Re: mechanics wages
There is no respect of tradesmaen today. And alot of shop owners are slimeballs. I'm in the process of opening an automotive garage and when the time comes to hire someone, I will pay them the most I can afford, based on their worth. As an employee, I topped out at $16.00/hr wage. As a flat rate tech (don't do it unless the shop is busy and has good service writers) I was at $18.00. The shop rates were $55.00, and $65.00 respectively. Out of that they had to pay my hourly rate, my FICA taxes, unemployment, workers comp, and other "benefits" mandated by law, plus any other benefits they saw fit. So all total, my $16.00/hour was more like $24-$32/hr, realistically. <br />I would think that any less than 1/3 of the shop rate, once you have proven yourself is too little, if you're top-rate. My rates were considered good for my area. I mean dealership techs were making a little more than I was, but in general, my $33K was the top of the range. I interviewed with Tuffy and a local muffler/front-end shop (BIG profit operations) and they were only talking $30/yr, and the other indy's I spoke with were talking the same. However a local cycle/ATV/light farm impement dealer was recently talking at a local gov't meeting that his techs make $40-45K.yr.
