 7PM. And pay was the same. The they started opening Sundays...and still the pay is the same, in fact less since now the benefits package is so much more expensive. And yet, walk through some of these service departments, the actual shops, they BARELY meet OSHA standards, equipment that dates back to horseless carriage days, leaking roofs. One place I worked at, I remember one of my techs telling me the best thing about the place was he didn't have to worry about breaking anything, almost all of it already was broken. That dealership, any time we had to mount tires that were larger than 17 inch(this was in 2014!) we had to wait for a parts truck to be available to take the wheels/tires to a local tire store to get them mounted, or risk our equipment would scratch the hell out of the wheels(and of course, they would hold the tech responsible for that). Almost all the dealerships hold whatever employee is at the wheel completely responsible for damage to a car...even when they are rear-ended on a test drive by an uninsured driver(really happened). And then they wonder why damage gets hidden. So the dealership makes all the money, and people are surprised that they cannot find a good service department. Its pathetetic. I will never go back, and I just do not see it reversing. The dealership owners do not care, because they know the other dealerships around are just as bad as they are, so screw the employees, screw the customers, as long as the owner of the dealership can buy his boats, airplanes, multi-million dollar homes, and the showroom looks like a palace, the people are just profit generators to them. This is why there are no techs staying on. This is why Service Advisors turn over like pancakes, nobody staying for long. This is why even when you climb to Service or Fixed Ops manager, you wind up gone in a few years, if you don't stroke out or have a heart attack before then(I know of at least 4 dead, actually in the ground I personally knew, under 55 years old). This is why the people at the dealer service department really do not care any more. And why there are no techs, and when you drop your car off, it is gone for at least 2-5 days, and probably not fixed. There are a few good guys left standing, and I feel for them. But they are all aging out. And when the last ones are gone, your car will be just like your cell phone, and worthless hunk of expensive metal because there will be nobody to fix it, and even if there are a few that still can, they won't be able to get the parts, another entire issue in itself. Of course, this is what the automakers want.

[@danielboughton3624]

I trained to be a mechanic in the early 80's and was on that track until I found out how little it paid. Even then it wasn't worth it. I think the only way to make it work now is to freelance and build a business. Shop rate is over $100/hr so with a $30/hr wage you have plenty of wiggle. There will just be lean years until you are established.

[@jdrancho1864]

Plenty of wiggle?? Sorry to burst your bubble, but once you are responsible for shop leases, insurance of various kinds that are nothing but going up, increasing labor law compliance and cost, you will find your margins getting pretty squeezed.

[@danielboughton3624]

@@jdrancho1864 If there is no wiggle then you can't fault the wages being paid by a shop since they clearly don't have margins to support a higher wage. No doubt the amount of wiggle depends on where you live and cost of a shop and insurance. There are a few guys around here with shops that pick and choose work and are doing alright.

[@johnslot7397]

Seven years ago I retired from a large brown package shipping company and pay plus benefits was about $75 per hour but half of that was health care, defined pension plan contribution and vacation pay (6weeks after 20 years).The first class health care and pension contribution to our union pension was not taxed. That was why shop rates seem so high but the employer has to pay into workman’s comp., unemployment insurance on each employee as well as the taxes on the business property, heat, equipment , parts inventory.... If you could work under the table and pay no taxes you would still see hard it is to make money consistently and pay your mortgages, your family health care plan, kids college coming sooner than you think.....lol . McDonald’s does not sound too bad does it

[@COBRO98]

@@jdrancho1864 Nonsense, mechanics are making the same wages as 30 years ago yet shops rates have TRIPLED. You're full of shit.

[@dalebend2831]

Gentleman, as a 30 year machinist that has a CDL and went to diesel mechanics and air conditioning school. Everyone is struggling. A shop owner makes 150$ on every 1000$ that comes thru the door after expenses for labor, utilities, property lease and taxes. We have all lost sight of how burdensome taxes are on all of us. 33% goes to uncle Sam and he never showed up to work. Your 100000$ worth of tools you bought you paid 30,000$ of taxes before you even deposited it in the bank. As your wages go up so do your taxes. Everyone is getting bent over while the politicians are writing checks to those that are not working, selling drugs to your daughter or just walked over the border. It's going to get worse yet.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

I think we all know this is the general idea of the problem, but if it’s going to get worse I’m still demanding more pay.

[@damonlandsdown]

No one wants to work for a shitty boss, for a shitty wage on shitty cars owned by shitty customers. No one wants to work for an even shitter wage being and apprentice who has to buy their own tools either. AND the job is pretty shit in general too! This is a trade that should pay like a trade

[@merconomics3726]

Work in aviation. I’m licensed, making less than $30 an hour. The president of the company doesn’t start anyone out at more than even $18-$20 licensed or not. The man literally just collected a BONUS for over half a million but doesn’t want to pay technicians over $30 no matter the experience. This will be a short lived employment I’m sure 😂

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Sounds like a “get the fuck out asap” kind of job.

[@sparklawns3433]

Where's that? At least here in NY the airlines are starting at $47 topping at $76 after 5 years... I'd get the he'll out wherever you're working your boss is literally screwing you.

[@deanyanko3326]

guess what an independent lawn cutter makes an hour $60.oo Independent mobile mechanic ?

[@kr2513]

They want this. It’s all going to plan for them.

[@maxxbenzz7842]

There is a small shop by me, what I mean by small is 5 mechanics, 1 oil change guy, one person answering phones. They are suuupper busy for 2 reasons. They have about 5 loaner cars they give out to people for one. And two, they do great work. Everyone has been there at least 15 years. They pay their mechanics a great wage too. They make up for higher wages by charging a little more. People are willing to pay it in order to get a loaner car for however long it takes. Great concept! It works.

[@kevinlatulippe6944]

Most mechanics shops charge 120 to 150 per hour and could afford to pay their mechanics 50 per hour and sooner or later they will have to cause nobody wants to do that work anymore

[@COBRO98]

Average labor rate is $200/hour for the shop.

[@supersam1914]

I left in 2008 while I was still young . You have to know too much to get paid too little . The cost of entry is high with the price of tools , the damage on your body as you’ve mentioned and there are other trades that are paying very well and most of your tools can fit in a small bag . Skilled labor will move towards those industries.

[@StrongerThanBigfoot]

Diesel mechanic here and everything you said Is the truth. I’m about to go on my own

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

I think that’s the end goal for me too. 👍

[@ML-lg4ky]

Learn and prefect the craft and take the risk and start your own business.. no risk no reward fellas.

[@twostroke12v71]

I was working warehouses before getting my AAS in diesel tech. before the pandemic making 26 the hour on a forklift and now I'm barely making over 20. I messed up somewhere

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Same here man. It’s wild what they expect sometimes.

[@djrickyb]

I am in a warehouse, unloading backhaul trailers with a fork lift and clamp, and was thinking a few weeks ago that I should be earning $26-$27 an hour. I also have to pick a lot of crap up off the floor of trailers from UPS. I'm supposed to be an office associate in the transportation office. Now I'm in the warehouse unloading trailers for like 80% of my shift every night. I only earn $22.50. Our HR employees earn $26.05, and they chillax in an office their entire shift. General warehouse workers start out at $19.75 there. It was $18.75 when I was hired in 2021.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

@@djrickyb yeah that sounds about right. I’d look at other warehouses if that’s the goal. I ended up in one that paid well in my state. If warehouses are paying 26/hr, I should be making 36/hr.

[@eduardogarcia7228]

1st time viewer and new loyal follower. Having been a gas/diesel technician for over 35 years, it’s no longer viable to be profitable in this industry. It’s sad that companies that depend on their transportation / fleet depts. do not realize that they make money when their techs are paid good and are investing in their fleet.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Thanks for following! I’m part of a fleet currently and I can say that from a corporate view, they are “trying” to develop ways to move up and get paid more for employees, so I’ll give them that. How well it will work? I’m doubtful. You almost need to jump ship to get paid more these days.

[@keldon_champion]

Its not just mechnaics its all skilled trades, there is a shortsge of plumbers, HVACR, electricians all of it. Its actually a pretty serious problem that is goong to blow up in the next few years when more of these old hands start retiring. The issue is being caused by too much pushing people into college vs the trades.

[@deangiles6157]

The look on his face and his demeanor speaks for itself. No union for Mechanics = Heavy heart

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Unions are not always the answer. There’s good and bad.

[@noahvalley8268]

Get this, I just got my class A CDL, plus endorsements. Best job I could find for local driving hourly pay was $23.50 an hour… I get that I’m new and can’t expect the farm. But even tenured drivers are still making under 30 an hour. Idk what to do man, might go back to working in sales where I averaged over $50 an hour.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

It’s tough. Gotta weigh pros and cons. CDL is a good choice though, you can always jump in and out based on the market.

[@jamesflynn10]

I've done the same thing, CDL-A unrestricted with Hazmat, Tank & Triple. Depending on where you are, $23.50 is not bad for a rookie driver. I make a bit more, but I live in the North East and do a good deal of delivery labor in addition to driving, as a local driver. My feeling on it is that the experience is just as valuable as the pay. If you can put in your time for a year or so, with a good record, you will likely have better options. I made more money as an electronics tech, but I really enjoy driving. I'm going to do this for a while and see where it goes. Do whatever you are doing for a year, then have another look around unless they offer a decent raise.

[@noahvalley8268]

@@Themiddleclassmechanic good point. I have sales experience so may just focus more on that for now while the market turns back up

[@noahvalley8268]

@@jamesflynn10 I’ll take your word for it. I’ve made a lot more in sales, however I’m in the same boat where I love driving and grew to despise sales, I noticed people give me a lot more respect as a truck driver vs a sales person too which is nice. But end of the day I’m doing it for me because I enjoy it. Btw they gave me a .75 raise already which is cool since I’m 5 weeks in!

[@oleksandrshyiatyi6826]

Was shocked when recruiting company send messages that some company looking for experienced welders monday-friday from 7 to 15.30 .....salary 16.5 cad per hour. Everyday expose to uv radiation to fumes , dust, have to have lot of expensive instruments....total nonsense!!! Plus you need spend lot time to develop skills and knowledge...so what a point to go start trade career?

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Welders can get shafted with pay too.

[@epasternak4206]

Many vids on here with the same discussion topic. 25 year veteran in this racket! I agree with all of you. Starting wage for Mechanics $80k annually all day long, this is where we should start. We discuss this all the time.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

I worked for $3.15 an hour when I started as an apprentice in 1982. Every year I got a raise and have almost every year since. Also taking all the training possible helps and not fearing electrical or drivability work. Entry level oil changers might make $15 or so an hour, but any experienced mechanic should be making $25-45 an hour depending on their skill level. Expecting to make high wages with little to no experience isn't realistic. I have also changed jobs to increase my rate. The previous shop usually offers more to come back. But it takes time to build a good reputation.

[@bruisedorange5576]

One of things I've learned in the past few years, you gotta be willing to not leave your trade, but leave your place of work if they will not increase your pay. Build up your resume, shop around different garages in your county, or neighboring county and allow them to offer you more money if they're in need of help. The opportunity is out there for you, you just gotta get out and find it.

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Yup. Been to 3 fleets now in less than 2 years. Got 7$ in raises throughout them. Had I stayed, I’d be closer to 2$.

[@moo7137]

Blood, sweat and tears that is mechanic life. Take care everyone.

[@donaldlee6760]

At 4:46 - I'm a software engineer working in Silicon Valley that also enjoys my DIY hobby of working on my "family fleet" of 2-Hondas and 1-Toyota, at a somewhat advanced level (in my own mind anyway...I once changed a timing belt). I find it astounding that an entry level mechanic and a warehouse worker could have similar pay. Being a mechanic requires problem solving, mental stamina diagnosing a difficult problem, and an above average IQ. Being a warehouse worker doesn't require the same level of intelligence or ability to solve a subtle problem.

[@RustyHondas]

Damn sounds like u got a better job tho lol

[@reddbull3876]

Changing timing belts is how I test the rookies at the shop, if they can't get a Honda V6 belt done, then they're still green, that's a step up that requires everything he said, a b level tech so kudos to you sir

[@GoonyMclinux]

Timing belts are quite basic although many mechanics can't do one these days.

[@craigman7262]

Cause shop owners fleece everyone.

[@OldBeaterGarage]

It's the STARTING salary. The warehouse guy is stuck at a flat pay forever. Any skilled trade you can move up and/or become your own boss, just gotta avoid the bear traps along the way that will keep you down.

[@rondav41]

You made a very good presentation. Thank you.

[@redman0124]

But if they pay their technicians more how will the boomer owner afford another sailboat or sports car?!!

[@metaltera86]

I remember 8-10 years ago my best friend at the time was an apprentice diesel mechanic and I was starting my hvac apprenticeship. He brought a little more home than me but he made a lower hourly wage. He also worked 20-30 plus hours more a week than I did

[@RivIrie]

I help our lead installer with main service panel swaps, circuit transfer for solar and battery back up, etc. and I only made 24 an hour in Southern California. I took a pay cut from 25 an hour in framing/remodeling and have gotten two raises. There is a lot of waste at some companies. They charge $120 an hour for each installer. So much of what goes on in the trades is old guys taking advantage of younger guys, not leading by example, not doing the work, sitting around, collecting a lot of passive income.

[@Bob-cd5pp]

This is crazy I am glad that there is a Shortage , they need to get what they deserve $70 a hour

[@waynejh]

You’re absolutely right! You have to wear many professional hats, each one lives are depending on your skill and determination to do it right every time!

[@benscott6826]

This is why I moved on to metal fab then manager. Mechanic should start at $30-35/hr

[@Madzguy007]

No such thing as a shortage of labour.. It's only a shortage of wages, making it not worth it!

[@nixonsanader3954]

Exactly, it can't be more simple ,it's just not worth it to be any kind of mechanic

[@brianperry4815]

And that's been happening with the trades for over 30 years then they wonder why is there a shortage especially when you can do something else and make as much if not more moola.

[@Ulfstigandr]

Dont worry. Theyll just start importing low wage workers. Just like driving.

[@thegreatchickenoverlord5976]

It sucks, even in the really specialized areas. Im in aviation, and we have all the same problems, with nastier chemicals, and federally mandatory FAA mechnics liscense and *still* its like 20-25 starting most places. Airlines are much better ill admit, at 35-40 starting, but if youre starting there you get pigeonholed into 1 thing on 3rd shift for the next 8 years

[@Themiddleclassmechanic]

Tough gig. Sure you can get by on these wages but it usually doesn’t feel worth it.

[@OldBeaterGarage]

Not to mention with the airlines you have a MF'er of a commute out to the airport and/or have to live in an expensive city. I did enjoy working in GA but the pay was just too damn low we got $6 to start back in '02 with or without your certificate!

[@BC-wg5pq]

Really well said ty I am a Aircraft mechanic the amount of certs l have accumulated over the years is insane, all of these certs cost me time and money, then there are the tools don't know how someone can afford it now just starting out,I appreciate your perspective.The trades are notorious for being under paid

[@pico67ss]

It's disgusting I was a union electrician top pay was $45 an hour it was just about enough to cover costs for a family and house couple that with a nurse or teacher making the same or better and you could live comfortably now that same income wouldn't cover squat