Auto Technician Compensation

[AutoMechanic]

Realistically what should you be making with your skill set ?

Which certifications do you currently have ?


” I need a big raise but my company can’t give it. Say they aren’t in a position too is what they tell everybody. I stick around for the retirement benefits and paid time off. Yet we charge $180 per hour. Which until me and you talked about it I thought it was outrageous. When I started there in 2021 it was $120 per hour. Most Indy shop’s around here are between $60-$90. They are lucky I stay because I can go to any other place and get the same or more than what I make and not have to drive 30 miles to do so. It’s a dying field. We haven’t had any luck with new techs at all. But they also don’t pay new techs hardly anything which motivates them to leave. I won’t say directly what I make on a public forum but it’s low for the job I do. And I’m the one in the shop who everyone comes to for tools and the one that the lube techs look up too for knowledge. And I also manage the shop when the managers are out so for what I make it isn’t anything. And I’m not saying I’m entitled I just deserve more for my work ethic, my knowledge and my job. And the fact I provide tools that even the master techs don’t have. “

I’d say $20-$21 is the magic number I’d be looking for. Considering I’ve done anything and everything and am capable of it though it may take me a little longer. I’m ASE certified trying to get master certified in it as I have a few coming due again soon. I’m also certified in Toyota maintenance and working on the next steps as well as hold several Subaru certifications too. If they told me i could make $21 an hour I’d be happy. And I hold one certificate too that they value a lot and that’s I’m first aid and CPR certified too which does matter in this industry they require all of our service advisors to hold that certification.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I’m hourly. I’m making way under that.

The best time to look for a job is when you don't need one. It wouldn't hurt to check out other shops; you don't have to take another job. But remember, knowledge is power. You need to know what the prevailing rate is.
You may like your shop for other reasons, or you may not.

Good management does what it takes to reward and keep valuable employees, because they are the ones making money for them.
Good luck AM. We are all in your corner.

 

[97prizm]

I need a big raise but my company can’t give it. Say they aren’t in a position too is what they tell everybody. I stick around for the retirement benefits and paid time off. Yet we charge $180 per hour. Which until me and you talked about it I thought it was outrageous. When I started there in 2021 it was $120 per hour. Most Indy shop’s around here are between $60-$90. They are lucky I stay because I can go to any other place and get the same or more than what I make and not have to drive 30 miles to do so. It’s a dying field. We haven’t had any luck with new techs at all. But they also don’t pay new techs hardly anything which motivates them to leave. I won’t say directly what I make on a public forum but it’s low for the job I do. And I’m the one in the shop who everyone comes too for tools and the one that the lube techs look up too for knowledge. And I also manage the shop when the managers are out so for what I make it isn’t anything. And I’m not saying I’m entitled I just deserve more for my work ethic, my knowledge and my job. And the fact I provide tools that even the master techs don’t have.

From what I saw working for a Lexus snd VW dealership was the investment in tools needed were in the 10's of thousands. Most mechanics don't loan tools as they don't always come back. Someone really has to want to get into the repair business and stay with it.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The best time to look for a job is when you don't need one. It wouldn't hurt to check out other shops; you don't have to take another job. But remember, knowledge is power. You need to know what the prevailing rate is.
You may like your shop for other reasons, or you may not.

Good management does what it takes to reward and keep valuable employees, because they are the ones making money for them.
Good luck AM. We are all in your corner.

^^^ This.

What you "need" or the company can and can not afford is irrelevant. Its what others will pay. If you need more money you need to be looking for another job. If there are better offers, that means you are being underpaid.

Having said that - the grass is always greener. I got paid better at my last place, but it was a pressure cooker. So I have stayed where I am for quite a while. Having said that, my last kid graduates college in a year. I may go looking for a higher paying pressure cooker again.

Life is about a balance, you need to decide which is important to you.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I’d say $20-$21 is the magic number I’d be looking for. Considering I’ve done anything and everything and am capable of it though it may take me a little longer. I’m ASE certified trying to get master certified in it as I have a few coming due again soon. I’m also certified in Toyota maintenance and working on the next steps as well as hold several Subaru certifications too. If they told me i could make $21 an hour I’d be happy. And I hold one certificate too that they value a lot and that’s I’m first aid and CPR certified too which does matter in this industry they require all of our service advisors to hold that certification.

I know you're young, but what matters is your qualifications.

For example where I work, our rate is $148 an hour. Our top, experienced guy who knows the ins and out of a lot of specialised things gets about 35-40% of that. Our next guy about 32-35%. The junior guys get about 15-18% to start. Keep in mind this is all hourly too, we don't do flat rate. FR someone should actually make more than these percentages.

If our top guy left, the company profit would really take a big hit. That's why he gets paid what he does. The second guy is still valuable but he would also be easier to replace. You need to figure out just how valuable you are, how replaceable you are, and ask for fair pay accordingly. Making 10% of the shop rate seems borderline criminal.

 

[JeffKeryk]

@AutoMechanic there is a top notch shop, Scotty's Automotive, near here that I go to for what I can't or don't want to do. The shop has been there for well over 40 years, I'm sure.
The owner, Dave, pays very well, gives his crew every other Friday paid off, no weekends ever, 2 weeks at the end of the year paid off and 2 weeks paid vacation. They work hard and do quality work. He would flat out love to have you.
You will see beater Hondas and drop dead gorgeous Porsches side by side. And the crew is happy; all of 'em.

 

[Dave Hess]

I’d say $20-$21 is the magic number I’d be looking for. Considering I’ve done anything and everything and am capable of it though it may take me a little longer. I’m ASE certified trying to get master certified in it as I have a few coming due again soon. I’m also certified in Toyota maintenance and working on the next steps as well as hold several Subaru certifications too. If they told me i could make $21 an hour I’d be happy. And I hold one certificate too that they value a lot and that’s I’m first aid and CPR certified too which does matter in this industry they require all of our service advisors to hold that certification.

Keep building your resume, skill set, certifications and you’ll make the money you want.

There was someone on BITOG that went from being a dealership mechanic to a CAT diesel mechanic and now making very good money.

In any career field you have to always keep learning.

BTW,
Were you the person mentioning about joining the military reserves a few months ago ?

 

[Number_35]

I need a big raise but my company can’t give it. Say they aren’t in a position too is what they tell everybody. I stick around for the retirement benefits and paid time off. Yet we charge $180 per hour. Which until me and you talked about it I thought it was outrageous. When I started there in 2021 it was $120 per hour. Most Indy shop’s around here are between $60-$90. They are lucky I stay because I can go to any other place and get the same or more than what I make and not have to drive 30 miles to do so. It’s a dying field. We haven’t had any luck with new techs at all. But they also don’t pay new techs hardly anything which motivates them to leave. I won’t say directly what I make on a public forum but it’s low for the job I do. And I’m the one in the shop who everyone comes too for tools and the one that the lube techs look up too for knowledge. And I also manage the shop when the managers are out so for what I make it isn’t anything. And I’m not saying I’m entitled I just deserve more for my work ethic, my knowledge and my job. And the fact I provide tools that even the master techs don’t have.

I'm sure you deserve more than they're paying you, but I made $3.75/hr as a tune-up/lube tech back in 1980.

Per the Bank of Canada's inflation calculator, that's only $13.43/hr now. C$, so the equivalent of < $10 US.

That drove me back to school.

 

[wag123]

I’d say $20-$21 is the magic number I’d be looking for. Considering I’ve done anything and everything and am capable of it though it may take me a little longer. I’m ASE certified trying to get master certified in it as I have a few coming due again soon. I’m also certified in Toyota maintenance and working on the next steps as well as hold several Subaru certifications too. If they told me i could make $21 an hour I’d be happy. And I hold one certificate too that they value a lot and that’s I’m first aid and CPR certified too which does matter in this industry they require all of our service advisors to hold that certification.

If you know what you are doing and are good at it you are selling yourself WAY short. First, I would NEVER work at a shop where they paid per hour straight time, I would ONLY work for a shop that paid per billable labor hour. This is the only way to make any REAL money as a mechanic. However, be forewarned, you have to be confident in your abilities because you will not make any money if you are not good at what you do and don't put-forth the effort (or if you like to screw around a lot and play on your phone all day). Also, be advised that come-backs are on YOU. Second, $21 per billable labor hour is WAY too low, this is a rookie pay scale, not the pay that an experienced and skilled mechanic should get, certainly not in 2023.

 

[Passport1]

Monkey Branching. Usually this applies to male/female relationships but I think there is a strong similarity to job hopping in the workosphere. Always looking for something better but not letting go until there is a solid option. Here's a short explanation;

 

[CKN]

I’d say $20-$21 is the magic number I’d be looking for. Considering I’ve done anything and everything and am capable of it though it may take me a little longer. I’m ASE certified trying to get master certified in it as I have a few coming due again soon. I’m also certified in Toyota maintenance and working on the next steps as well as hold several Subaru certifications too. If they told me i could make $21 an hour I’d be happy. And I hold one certificate too that they value a lot and that’s I’m first aid and CPR certified too which does matter in this industry they require all of our service advisors to hold that certification.

Don't think that's enough when McDonalds employees can make $17.00 in any major metro area.

 

[Kruse]

The last Ford dealership I worked for wanted to pay $10/hour and you had to own a minimum of $150K worth of tools.
Okay, I'm exaggerating just a little bit, but not by much. Oh, did I mention their tech turnover was over 40% each year?
The funny thing about all this was that I bought a vehicle from a different Ford dealership a few years later and he knew all about the pay and the turnover that the previous dealership was experiencing. He thought it was a big joke. And it was, except to the techs who worked there.

 

[demarpaint]

I need a big raise but my company can’t give it. Say they aren’t in a position too is what they tell everybody. I stick around for the retirement benefits and paid time off. Yet we charge $180 per hour. Which until me and you talked about it I thought it was outrageous. When I started there in 2021 it was $120 per hour. Most Indy shop’s around here are between $60-$90. They are lucky I stay because I can go to any other place and get the same or more than what I make and not have to drive 30 miles to do so. It’s a dying field. We haven’t had any luck with new techs at all. But they also don’t pay new techs hardly anything which motivates them to leave. I won’t say directly what I make on a public forum but it’s low for the job I do. And I’m the one in the shop who everyone comes too for tools and the one that the lube techs look up too for knowledge. And I also manage the shop when the managers are out so for what I make it isn’t anything. And I’m not saying I’m entitled I just deserve more for my work ethic, my knowledge and my job. And the fact I provide tools that even the master techs don’t have.

You're a young guy get your resume out there and start looking for another job if they aren't paying what you're worth. @Leo99 nailed it. Money talks, and you have to sell yourself.

 

[CKN]

I think dealerships could run much better in an ESOP/profit sharing situation The issue is that they are never "wired" to do business that way. I don't even know if state franchise laws even allow it.

 

[John105]

It's not accurate to throw any dollar amount in as this absolutely varies by location. (2) shops I have used with no issues charge $80-90/hour. I actually asked in a local "car" group on FB what hourly rates range for our area and the consensus was $80-100/hour. Multiple shop owners responded too. A mechanic at a local Honda dealers replied and said they charge $159/hour. One guy that has a "specialty" shop charges $115/hour.

It’s not always about $ and minutes. I once went to my drs office and two corporate nurses told me they were there to train the dr how to spend only 8 min per patient.

If it’s all about minutes and seconds, how can an indie bmw shop charge $30/wheel to mount and balance then hand wash the vehicle? Some MBAs should show up and tell them to charge $50/wheel and cut out the hand wash!

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I think dealerships could run much better in an ESOP/profit sharing situation The issue is that they are never "wired" to do business that way. I don't even know if state franchise laws even allow it.

The only one I know of in the Kansas City area is Midway Truck Center. They have been an ESOP since 1982. They specialize in selling work trucks and little else.

 

[Chris142]

California requires that mechanics that supply their own tools be paid 2x min wage. Currant min wage is $15.50

 

[pghvolvo]

The Volvo and Toyota Dealers by me are charging $160 an hour, book, and my Indy guy charges $75 an hour, straight. The Indy shop is open 2pm to 9 or 10 at night. Most of his techs are moonlighting from dealers around him. All the dealers around me are always looking for techs. A friend of mine her daughter who's twenty one years old, got hired last year at a dealer and they're training her to be a tech. A woman I know bought a new Chevrolet a few months ago, the saleswoman that sold her the car worked both the sales floor and in the service area as a tech.

 

[fdcg27]

Anyone else see anything fishy in the opportunity the OP posted?
If it sounds too good to be true it probably is?
The very concept of being both management and a working wrench seems antithetical.
Finally, if this is such a great opportunity then why is it posted online?
FWIU, the world of really good techs in any area is a small one, so if you were looking to hire one surely you'd work that network?

 

[MattPersman]

Highest shop rate I know if around me in Indianapolis area is 311.50. That was at Audi dealer for engine work.

@AutoMechanic at the dealer I work at we would start you at likely $20 an hour and if things went well could give you $25 after a couple months.

Hourly in a flat rate shop is a tough sell to upper management. They typically aren’t billing many hours aka making money for the business. Mostly seen as an expense.

Flat rate is where the $ comes. But you gotta be right for it and the shop has to be right for you. You gotta be fast/efficient as heck. You will on a weekly basis take your lumps on stuff…no question. It’s a high risk high reward scenario

You just have to be true to yourself. If you are 100% sure you can easily flag 40 hours+ each 5 day week then it’s time. If not don’t even jump.

The cost of business charged hourly rates have skyrocketed but wages have gone up small.

Best way to get a raise is to move on.