Alot of you are talking about people outside of NYS making big money. That is where you need to be to make it in the automotive world. I used to work at a collision shop, and pay is slow moving up, gotta fight for a $.25 raise. I worked with a guy who has been doing this for a little over 20 years, and he said he is a shop whore, basically staying at a place for about 2 years and moving on to get another $1 or so an hour. He was at about $20 hr, and he was really good, did some major work fast and good. I have looked in the paper at my dad’s house when I visit (outside of Philly) and they are in need of auto help, offering $1000 sign on bonuses. I recently bought some parts off a guy who lives in Pa, does body work. He is making almost $6 hr more than I was, with only 2 yrs more experience than I have. My brother graduate from Alfred Tech, with both auto and diesel. He has been told by his prof at school and from other mech that NY’s pay scale for auto is ranked in the mid to high 40’s in the country. My brother is thinking of moving to Texas or Tennesse, they are the 2 highest paying automotive states, and they need the help.
For you mechanics here, what is your hourly rate? At Thanksgiving, I was at my dad’s, coil pack went on my wifes Windstar, no biggie they are like $55 from Advanced Auto. Well, I didn’t bring any tools with me, nor does my dad own any, so I went to buy a set to fix my car and my dad talked me into going to his mechanic. He offered to pay, so I was like, ok. His mechanic, is at a Sunoco gas station, the hourly rate was $150. And that isn’t because I had out of state plates, it is the going rate there posted on thier sign in the lobby.
Don’t mean to be long winded, but just sharing some info. I got out of it, constantly buying new tools and pay isn’t the best. I am sure some here are probably making good money, but in general most are not. It wasn’t the shop I was at either nor my ability, did some interviews with dealers and shops, all looking to be in the same pay range.