1 answer
andrew
Student
1
Question
Updated
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What is it like being an Auto Mechanic for you?
I was thinking of doing Auto Mechanics but I was a thing of doing another career.
Please share your personal experiences with me.
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1 answer
Charles Schoellkopf
ASE certified technician. Locomotive machinist diesel mechanic
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Charles’s Answer
I started as a mechanic at the very early age of 11 years old in my dads auto repair shop,
i loved working on cars and still do but the way most shops pay their technicians which is commission or flat rate makes it hard to continue a stable career but the experience gained from the years of dealership employment is priceless.
i always found it more rewarding (training wise) to stick with one brand or make of autos untill you get your wings, and after that it's all nuts and bolts no matter what make you work on the theory is the same.
but asi got older and wiser with several years of hands on experience i discovered that the real payday is working on heavy equipment for a big company.
where you are valued and appreciated more and the hourly pay is so much better.
just because auto shops tell you they will pay you 40 to 50 bucks an hour you must keep. in mind that its for flag hour aka commission which means if the set pay to perform a repair is 2 hours at $26 per flag hour, thats $52.00 and thats great if you can complete the repair in 2 hours or less but if it takes you longer its money lost and stress gained! and if you yry to rush the repair you will usually get what they call a recheck!
trust me you do NOT want to get yourself a bad name in the mechanics world as the guy who has to re-do every repair he touches because your worried about beating the clock.
its portant to take your time, re examine your repair work
make sure its done right.
and a clean mechanic isa great mechanic!
i myself am now a heavy equipment mechanic making $40 an hour at around a hundred hours a paycheck.
i loved working on cars and still do but the way most shops pay their technicians which is commission or flat rate makes it hard to continue a stable career but the experience gained from the years of dealership employment is priceless.
i always found it more rewarding (training wise) to stick with one brand or make of autos untill you get your wings, and after that it's all nuts and bolts no matter what make you work on the theory is the same.
but asi got older and wiser with several years of hands on experience i discovered that the real payday is working on heavy equipment for a big company.
where you are valued and appreciated more and the hourly pay is so much better.
just because auto shops tell you they will pay you 40 to 50 bucks an hour you must keep. in mind that its for flag hour aka commission which means if the set pay to perform a repair is 2 hours at $26 per flag hour, thats $52.00 and thats great if you can complete the repair in 2 hours or less but if it takes you longer its money lost and stress gained! and if you yry to rush the repair you will usually get what they call a recheck!
trust me you do NOT want to get yourself a bad name in the mechanics world as the guy who has to re-do every repair he touches because your worried about beating the clock.
its portant to take your time, re examine your repair work
make sure its done right.
and a clean mechanic isa great mechanic!
i myself am now a heavy equipment mechanic making $40 an hour at around a hundred hours a paycheck.