I’m a diesel tech too, I’m young and I’ve been working on things my hole life so I still love it. But I’m sure people get burned out. Semi trucks have a lot more space to work, I couldn’t imagine working on cars every single day. So props to all the auto mechanics.
Being a mechanic has benefits but it is completely outweighed by the low pay and at the end of the day that is why we go to work. Unfortunately the industry will always have a endless supply of kids wanting to be a mechanic which keeps the pay low. For example if you asked a school leaver to do work experience in either a high end Audi dealership or work with a plumber replacing toilets, they are going to pick the dealership as it looks cool, high tec etc. But the thing is the plumber will earn more money that day and probably work shorter hours
Well that was true up in to recently , at least in the heavy truck field, now they really can’t find any one, and are paying even unskilled works more then they should.
unless you're good at it. ive watched several dumbshits come and go and i am making a pretty decent wage i would think. some people never had it never will.
@@paulsmith5611 I guess if it's non-union. I have done 4 years of schooling along with on the job training and still have another year to go. Then we have yearly classes to keep up to date. But yeah, union plumber is a great way to go. Definitely happy with the pay. :)
I thought that because I worked hard on cars all day I didn't need to exercise. I started going to the gym 6 days a week (mornings before I go to work) and I have never felt better. The trick is getting your body used to outputting more than you have to do at work, and then it's just "extra workout!". Also it really helps prevent injuries because you don't over-develop some muscles and under-develop others. Automotive repair is taxing on your body, but it IS possible to overcome that and just enjoy the exercise!
I have been a tech for 17 years and can back up what he says. The amount of (mostly needless) technology in cars is unrivaled by most anything else in civilian life except for medicine, engineering, and computers/phones/internet programming. But the wages aren't even close to those other occupations. The ongoing training is constant and the need to buy updated tools never ends, although it does slow down. All for a starting wage of $15/hr. Yes you will hear stories of guys making $100k+/year but that is far from the norm. Most techs are massively in debt and/or live comfortably only because their wife brings home more than they do. Burnout and turnover is very high. If you are very good with mechanics become an engineer not an auto tech.
Agreed i have been in it for ten years. I am leaving for factory work because it pays much better and comes with benefits. Sad that I had come this far and now I will be doing something like factory work in order to get out of the debt i accrued in auto repair. It isn't terrible but check to check isn't working for me.
@@DIYTech1 Become an industrial mechanic. You sit around all day waiting for a machine to break making decent money whether you actually have to do some work or not. You already have the experience necessary to become one.
@@outtolunch2834 i am burned out on mechanic repair. I really used to enjoy it but i think it will hopefully become a hobby for me again someday. For now though it will be only if my stuff needs fixed.
"Once you're in you're in and you cant get out... Or can youuuuuu?..... Really hoping for the TH-cam thing..." Literally immediately subbed because It pulled my heartstrings lmfao
I've been a tech for 25 years. I'm tired of it, but it pays well. Knowing what I know now, I would not have made this my career choice. It takes a terrible toll on your body.
Gena wilcox define high blood pressure Thought that would be stress causing it? I just wanna know because I’m almost at that point in life deciding what to do
@@Mistyfgdf , just turn always from this career you better off doing something else and get a college degree. Not everyone can make in this automotive industry and it take time and stress to make at lease 80k a year or more. Sometime you work so much and you forgot about family .Company only cares about money and you will forget the small things in life you miss cause you are not making that much money and have to work your butt off to stay late.
@@genawilcox9039 Gonna sound ignorant but Dont really wanna get a college degree, only see myself as a technician atm (If lets say down the line for example i become a good technician and work up to manger level, but realize i need that degree for the position ill regret) I can ignore alot of your bad points, For family i just got my parents so thats now biggie i mean they work just as much as you do on the daily, stress can be managed cause i really wanna get into the industry and see for myself how good or bad it is (Cause everyone has their own experiences) Money it really cant be that terrible can it, assuming you have some help with finding a job after schooling, you should find something atleast 15+ (And depending on where you live, taxes can be low... or high and if your good with money just save it up)
@@Mistyfgdf , I can't tell you what to do with your life but at lease think about college as a back up plan . Maybe take night school and work and see how things are . The money in this field is there but you have to work for it not everyone can be a good tech and make at least 50k plus. As a tech their you will have slow day or many slow day not making money and most shop benefit suck I'm just lucky I have a good partner with good incomes .
You hit the nail on the head. Been a Diesel tech for 29 years, my back is about used up, knees hands and elbows hurt, but have made a good living. If I had it to do over again I would.
@@MichaelJ44 - I guess what many mechanics don't do as they are usually where they are because they flow with their life and don't analyze it too much - I mean their life as a whole, of course they analyze their work as it's their craft and passion - is to maintain an overall healthy life. However, it is worth mentioning that at the end of the day, not many make it into the 50+ years without some sort of chronic pain, whether they were mechanics, engineers, lawyers, doctors, etc... every job has its toll on the body, and it's actually probably worse for those who used to sit in their office chair all day. As to specific tips for the day job: # One should find the moments along it where he can either sit down and relax a bit - but not on a chair as it might look bad, rather on your own legs by squatting down ATG - or either by some relaxing, not stressing further, stretches. Those moments are important in taking some stress down from your body along the day. # He should also put attention to drink enough water and less coffee along it, as it regulates blood flow which in turn gives your whole body a better and faster recovery. # Lifting heavy objects using the heavy lifting Deadlift technique as much as possible. A mechanic MUST know the Deadlift if he wants to maintain his back. # Using quality protecting gear, like impact protecting gloves, where it is needed and can be applied.
@@GrGal thanks man been looking in to bring a diesel mechanic myself. But wasn't sure whether i should continue being a truck driver or a truck mechanic. I find trucking very easy and it's been paying well so far, but i don't wanna just settle on one field. Currently I'm unsure of how much mechanics make 🙄.
I just subed even before the first minute have passed. Holy fuck I’ve been looking for a video like this for months and months. Thank you for taking the time to make a video that informative I appreciate it.
If you want to start a career as a mechanic, and you're new to the field, start somewhere hourly that isn't flat rate. The post office has vehicle maintenance facilities where not only are you paid hourly but 99% of the tools you need are provided so you can make a list of what's there and copy that. The trucks are basic. Old S-10's and early 2000's explorers and you work on those all day long. Great way to get faster at your job because it's repetitive and there's at least one guy that understands you haven't been a tech for 20 years and will be willing to help you if you have questions. How's the pay? I'm in Minnesota and started at $21.09 an hour. It's pretty good. Overall, it's probably the best job a new mechanic could get. They'll also pay for you to get your CDL because you're required to have it for the position, you don't need it going in, they just require that you work towards getting it. The benefits and union make it a secure job as well. So for the people wanting to get into this career, especially people with kids that can't afford to be paid like crap while they're learning, consider it. Tough to get in, but once you're in, it takes an act of god to get rid of you.
@@JoshShare it can be tough to stay in a career that isn't paying you a lot, and I figured I'd share that gem with all the people who might be intimidated by the fact that flat rate is all about how fast you are. It's really tough to support a family if you're there for 8 hours and only turning 6 out because everyone else's pay depends on their speed too, so there's less chance of finding someone to show you the better ways to do certain jobs.
@@Teriaki123 right, that's my point. It's a nice place to start, and once you understand that the concept is essentially the same for other vehicles, with a few minor changes in procedure, you can branch off and do whatever.
Also check your local public transportation company. Here in Delaware we are part of the state. So we have good bennys but we have a private pension. You can cash out after 25 years or stay longer and build it up. Start at $22/hour and max at $29/hour. We are 24 hour shop and run 350 days a year. Starting at the bottom is rough working 3rd shift and most likely weekends but it pays off if you pay your dues.
I was a mechanic for 5 years before I left the industry. I left for a union elevator job. Best decision I ever made. Auto companies need to give more incentives than a 401k and a meh health insurance plan
Smart move , and you can do most of your work by yourself and not have to work with a crew of idiots. And people really like it when you show up so they don't have to take the stairs. You guys have it going on 👍
I'm assuming a better option would be to work for yourself and have a small shop with a pole barn? I know a guy who does this and it looks like he is killing it. He was a ASE certified mechanic for years at a Chevy dealership, but started his own one man shop in his early 30's. Idk. My 18 year old son is thinking about becoming a mechanic. Just researching things.... TY
Wow Josh, very well said. You covered a lot of aspects. I think having the right attitude is always important. Realizing you'll never know it all, so you need to learn all that you can, when you're getting your ass kicked on a job that it's a learning experience and no matter how much you are losing on that job you'll come out a stronger technician. These guys that refuse hard jobs or even worse, give up when it gets rough are the one's that although monetarily seem like they made the better choice because they didn't get stuck on a hard job and kept making money, they career wise never advance and end up stuck. The great techs are forged from the fire and there were a lot of blood, sweat, and tears during that process. I'm a Nissan Master Technician but was once a guy that needed help doing oil changes and mounting tires. I've had my ass handed to me more times than I can count, and there were times I was given jobs that really shouldn't have been given to me at the time, I almost walked out so many times, and some of those I would have damn well been justified in doing so, but I didn't. It's hard to keep a good attitude, I have to step back and talk myself into it sometimes. I hope you keep that good attitude too.
I used to be a technician as well and I had No Life, Good Money but No Life, specially when you work Saturdays. No time for your family. I asked my self whats more valuable TIME or MONEY? But every shop and dealership is different and every technician is different and has different goals. Just something to have in mind for those thinking about this career.
Thankfully I just got a new job as a Porsche tech. Im hourly for the first 90 days but they make it worth it. I can also tell that this dealer group really takes care of their employees
I need this some info.im a manager of Hotel.working at nightshift and theres a company that train me in the morning to be their mechanic i dont know what to choose because if i choose mechanic i will earn more than sitting in office and get stress with the worker.also i feel like i love fixing things its so relaxing.but im still thinking what to choose i feel bored here in office and became fat by doing nothing only paper works and im working for 3 years here.maybe you can give me more advice.thanks
@@gabrielmichael1899 If You're making decent money already as a manager, I would suggest just stay where you are. Things to consider, you don't get payed hourly you get payed by the job (flat rate). You have to make sure you finish the job before the paying time other wise you lose money, you will burn and scratch your hands on a daily basis, you will end up really dirty with grease and oil on your head, will have to most likely work weekends (thats where most of the money is made), will have to stay late to finish the job, you will have to invest in your own tools and dont go cheap. You will have to multitask on many cars at a time. If youre ok with all of these then go for it. P.S. as a beginner you wont make good money you have to be patient.
35 years in . most important thing is do you WAKE up looking forward to your job . To this I always happy to head to work . Can't say that for alot of people who hate going to work . You have to love what you do . Don't always look at the $$$ .
El Jefe it’s really suprising how little the vast majority people have about their cars. I was always taught to learn how to fix something you own, of course I don’t know how to tear down my engine or change out a transmission, but I know the simple things like changing tires from summer to winter, changing oil, getting a good idea of what might be wrong with my car if it’s having issues, etc. It’s a lot easier to learn how to do it and save $200-$300
I have a 2012 honda civic lx. I removed the steering column to get a better angle on the ignition assembly that needed to be replaced. I now have a VSA light and check power steering light. ?????
I think if people want a high paying jobs then make yourself a valuable asset and learn the hardest things and apply them to a job. High entry barrier = high pay. Engineering, doctor, statisticians, data scientists, actuaries are all $100k+ jobs but are extremely hard 😭 everyone wants high paying jobs but dont want to put the work in. I never understood that mentality
I don't think anybody said anything about what wanting a high paying job for no experience and or investment. You kinda just took a jab at mechanics in general lol, did you get overcharged at a dealership too?
@@shannonhudson1334 boohoo I pulled out a lot of loans and worked my ass off as a mathematician and paid off my loans...there is literally no excuse. I come from some of the worst neighborhoods in Chicago. What's your excuse? Scared of investing in your future?
At the end of the day franchises are all about making money. Techs are just a number to be honest. They expect you to make money by increasing your productivity rather than changing your wage. This action leads to becoming more vulnerable to make a mistake and then consequently get fired. I became a tech, got certification both from the manufacturer and ASE and that did not made any change in my wage rate. I abide the way that employers take advantage of techs. I had to quit my job and went back to school. Like the guy mentioned, your biggest tool is your brain. If you are capable of learning and becoming educated get out of there and make sure that your knowledge gets paid for what is worth. Dont get me wrong I love working on cars. I really liked working in a dealership fixing and troubleshooting vehicles yet the treatment made me quit my job. I moved to the education branch and for the same pay I have a way better treatment, way more vacation time, and have the knowledge to work on my cars or get side jobs. This is my point of view regarding being a tech in 2019, I am not saying my opinion is applicable to every individual but it happened to me and I felt like sharing it.
Hi Josh, You pretty much told the way it is. I worked as a mechanic for over 25 years. I worked at Porsche/VW shops. I had plenty of work. I also worked 12 to 14 hours a day, five days a week. I was getting paid commission as you described. I opened my own shop in Glendale California, in 1980. I had 5 mechanics and two helpers. I made part of thier commission, and whatever was left after paying the Bill's, rent, insurance, taxes... In order for me to make what I was making with my own two hands, it takes about three full time mechanics working 40 hours a week. I closed my shop because my shop kept getting burglarized, the last time, everything was taken. I worked for Carol Shelby after I closed the shop, as High Performance Fabricator, doind research and development on High Performance Parts for Chrysler and Dodge. (This job was the most FUN, but lowest pay.) I was on the Vioer team, and I also built 5 high Performance cars for Chrysler and Dodge. Like someone else in the comments said, get an engendering degree! Keep furthering your education! After all that, I raced Mountain Bikes Cross Country, then I got a job as International Marketing and Sales Manager for a bicycle tire company. After that I went to Taiwan and designed a line of tools, and tool boxes. I have been working as a California Realtor since 9/11. If you love cars, and are good at diagnosis, dont mind working long hours, you can make a good living. Why not work, doing what you enjoy? Being a mechanic is much more than working on cars. People depend on the service you provide. Even to the people that act like they dont. If you have a profession that serves a need, you'll always have an income. Specialize in a make of car, and in an area of reapair. Be the best, be the "go to" person, and work safe. Go EARN a living. Good luck!
Did not work out for me. Pay sucked and the whole flat rate was b.s you have to cut corners to get the job done. I ended up going in to plumbing doing way better for myself. And I still have time to wrench on the car from time to time.👍
Thanks for the chat man! Always wanted to be a mechanic but was talked out of it at every turn. Now I'm 30, finally starting to DIY with my 335i, only ever been trained for war, Doing security and STILL daydreaming about working on cars all day
Most of those companies I know of pay not great wages the first few years while they send you to some kind of trade school then you come out making good money
I worked for Chrysler for over 12 years and left to go work for Vdot. This was the best decision I’ve ever made. Don’t get me wrong I gained a ton of knowledge from working in dealership but now only work 40 hours a week plus full benefits including 13 straw holidays, sick leave, personal leave, otl leave, and retirement. They furnish all the tools you needs so use my own tools at home on side work.
I run the car maintenance TH-cam channel in Korea. I'm always learning such a great ideas on your channel. I hope we have a chance to be together. Thank you.
@@xavierburgos2647 he's in Korea you ignorant ass. Maybe if you left your zip code once in your life you'd understand English isn't a first language there, *surprise*. They study English to reach out and communicate because the country is on the up and up due to US/Korean relations. They're some of the most humble, and intelligent people you could meet. Funny how you didn't try to troll him in Korean because you're too lazy to learn a second language. get bent.
I'm 14 and have always aspired to be a mechanic. I've heard the negatives and positives about the job but the negatives just cant alter my decision. I love the work in the industry and always have wanted to start my own buisness on the go. Thoughts? Thanks
It’s going to be hard keep your options open try a course at a trade school see if it’s for you if It’s not for you try trades like electrical plumbing and hvac
you can work for a deal ship but on the other hand if you open your own business thats where the big money is, but remember more respsonsiblilty and hire good folks etc........ good luck in which ever journey you choose.
God rest his soul my dad he got an opportunity to work on the Model T or A, anyways my dad only had a 3rd grade education and was born in 1925 and worked on cars till the day he passed away for himself he just loved to work on cars anyways if you really enjoy this field go for it, but remember its not for everyone , and where the money is , is if you open your own shop doesn't have to be a big shop, cause now a days these cars are computer on wheels , get a good understanding on electronics and the rest willj fall into place good luck.
At your age, working on cars is fun. After 20 plus years of it, however, it"ll make you cringe to change your oil. Especially if you work at a dealership on the same models of vehicles till you puke
I'm a little late to the game, but 9k subs in 1 year! incredible man. I'll be binge watching the rest of the day (Sunday) and watching from here on out. Keep it real!
if anyone wants to get into auto repair I would suggest electrical diagnoses and computer repair this is the most overlooked field in the repair of automobiles, I have 38 years in the transmissions alone and still learning the electronic controls. thanks for your video Josh and good luck on your career and hope you stay with it we all need more people in the repair business.
I was a tech for 18 years. I got in too deep too early with the tool trucks and ignored the advice of my elders warning me of their financially crippling ploys. Before I knew it I was locked in. Your last point is the reason I wouldn’t do it again. The lasting damage to my body has begun to suck.
Great video bro, you told it like it is and pretty much carried the same opinion I have regarding the industry. However I will say there is a way out! I also put in about ten years as a mechanic but once I hit that mark, I decided that I had enough. I Went back to school for finance and didn’t look back! Easily the best decision I have ever made. At points I do miss working on cars however now I work in a nice office with a much better work/life balance and the $ isn’t too bad either. Always a way out dude!
In my experience being on shops ..Dont forget about the mind games they play..And promises that they dont want to keep ...Mechanics is beautiful but better to change different paths..
Spot on dude. I’m a truck driver. Everyone thinks it’s easy, it’s not. My bro is a mechanic, hard life. My advice. Start your own business after you know your shit. Make your own schedule, work as hard as you want, take 60% of profits instead of 10%. You guys can do this. Wrench on.
Very true. I bounced around some and started wrenching later in life so I know about the toll it takes on your body but I would rather come home sore than deal with people all day.
bro I was working in mercedes dealership and I was just new to job I was getting all completed work it newer bother me because it was all the same like old cars just more sensor's so it gets easier you have to know basis so you can get work done fast just use your brain its all same. last 4 years I worked on all cars and never had a problem. now I'm opening my own shop to be honest this job is golden if you love it and understand cars you can do it ez
How are things working out for you? I’m also a tech for over 10 years... I managed to save a pretty penny to open up my own mechanic shop also.. from a tech to a shop owner; is there anything obstacle that was hard for you to overcome. Deadline is coming up and I still get nervous thinking about being my own boss... but nervous or not this is what iv wanted for my family for a long time...
Nice video mate, I used to be an automotive technician for Toyota as an apprentice who had a passion for cars and was willing to learn about the industry. Unfortunately I left in my 3rd due to the things you’ve mentioned in your video and experiencing countless bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment, I have completely lost interest in the Industry and I almost felt suicidal and felt I wasn’t growing as a mechanic. The positive I have is I have skills to look after own car
Where I live (canada) it's pretty even between flat rate and hourly. Flat rate they pay around $40-50 for journyperson and hourly for a journeyperson is usually around $30 an hour sometimes more if you specialize in something. Also for tools we luckily got Canadian tire which is good for alot of things somethings arent the best but its alot cheaper then a any tool truck.
Master craft is crap compared to snapon. You might as well spend more on for quality than garbage and returning it all the time. But hey they both got lifetime warranty right 😂
wrenched for 15 years, gold level hyundai tech, was absolutely miserable at the end. for the last 5 years ive been mowing grass, 60/hr for grass cutting up to 80/hr for other lawn maintenance services. 8-9 months of work, plus snow if your lucky, its definitely easier work, my back is fucked from tires and bending over engines, but doesnt bother me doing this. with my new career i wondered if being inside under florescent light all day was part of the misery(always super sunny where i live). only downfall is the heat but i drink a ton of water and only work 6 hours a day. QUITTING THAT BULLSHIT WAS THE BEST DECISION IN MY LIFE! anybody can do the easy work but you have to do it for yourself, powerwashing, window washing, landscaping, irrigation systems, stump grinding, dirt work(skidsteer work can go for $100 an hr and they have a/c now), snow is white gold hurry and clear it before it melts. LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE!!!
The One and Only I got out 4 years ago I was expert certified in Toyota lexus and have been turning wrenched for about a decade. But I gave up the flat rate gig in exchange for cushy hourly doing industrial maintenance
here in year later. I'm currently 18 and studying a level 3 course (UK) and I'm having meltdowns debating whether this is the career I want, as you guys have said I'd love to have this as skill but I'm not sure I want this as a career and I'm really torn in my choices. don't wanna disappoint my parents either.
@@altojuice what i can say, and this is valid for my country not USA, is that if you dont have a relative or close person working in this field that can get you in and show you how the industry works then you are going to have a really hard time trying to get hired at random shops, no experience, low pay, hard to grow, no one to teach you directly they will all avoid helping you etc.
This video is great. If you're a mechanic, then this might seem obvious, but for people totally external to the industry this provides a small window into the world. I like videos like this. Thanks for uploading!
i tried it for 2 years. racked up a $4,000 cornwell bill. everyone in my dealership was always broke and stressed to the max. guys would stab each others backs for 2 hours labor. decided to get my CDL and got a local route. so glad I made that change. im only 22
It depends. i'm now a 3rd year light vehicle mechanic and love and hate it. My tradesmen told me i made a mistake, but i feel as if it can open up new avenues to better pay mechanical jobs such as heavier diesel, at the mines etc.
Josh Share thanks for this video dude i was just about to work for a dealer ship too you made some really good points and I don’t believe its worth it to invest so much time in education to not get paid alot
TheFailBros wish I could say the same, I’m just not interested in any other career though. The back pain scares me though. It’s bad enough as is and I’m 21
Very good points made here. I'm almost 30 years in and I agree with you. Just to add: Learn your craft, don't be a hack or a crook always looking for the easy way. Treat people and their cars with respect. It's easy to be average, strive to be something better than that. Find a good, honest place to work (or create your own). Remember that tool boxes have wheels for a reason, if you're in a shitty place just move on.
In my work experience and i was a diesel mechanic. Outside of good union jobs most companies sucked. The only reason I stayed in it was because I got paid by the hour doing mostly fleet work.
i can definitely appreciate this video. i got out of the field about 6 years ago after working as a gm technician. i wish there were more videos like this when i got in. hope ur Chanel takes off because fuck wrenching for a living lol
I've watched a lot of videos on what it's like being a mechanic. What I've concluded is pretty simple: become a mechanic because your passionate about cars, not to make a lot of money. Seems like most of the mechanics on youtube don't truly love cars and being in the environment and they only got the job to make money.
There is difference between working on cars on your own time versus working on cars for a living. You can be passionate all you want but that day to day working on cars and dealing with the extra shop stuff that comes with it will wear you down.
The problem is the pay system. At first I loved getting the problem cars that took a lot to figure out. But when I would get a 15 to 20 hour check after having busted my ass all week, it didn't take long to realize that this wasn't going to cut it.
@@meabob Just look at it this way. At least you gained some knowledge on how to fix it in the future even though your paycheck didn't show it. Knowledge out weighs money.
Car mechanics in the uk is a crap job. 6 day working weeks, never leave work on time, insulting hourly rate, crap conditions, always being rushed and timed, specialist tools for every job, paying to go to work/buying tools...
Does this correlate at all with aviation mechanics i was first thinking of becoming an auto tech but quickly realized the bigger the problems the better the pay so airplanes i got my eyes on you ✈️ any suggestions or opinions on aviation mechanics
Automotive helped but one thing you ought to get is your A&P License (Airframes and Power) the difference between an unlicensed tech and a licensed tech is over $20
Good video spot on been a mechanic for 7-8 years and if your feet are hurting get redwing 606 I swear by them on concrete all day really took my foot and leg pain way down
I'm retired now, (THANK GOD!!!!) but I think Josh hit the nail on the head with every point he made. Hang in there man. You made a great video. I think anyone with pretty decent intelligence, and manual capability, can make a decent living. I suggest new guys get tools lined up as fast as they can, and develop a procedure to follow. It really helps to be as repetitive as one can when doing jobs. Especially when doing jobs like tire rotation and other seemingly mundane tasks where a simple mistake can lead to disaster. I'll check out what else you have, but I rally like this video. P.S. the job is tough, but watch the language. ;-)
I’m 24 and make 28 a hour , I’m a field mechanic for a heavy equipment manufacturer . I make easy 70k plus with overtime. I don’t work weekends lol , and I’m on call 24/7 for 1 week every 5 weeks . I’m pretty happy
Field work is underrated, nobody wants to do it though. Sucks in the winter but it's better then getting paid the same as a burger flipper to work on toyotas. 40k in tools for $15 an hour flat rate, yea fuck that.
Broke Down Junk right ? Haha I have maybe 15k In tools . Tools Don’t make the mechanic . So I just use brains and knowledge passed down . . It’s sucks in the summer and winter times but that’s life man . You work thru it . It’s fun for me . I love wrenching . I like fixing Shit . And I’m only going to get better and always chasing the money . Main goal is pg&e . They in the high 40 and low 50s
Im a mobile mechanic. I work for myself out of a service truck. I average $500.00/ day. Ive worked at auto dealerships, heavy equipment dealerships, ma and pop repair shops and used car lots. I love owning my own business but let me tell you not everyone is cut out for it. It can be very stressful. Also you dont get to start out working for yourself. To all the newbies out there go work for as many different types of shops as you can, learn as much as you can, and dont beat yourself up over your mistakes, rather learn from them. In my opinion 2 of the most important things you can know as a mechanic is what you CAN'T do, and understanding that you don't know everything.
You have to really love what you're doing to be a mechanic. Respect to you folks! I still aspire to do that, but maybe someday as more of a hobby. Right now I service a small fleet of four, tractor, motorcycle, and scissor lift -- until I need to call in the big dawgs (I know my boundaries). I only wound up doing it because I took the personal time to find out how (no pay raise mind you). For the rest of you who might be interested, but not in this: I've heard nothing from masters and journeys from almost all of the trades but how they're hurting for manpower -- right now. Talk to a tradesman, mechanic, union, contractor, whatever -- pick up your tools, get your act together, and get to business. Don't have what you'll need? We'll help you if you have work ethic. Work like it's fricking work, unlike all of the slacking/calling off I've heard of and experienced (from adults living with mommy no less), and you're a shoe-in for a great paying career. Serve with dedication, initiative, precision, and good morale, and by golly you'll climb the ranks. Josh, thanks for letting a random viewer hijack your comment section!
Josh, i see your a dealership mechanic. The flat rate is a good way to work as you become more proficient you beat the 100%. However, there are all kinds of things in the background working against you. From the factory to the dealership management, cost of sale is a huge deal. As almost none of the management has come from the back end; (backbone is said correctly), they have no experience or desire to understand talent/pay dynamic. Thus, it is very easy and acceptable to make budget cuts from that area specifically. If you question this; look at the average pay for the F&I or sales management vs. master tech. I think the area of opportunity for more fair pay per contribution to the dealership would be a lot less $$ in the front end and a lot more to the backbone.
Been in the industry for 10 years and yah this video is true still for 2019. Pay is medicore for the heavy amount of time you will invest. You will work like a mule, and free time goes away. Flat rate times now a days are pretty tight and cut throat, manufactures and the dealers are always looking to maximize profits. Sadly there always a surge of new people wanting to get into this industry despite alot of its glaring negative points, so sadly will never change.
Flat rate - so the employer doesn't have to pay you while there is no work, but you're expected to stay for free in case work does come in. So the employee takes the risk, not the owner.
I've been working at a Ford dealership for about 3 years now and I can consistently make 10 hours a day. Some days as much as 12. And I only work 8-5... and i don't work Saturdays anymore. When i was busting g out tires and oil changes i did, but I've moved on from that.
I've just started getting into automotive stuff and I honestly think you rock for having this youtube channel, I'm going to look at more of your videos now :)
Just really grateful to be a salary tech. I'm new and I've had diags take me 6 hours and I'm only 8 months into my actual career. I think I'm just starting to get the hang of diag but .3-.6 for pinpoint tests is just insulting especially when the connector can only be accessed by removing 13 different panels or the bumper (I'm fleet so I get to see service labor times for GM, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota). I feel really bad for manufacturer techs cause they're getting fucked so hard and they have such an awesome and demanding skill set. That's why I never feel bad bombarding manufacturers with warranty claims and I don't feel too bad for how bad their business is hurting right now. New cars are getting pricier with all these stupid gadgets and gismos and I don't think my generation is super interested or even financially capable of new cars. I think our profession will get better and better in time. I at least hope so. At the end of the day I love and take pride in my work. I believe the rest will follow.
Aren't dealerships buy tools necessary for mechanics to work there? Or they buy just basic tools and very expensive equipment, like alignment machines and alike? Or I totally misunderstand the whole thing? Thank you for the very informative film.
My dream is to be a mechanic but I don’t know where to start in the auto business iv worked doing tires and iv don’t oil changing jobs but I wanna do actual mechanic work like engine and transmission and wiring. Right now I’m self learning everything I have a 94 Acura Integra that I turbo charged myself and tuned it was pushing 340HP on a automatic transmission then the trans blow so I did a auto to manual swap then decided to rebuild hole car and start from scratch so I took everything out of car to the Frame and now I’m process of rebuilding engine and making my own wire loom for the car. So far I absolutely love working on cars I find it so easy I’m 23 years old. Do you have any advice or does anyone have any advice on how I can get started in this field?
You can start by taking few automotive classes at your nearest community college with financial aid/grants. That will also open a lot of windows and you can get most concepts right from the get go. You can then apply for an internship at the dealership or start as a lube/tire tech and of you go.
Peter Tesar Peter it used to be bad pay but now there is a skills shortage. I am talking BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche. You have to work had for that but Dealers are having to pay. I kid you not mate.
I agree with most of what you say except for the working saturdays topic. Where I am at we have a guarantee and I calculate my bills based on that. Any additional hours are additional money to me. I don’t go in on saturdays unless I want to. But your thoughts on everything else I couldn’t agree more on.
appreciate the comment! A lot of people in the industry have to work Saturdays. Im at a larger dealership now so I only have to work one, mayyyybee two Saturdays a month
I'm so close to being out of this rotten CROOKED industry I can smell it. Been a tech for 15 years and I have more injuries than an NFL player. I tell all the young kids to run as fast as they can, this job will chew you up and spit you out. Best description I've ever seen of being a flat rate tech is this, being a flat rate tech is like being in the pony express except your not the rider your the horse you will be ridden at full gallop till you collapse then they will get off and get on the next horse and leave you to die. It's a harsh truth, sorry but this is a terrible job.
@@kanolisausage1552 Yeah I agree with that last part, but if you enjoy cars just as much as I do. It's hard to say whether or not I should go to trade school and become a mechanic. I'm not the smartest, but I love learning and dealing with cars (mainly performance cars). Obviously that won't come right off the bat, but working at a local shop/dealership for a few years until I come up with a plan to work for myself. It can't be that bad, but i don't know, that's just what I think.
@@rollsroyceroyce7463 working on customers cars is NOTHING like working on your hobby car/hot rod. Your going to be chasing stupid little noises and water leaks. Dealing with block head customers who won't accept that the car won't do what they want it to do because that's not how it's built/programmed. Warranty times and getting slashed all over the place, which will drive down times at independent shops. If you love cars and insist on turning wrenches find a city job working on cop cars or a DPW job working on trucks or fleet maintenance. But seriously bro don't do this job. I live in chronic pain, I'm practically deaf, 2 herniated disks in my back, hands look like I put them in a blender and I'm only 42
@@thomashannafin2149 really appreciate the response brotha. I've thought about it and have researched more since than and it just doesn't seem like it's the job for me. Yeah I still want to work on my own car, but working as a tech seems like not the best for me. OH well, guess I need to keep searching for my career path. Thanks again Thomas
@@rollsroyceroyce7463 my suggestion is do what I did and not make the mistake I did. If you are a hard worker, and enjoy a challenge and have pretty thick skin join the Air Force and do tactical aircraft maintenance (not even sure if they call it that any more). You want a sense of pride and satisfaction nothing like watching your jet leave fully loaded and come back with empty pylons and broken umbilicals and know that you gave your pilot the best tool for the job and some bad guys are now hair, teeth, and eyeballs. But don't make the mistake I did do the 20 and retire young with a 50% pension. Sure the military is a lot of busy work and mindless shit, but it pales in comparison to the micro management, back stabbing, and petty politics at a dealership. Just my .02
As a flat rate tech I would definitely not recommend doing it. Get into a different trade like plumbing or electrical and keep cars as a hobby or side work. Working at a dealership will destroy your passion for cars. There’s a reason why most techs drive shitty cars
I'm glad I found this video. I was considering being a mechanic because I have a Interest in fixing and building things and I prefer to do hands on work, but I not fully aware of it or even have experience fixing a car. Your video helped me understand what I was getting in to. Thanks
Do it. This guy is obviously still at his first tech job, and bitter about not being good at it yet. A lot of the other guys commenting here are the same regular whiners you will find in any shop. If you are good at this, you will have good hours, good money, and have time off too. Also, big scary flat rate is on the way out to accommodate the people who can't fix cars efficiently. So no worries there.
Kyle Heritage dude you won’t listen but I’m gonna tell ya. I’m a 14 year diesel tech and went to college at UNOH have two associate degrees in both. Applied science of diesel technology and applied science of automotive technology. So not worth it man. If you’re smart you’ll stay away from college and you’ll go straight to the work force. Go get hired as a floor sweeper at a dealership and work like a dog to let them notice you and let them pay you to go to school. You will not make what you think when you get out of college for many years. You’ll be so over your head with student loans and tool debt you won’t know what to do. Making 15 hourly is not very much money but it is debt free and learning your craft while being paid to do so. Many real techs will tell you the same.
@@Nightwing300 is right. I'm also a tech school grad of multiple programs and with multiple degrees. If I could do it all over again, I would've never went to school. My first job after college was as a lube tech, right next to another lube tech who had dropped out of high school. I think I made a couple bucks more than him, but no matter how much school, you'll start in the same place as someone with none. The exception to that is a school like the Toyota T10 program, but its hard to get into.
Josh Barth yup. I try telling people this all the time but they are so brainwashed they really think it’s the best way to make it. My coworker is a high school drop out no college experience and makes 28 an hour as a trailer tech your basic DOT inspection or aka T1. College debt is not worth the slavery it comes with.
25 Year equipment tech. Working in a shop is great, but it ain't all cars, so field service guys are out there in the snow rain and shit weather. I retired as an auto teacher now, and try and show both sides, the good times and the costs to have it.
I was a mechanic started at 19years old and graduated from college for it and it is good but I quit at 23 cause doesn’t matter how young you are or old your in pain but now i went back to school for nursing and making better money but still fixing cars on the side.
In california being paid flate rate is becoming illegal and companies are getting sued for paying their employees flate rate and they are also getting sued for paying them lower than the california tool box law of double of the state's minimum wage.
@@kevinneyrinck759 i'd rather be garaunteed my 8 hrs even if I do something or not than to rather not getting paid if there's no work. Multiple dealerships have switched from flat rate to hourly pay because they were probably getting threatened by their employees were going to sue them or they have been sued already and have been forced to pay backpay.
And it pisses me off the most when a lot of small shops will only pay you $20 an hour and you have to bring all your own tools they won't supply you with anything. Absolutely breaking the california tool box law of paying double state minimum wage and they expect you to do grunt work for that kind of pay? Nahhh I'm good I'll go somewhere else that follows the law.
Justin Del Carmen I guess body shop work is a little different. I do 50hrs easy and work 35. My friend works at a dealership and his numbers are all over the place 90hrs one week and 50 the next. He’s still only working 40hrs. I don’t see Flat rate going away. If I was hourly I’d want $10 more an hour.
This is a very stressful job. yeah, were not cutting people open like a surgeon, scurrying into a burning building like a fireman, or defending a poor soul like a lawyer, but i say all stress is relevant to the beholder... And in the career of being an auto mechanic, the stress-vs-reward ratio is very poor which brandishes a resentful career
Is $20 what you get paid per hour where you work? At my shop, the job labor hour is based on AllData, each hour we charge the customer $95-$125 depending on the brand. I split that with the shop owner and that's how we get paid. Damn so dealerships are screwing you guys with the flat rate. I work 4 full days a week, then half day on Saturdays, i bring home 1000 on a bad week and 1500 on a good week working 36-38 hours. Find an independent shop that's busy and work there.
Vince u make 1g a week as a mechanic? I'm thinking about going to school for 15months and get certified and be a mechanic.. that sounds legit if its something I could work towards too not expecting right away..
@@shaunmichels5803 At the right shop yup 1000 a week is very easy to do, i work at a service station where we do inspections and if the car fails i repair it and bill the customer based on what the Dealership labor book's rate is. Most of the time i'm doing brakes, suspension, power steering, engine mounts, belts etc. Once in a while we get a big job like timing belt, rear main seal etc...those pay big and usually 1 job a week will pay me enough for half of what i would earn normally. Mechanic's job is a passion, if you like cars then go for it, i like cars so it's more of a hobby than a job at this point.
Pretty insightful you should do a video where you talk about the day to day aspects of being a tech as in what do you spend most of your time doing, what tools do you use, what's the hardest part, etc.
I was in school for automotive and ended up doing industrial maintenance. I eventually got into the oil and gas industry where I finally make decent money. Cars should only be a hobby.
I’ve been a mechanic for over 25 yrs and agree with pretty much everything Josh says here,I’m now 54 and my body is worn out(especially my lower back)and I’m struggling to keep going,if you’re young think long and hard before going into this profession because although it might seem appealing it’s far from it,let’s just say if I could see my time over again I’d never ever have gotten into this game
I have been heavy trucks and industrial equipment over 18 years , and you are right about all of it, truth be known you have to do what you love. I started on my own cars and worked my way through a trucking company, then went to Warren cat and I rebuild engines for them. My body constantly hurts , and I am always broke but I love what i do. Or I wouldn't do it.
new sub. your videos are clear + insightful, but if you worked on editing out all the 'uhs' and pauses, the pace is gonna be way smoother, other than that, alright quality
New subscriber. Amazing the difference in uk, we work Average 8.30am to 5.30pm and every other Saturday morning and are hourly paid for the time we clock in. Bonus is paid on hours you produce over the book times. Most mechanics take on private work for extra cash but I’m getting a bit long in the tooth for that now. Good video.
Not to mention everyone and their brother wants free work. Don’t even mention the family members who think free work is expected.
Im gunna start charging my wife for work😂😂😂
That is just a given, if you were a doctor they would want all kind of scripts
Ain't nothing in this life for free..
larry Lathrop aint that the truth
I charge everyone. Especially family. And the wife checks the fluids too.
Diesel mechanic here. High demand, good pay, only complaint is much more expensive tools.
😎😎😎😎
Nathan Neff auto tech Subaru flagging 60 70 hours a week
And everything is heavier.
I’m a diesel tech too, I’m young and I’ve been working on things my hole life so I still love it. But I’m sure people get burned out. Semi trucks have a lot more space to work, I couldn’t imagine working on cars every single day. So props to all the auto mechanics.
Tj Morgan my dad just switch to tractors. Said they are so much nicer then semi.
Being a mechanic has benefits but it is completely outweighed by the low pay and at the end of the day that is why we go to work. Unfortunately the industry will always have a endless supply of kids wanting to be a mechanic which keeps the pay low. For example if you asked a school leaver to do work experience in either a high end Audi dealership or work with a plumber replacing toilets, they are going to pick the dealership as it looks cool, high tec etc. But the thing is the plumber will earn more money that day and probably work shorter hours
I wish I had become a plumber. The technology is less complex (ie, less schooling) and the pay is equal or better.
Well that was true up in to recently , at least in the heavy truck field, now they really can’t find any one, and are paying even unskilled works more then they should.
@@fuseone diesel fleet trucks? or CAT?
unless you're good at it. ive watched several dumbshits come and go and i am making a pretty decent wage i would think. some people never had it never will.
@@paulsmith5611 I guess if it's non-union. I have done 4 years of schooling along with on the job training and still have another year to go. Then we have yearly classes to keep up to date. But yeah, union plumber is a great way to go. Definitely happy with the pay. :)
I thought that because I worked hard on cars all day I didn't need to exercise. I started going to the gym 6 days a week (mornings before I go to work) and I have never felt better. The trick is getting your body used to outputting more than you have to do at work, and then it's just "extra workout!". Also it really helps prevent injuries because you don't over-develop some muscles and under-develop others.
Automotive repair is taxing on your body, but it IS possible to overcome that and just enjoy the exercise!
I appreciate the support and positivity!
I have been a tech for 17 years and can back up what he says. The amount of (mostly needless) technology in cars is unrivaled by most anything else in civilian life except for medicine, engineering, and computers/phones/internet programming. But the wages aren't even close to those other occupations. The ongoing training is constant and the need to buy updated tools never ends, although it does slow down. All for a starting wage of $15/hr. Yes you will hear stories of guys making $100k+/year but that is far from the norm. Most techs are massively in debt and/or live comfortably only because their wife brings home more than they do. Burnout and turnover is very high. If you are very good with mechanics become an engineer not an auto tech.
that's a good suggestion! go to school and get an engineering degree
Agreed i have been in it for ten years. I am leaving for factory work because it pays much better and comes with benefits. Sad that I had come this far and now I will be doing something like factory work in order to get out of the debt i accrued in auto repair. It isn't terrible but check to check isn't working for me.
@@DIYTech1 Become an industrial mechanic. You sit around all day waiting for a machine to break making decent money whether you actually have to do some work or not. You already have the experience necessary to become one.
@@outtolunch2834 i am burned out on mechanic repair. I really used to enjoy it but i think it will hopefully become a hobby for me again someday. For now though it will be only if my stuff needs fixed.
Market has a lot to do with pay. I'm a foreman at a dealership and I have techs making 115k-140k. When I was a tech I was pulling 110k a year
"Once you're in you're in and you cant get out... Or can youuuuuu?..... Really hoping for the TH-cam thing..."
Literally immediately subbed because It pulled my heartstrings lmfao
Hahaha thanks!
Literally subbed too when he said that lmao, glad you got from 1k to 7.5k keep growing🙌🏽
@@jayway8008 10.5k now 🙌
I've been a tech for 25 years. I'm tired of it, but it pays well. Knowing what I know now, I would not have made this my career choice. It takes a terrible toll on your body.
Stress and high blood pressure
Gena wilcox define high blood pressure
Thought that would be stress causing it?
I just wanna know because I’m almost at that point in life deciding what to do
@@Mistyfgdf , just turn always from this career you better off doing something else and get a college degree. Not everyone can make in this automotive industry and it take time and stress to make at lease 80k a year or more. Sometime you work so much and you forgot about family .Company only cares about money and you will forget the small things in life you miss cause you are not making that much money and have to work your butt off to stay late.
@@genawilcox9039 Gonna sound ignorant but Dont really wanna get a college degree, only see myself as a technician atm (If lets say down the line for example i become a good technician and work up to manger level, but realize i need that degree for the position ill regret)
I can ignore alot of your bad points, For family i just got my parents so thats now biggie i mean they work just as much as you do on the daily, stress can be managed cause i really wanna get into the industry and see for myself how good or bad it is (Cause everyone has their own experiences) Money it really cant be that terrible can it, assuming you have some help with finding a job after schooling, you should find something atleast 15+
(And depending on where you live, taxes can be low... or high and if your good with money just save it up)
@@Mistyfgdf , I can't tell you what to do with your life but at lease think about college as a back up plan . Maybe take night school and work and see how things are . The money in this field is there but you have to work for it not everyone can be a good tech and make at least 50k plus. As a tech their you will have slow day or many slow day not making money and most shop benefit suck I'm just lucky I have a good partner with good incomes .
I've been a tech for 27 years now and i love it. wouldn't change it for nothing, but it gets old after a while lol you just keep going.
I should have opened a strip club 20 years ago
I should have been a product tester for a brothel.
I should work there
Are you looking for a night time supervisor
you still can
You still come
You hit the nail on the head. Been a Diesel tech for 29 years, my back is about used up, knees hands and elbows hurt, but have made a good living. If I had it to do over again I would.
Any tips on how to avoid future back and knee pains?
I love your attitude.
@@MichaelJ44 stretch
@@MichaelJ44 - I guess what many mechanics don't do as they are usually where they are because they flow with their life and don't analyze it too much - I mean their life as a whole, of course they analyze their work as it's their craft and passion - is to maintain an overall healthy life.
However, it is worth mentioning that at the end of the day, not many make it into the 50+ years without some sort of chronic pain, whether they were mechanics, engineers, lawyers, doctors, etc... every job has its toll on the body, and it's actually probably worse for those who used to sit in their office chair all day.
As to specific tips for the day job:
# One should find the moments along it where he can either sit down and relax a bit - but not on a chair as it might look bad, rather on your own legs by squatting down ATG - or either by some relaxing, not stressing further, stretches. Those moments are important in taking some stress down from your body along the day.
# He should also put attention to drink enough water and less coffee along it, as it regulates blood flow which in turn gives your whole body a better and faster recovery.
# Lifting heavy objects using the heavy lifting Deadlift technique as much as possible. A mechanic MUST know the Deadlift if he wants to maintain his back.
# Using quality protecting gear, like impact protecting gloves, where it is needed and can be applied.
@@GrGal thanks man been looking in to bring a diesel mechanic myself.
But wasn't sure whether i should continue being a truck driver or a truck mechanic.
I find trucking very easy and it's been paying well so far, but i don't wanna just settle on one field.
Currently I'm unsure of how much mechanics make 🙄.
I'm 38 years old... I can barely change my own oil... But I've got this drive and desire to become an auto/diesel mechanic.
This channel is great.
Sorry about the language! Im working on more videos like these! Support the channel by dropping a like and hitting subscribe!
What schools kan I go to to learn about. To be a mechanic
I'm sub to u bro
Honest prospective...for that alone I subscribed to you channel! I love turning wrenches and appreciate others with the same passion.!
I just subed even before the first minute have passed. Holy fuck I’ve been looking for a video like this for months and months. Thank you for taking the time to make a video that informative I appreciate it.
One of the most important and informative volgs on being a Auto Tech in today's market and industry!👍 well done!✌
If you want to start a career as a mechanic, and you're new to the field, start somewhere hourly that isn't flat rate. The post office has vehicle maintenance facilities where not only are you paid hourly but 99% of the tools you need are provided so you can make a list of what's there and copy that. The trucks are basic. Old S-10's and early 2000's explorers and you work on those all day long. Great way to get faster at your job because it's repetitive and there's at least one guy that understands you haven't been a tech for 20 years and will be willing to help you if you have questions. How's the pay? I'm in Minnesota and started at $21.09 an hour. It's pretty good. Overall, it's probably the best job a new mechanic could get. They'll also pay for you to get your CDL because you're required to have it for the position, you don't need it going in, they just require that you work towards getting it. The benefits and union make it a secure job as well. So for the people wanting to get into this career, especially people with kids that can't afford to be paid like crap while they're learning, consider it. Tough to get in, but once you're in, it takes an act of god to get rid of you.
great comment! I didn't think about that route!
@@JoshShare it can be tough to stay in a career that isn't paying you a lot, and I figured I'd share that gem with all the people who might be intimidated by the fact that flat rate is all about how fast you are. It's really tough to support a family if you're there for 8 hours and only turning 6 out because everyone else's pay depends on their speed too, so there's less chance of finding someone to show you the better ways to do certain jobs.
Lol i work on them same lil 2.5 2.2s and ford 4.0 pretty easy to work on
@@Teriaki123 right, that's my point. It's a nice place to start, and once you understand that the concept is essentially the same for other vehicles, with a few minor changes in procedure, you can branch off and do whatever.
Also check your local public transportation company. Here in Delaware we are part of the state. So we have good bennys but we have a private pension. You can cash out after 25 years or stay longer and build it up. Start at $22/hour and max at $29/hour. We are 24 hour shop and run 350 days a year. Starting at the bottom is rough working 3rd shift and most likely weekends but it pays off if you pay your dues.
I was a mechanic for 5 years before I left the industry. I left for a union elevator job. Best decision I ever made. Auto companies need to give more incentives than a 401k and a meh health insurance plan
yep, it's seems like all the investment is from YOU, which is bullshit
Smart move , and you can do most of your work by yourself and not have to work with a crew of idiots.
And people really like it when you show up so they don't have to take the stairs.
You guys have it going on 👍
Do you rescue people stuck in elevators?
So you're a elevator tech?
@@guynxtdork I have plenty of times sure
But the real question is, did you ever find the 10mm?
The T30 is my new 10mm
@@JoshShare I feel you
I'm assuming a better option would be to work for yourself and have a small shop with a pole barn? I know a guy who does this and it looks like he is killing it. He was a ASE certified mechanic for years at a Chevy dealership, but started his own one man shop in his early 30's. Idk. My 18 year old son is thinking about becoming a mechanic. Just researching things.... TY
Wow Josh, very well said. You covered a lot of aspects. I think having the right attitude is always important. Realizing you'll never know it all, so you need to learn all that you can, when you're getting your ass kicked on a job that it's a learning experience and no matter how much you are losing on that job you'll come out a stronger technician. These guys that refuse hard jobs or even worse, give up when it gets rough are the one's that although monetarily seem like they made the better choice because they didn't get stuck on a hard job and kept making money, they career wise never advance and end up stuck. The great techs are forged from the fire and there were a lot of blood, sweat, and tears during that process. I'm a Nissan Master Technician but was once a guy that needed help doing oil changes and mounting tires. I've had my ass handed to me more times than I can count, and there were times I was given jobs that really shouldn't have been given to me at the time, I almost walked out so many times, and some of those I would have damn well been justified in doing so, but I didn't. It's hard to keep a good attitude, I have to step back and talk myself into it sometimes. I hope you keep that good attitude too.
I used to be a technician as well and I had No Life, Good Money but No Life, specially when you work Saturdays. No time for your family. I asked my self whats more valuable TIME or MONEY? But every shop and dealership is different and every technician is different and has different goals. Just something to have in mind for those thinking about this career.
Thankfully I just got a new job as a Porsche tech. Im hourly for the first 90 days but they make it worth it. I can also tell that this dealer group really takes care of their employees
I need this some info.im a manager of Hotel.working at nightshift and theres a company that train me in the morning to be their mechanic i dont know what to choose because if i choose mechanic i will earn more than sitting in office and get stress with the worker.also i feel like i love fixing things its so relaxing.but im still thinking what to choose i feel bored here in office and became fat by doing nothing only paper works and im working for 3 years here.maybe you can give me more advice.thanks
@@gabrielmichael1899 If You're making decent money already as a manager, I would suggest just stay where you are. Things to consider, you don't get payed hourly you get payed by the job (flat rate). You have to make sure you finish the job before the paying time other wise you lose money, you will burn and scratch your hands on a daily basis, you will end up really dirty with grease and oil on your head, will have to most likely work weekends (thats where most of the money is made), will have to stay late to finish the job, you will have to invest in your own tools and dont go cheap. You will have to multitask on many cars at a time. If youre ok with all of these then go for it.
P.S. as a beginner you wont make good money you have to be patient.
@@torresgt720 ill think about it.thanks again
Gabriel Torres so true, great comment!
35 years in . most important thing is do you WAKE up looking forward to your job . To this I always happy to head to work . Can't say that for alot of people who hate going to work . You have to love what you do . Don't always look at the $$$ .
I smell a sweet 30min toolbox tour coming up
i was actually just talking about doing the video. i think its a sign
I was a certified Master technician for 15 years. Quit the industry 3 years ago. Best decision of my life.
Jose Aldaco what are u doing instead ?
You left with invaluable knowledge. A lot of people don't know anything about a car other than how to drive it.
El Jefe it’s really suprising how little the vast majority people have about their cars. I was always taught to learn how to fix something you own, of course I don’t know how to tear down my engine or change out a transmission, but I know the simple things like changing tires from summer to winter, changing oil, getting a good idea of what might be wrong with my car if it’s having issues, etc. It’s a lot easier to learn how to do it and save $200-$300
I have a 2012 honda civic lx. I removed the steering column to get a better angle on the ignition assembly that needed to be replaced. I now have a VSA light and check power steering light.
?????
What made you quit?
I think if people want a high paying jobs then make yourself a valuable asset and learn the hardest things and apply them to a job. High entry barrier = high pay. Engineering, doctor, statisticians, data scientists, actuaries are all $100k+ jobs but are extremely hard 😭 everyone wants high paying jobs but dont want to put the work in. I never understood that mentality
You only get out what your willing to put in 👍🏼
Josh Share big facts input = output
I don't think anybody said anything about what wanting a high paying job for no experience and or investment. You kinda just took a jab at mechanics in general lol, did you get overcharged at a dealership too?
A lot of people dont have mommy and daddy to pay for schooling for that shit.. Or the time. Didnt have a choice had to go to work or be homless
@@shannonhudson1334 boohoo I pulled out a lot of loans and worked my ass off as a mathematician and paid off my loans...there is literally no excuse. I come from some of the worst neighborhoods in Chicago. What's your excuse? Scared of investing in your future?
At the end of the day franchises are all about making money. Techs are just a number to be honest. They expect you to make money by increasing your productivity rather than changing your wage. This action leads to becoming more vulnerable to make a mistake and then consequently get fired. I became a tech, got certification both from the manufacturer and ASE and that did not made any change in my wage rate. I abide the way that employers take advantage of techs. I had to quit my job and went back to school. Like the guy mentioned, your biggest tool is your brain. If you are capable of learning and becoming educated get out of there and make sure that your knowledge gets paid for what is worth. Dont get me wrong I love working on cars. I really liked working in a dealership fixing and troubleshooting vehicles yet the treatment made me quit my job. I moved to the education branch and for the same pay I have a way better treatment, way more vacation time, and have the knowledge to work on my cars or get side jobs. This is my point of view regarding being a tech in 2019, I am not saying my opinion is applicable to every individual but it happened to me and I felt like sharing it.
Hi Josh,
You pretty much told the way it is. I worked as a mechanic for over 25 years. I worked at Porsche/VW shops. I had plenty of work. I also worked 12 to 14 hours a day, five days a week. I was getting paid commission as you described.
I opened my own shop in Glendale California, in 1980. I had 5 mechanics and two helpers. I made part of thier commission, and whatever was left after paying the Bill's, rent, insurance, taxes...
In order for me to make what I was making with my own two hands, it takes about three full time mechanics working 40 hours a week.
I closed my shop because my shop kept getting burglarized, the last time, everything was taken.
I worked for Carol Shelby after I closed the shop, as High Performance Fabricator, doind research and development on High Performance Parts for Chrysler and Dodge. (This job was the most FUN, but lowest pay.) I was on the Vioer team, and I also built 5 high Performance cars for Chrysler and Dodge.
Like someone else in the comments said, get an engendering degree! Keep furthering your education!
After all that, I raced Mountain Bikes Cross Country, then I got a job as International Marketing and Sales Manager for a bicycle tire company.
After that I went to Taiwan and designed a line of tools, and tool boxes. I have been working as a California Realtor since 9/11.
If you love cars, and are good at diagnosis, dont mind working long hours, you can make a good living. Why not work, doing what you enjoy? Being a mechanic is much more than working on cars. People depend on the service you provide. Even to the people that act like they dont. If you have a profession that serves a need, you'll always have an income. Specialize in a make of car, and in an area of reapair. Be the best, be the "go to" person, and work safe. Go EARN a living. Good luck!
My phone changed some of what I typed!
I was on the Viper Team.
Get an engineering degree, if you want to move into other higher paying related areas.
Hey can you tell many anything about the 80's shelby chargers?
Did not work out for me. Pay sucked and the whole flat rate was b.s you have to cut corners to get the job done. I ended up going in to plumbing doing way better for myself. And I still have time to wrench on the car from time to time.👍
Thanks for the chat man! Always wanted to be a mechanic but was talked out of it at every turn. Now I'm 30, finally starting to DIY with my 335i, only ever been trained for war, Doing security and STILL daydreaming about working on cars all day
Been doing it for 28 years! It definitely takes a toll on the body!
I youst to be a Automotive mechanic But now i'm a diesel mechanic 🔧🔩⚙️🚜, I love it.
@@gasperajdnik5627 why what’s the difference
@@Albert-xl3nx I work on heavy equipment and trucks
Quick note if your a kid and like tools buy them as a kid because as a grown up it super expensive
Refrigeration and HVAC technician is the way to go. I make 30 an hour and I work as much overtime as I want
Do you need a college education for that?
@@Fernando-or9fb do you know any college offering?
Most of those companies I know of pay not great wages the first few years while they send you to some kind of trade school then you come out making good money
I worked for Chrysler for over 12 years and left to go work for Vdot. This was the best decision I’ve ever made. Don’t get me wrong I gained a ton of knowledge from working in dealership but now only work 40 hours a week plus full benefits including 13 straw holidays, sick leave, personal leave, otl leave, and retirement. They furnish all the tools you needs so use my own tools at home on side work.
Benefits are a huge factor and the city takes care of its employees
I run the car maintenance TH-cam channel in Korea. I'm always learning such a great ideas on your channel. I hope we have a chance to be together. Thank you.
카맨형님을 여기서 뵐줄이야..,
A chance to be together? So romantic 😂
@@xavierburgos2647 he's in Korea you ignorant ass. Maybe if you left your zip code once in your life you'd understand English isn't a first language there, *surprise*. They study English to reach out and communicate because the country is on the up and up due to US/Korean relations. They're some of the most humble, and intelligent people you could meet. Funny how you didn't try to troll him in Korean because you're too lazy to learn a second language. get bent.
@PANZee you’re a clown.
@@dustydust5561 u mad bro
I'm 14 and have always aspired to be a mechanic. I've heard the negatives and positives about the job but the negatives just cant alter my decision. I love the work in the industry and always have wanted to start my own buisness on the go. Thoughts? Thanks
It’s going to be hard keep your options open try a course at a trade school see if it’s for you if
It’s not for you try trades like electrical plumbing and hvac
You may like cars but trust me you will not like fixing them and the pay is shit
you can work for a deal ship but on the other hand if you open your own business thats where the big money is, but remember more respsonsiblilty and hire good folks etc........ good luck in which ever journey you choose.
God rest his soul my dad he got an opportunity to work on the Model T or A, anyways my dad only had a 3rd grade education and was born in 1925 and worked on cars till the day he passed away for himself he just loved to work on cars anyways if you really enjoy this field go for it, but remember its not for everyone , and where the money is , is if you open your own shop doesn't have to be a big shop, cause now a days these cars are computer on wheels , get a good understanding on electronics and the rest willj fall into place good luck.
At your age, working on cars is fun. After 20 plus years of it, however, it"ll make you cringe to change your oil. Especially if you work at a dealership on the same models of vehicles till you puke
I'm a little late to the game, but 9k subs in 1 year! incredible man. I'll be binge watching the rest of the day (Sunday) and watching from here on out. Keep it real!
Thanks for your support and comments! Have an awesome rest of your Sunday!
if anyone wants to get into auto repair I would suggest electrical diagnoses and computer repair this is the most overlooked field in the repair of automobiles, I have 38 years in the transmissions alone and still learning the electronic controls. thanks for your video Josh and good luck on your career and hope you stay with it we all need more people in the repair business.
And by the looks of it, it's growing exponentially.
I was a tech for 18 years. I got in too deep too early with the tool trucks and ignored the advice of my elders warning me of their financially crippling ploys. Before I knew it I was locked in. Your last point is the reason I wouldn’t do it again. The lasting damage to my body has begun to suck.
Great video bro, you told it like it is and pretty much carried the same opinion I have regarding the industry. However I will say there is a way out! I also put in about ten years as a mechanic but once I hit that mark, I decided that I had enough. I Went back to school for finance and didn’t look back! Easily the best decision I have ever made.
At points I do miss working on cars however now I work in a nice office with a much better work/life balance and the $ isn’t too bad either.
Always a way out dude!
thanks for the comment!
In my experience being on shops ..Dont forget about the mind games they play..And promises that they dont want to keep ...Mechanics is beautiful but better to change different paths..
Spot on dude. I’m a truck driver. Everyone thinks it’s easy, it’s not. My bro is a mechanic, hard life. My advice. Start your own business after you know your shit. Make your own schedule, work as hard as you want, take 60% of profits instead of 10%. You guys can do this. Wrench on.
Very true. I bounced around some and started wrenching later in life so I know about the toll it takes on your body but I would rather come home sore than deal with people all day.
bro I was working in mercedes dealership and I was just new to job I was getting all completed work it newer bother me because it was all the same like old cars just more sensor's so it gets easier you have to know basis so you can get work done fast just use your brain its all same. last 4 years I worked on all cars and never had a problem. now I'm opening my own shop to be honest this job is golden if you love it and understand cars you can do it ez
Good video man. I've been turning wrenches for the last 20 years and 5 years ago I was finally able to open my own business doing so.
I'm a student who'll be taking a apprenticeship for auto tech. I want to open my own shop one day. What are your views on this career?
How are things working out for you? I’m also a tech for over 10 years... I managed to save a pretty penny to open up my own mechanic shop also.. from a tech to a shop owner; is there anything obstacle that was hard for you to overcome. Deadline is coming up and I still get nervous thinking about being my own boss... but nervous or not this is what iv wanted for my family for a long time...
Nice video mate, I used to be an automotive technician for Toyota as an apprentice who had a passion for cars and was willing to learn about the industry. Unfortunately I left in my 3rd due to the things you’ve mentioned in your video and experiencing countless bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment, I have completely lost interest in the Industry and I almost felt suicidal and felt I wasn’t growing as a mechanic. The positive I have is I have skills to look after own car
Where I live (canada) it's pretty even between flat rate and hourly. Flat rate they pay around $40-50 for journyperson and hourly for a journeyperson is usually around $30 an hour sometimes more if you specialize in something. Also for tools we luckily got Canadian tire which is good for alot of things somethings arent the best but its alot cheaper then a any tool truck.
Master craft is crap compared to snapon. You might as well spend more on for quality than garbage and returning it all the time. But hey they both got lifetime warranty right 😂
wrenched for 15 years, gold level hyundai tech, was absolutely miserable at the end. for the last 5 years ive been mowing grass, 60/hr for grass cutting up to 80/hr for other lawn maintenance services. 8-9 months of work, plus snow if your lucky, its definitely easier work, my back is fucked from tires and bending over engines, but doesnt bother me doing this. with my new career i wondered if being inside under florescent light all day was part of the misery(always super sunny where i live). only downfall is the heat but i drink a ton of water and only work 6 hours a day. QUITTING THAT BULLSHIT WAS THE BEST DECISION IN MY LIFE! anybody can do the easy work but you have to do it for yourself, powerwashing, window washing, landscaping, irrigation systems, stump grinding, dirt work(skidsteer work can go for $100 an hr and they have a/c now), snow is white gold hurry and clear it before it melts. LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE!!!
Ton of younger guys leaving the field. Which is helping drive wages up
@The One and Only Why was it a bad to become a mechanic for you?
The One and Only I don’t regret any of my time or what I learned as a mechanic amazing hobby useful skill set but not a great career choice ...not yet
The One and Only I got out 4 years ago I was expert certified in Toyota lexus and have been turning wrenched for about a decade. But I gave up the flat rate gig in exchange for cushy hourly doing industrial maintenance
here in year later. I'm currently 18 and studying a level 3 course (UK) and I'm having meltdowns debating whether this is the career I want, as you guys have said I'd love to have this as skill but I'm not sure I want this as a career and I'm really torn in my choices. don't wanna disappoint my parents either.
@@altojuice what i can say, and this is valid for my country not USA, is that if you dont have a relative or close person working in this field that can get you in and show you how the industry works then you are going to have a really hard time trying to get hired at random shops, no experience, low pay, hard to grow, no one to teach you directly they will all avoid helping you etc.
This video is great. If you're a mechanic, then this might seem obvious, but for people totally external to the industry this provides a small window into the world. I like videos like this. Thanks for uploading!
i tried it for 2 years. racked up a $4,000 cornwell bill. everyone in my dealership was always broke and stressed to the max. guys would stab each others backs for 2 hours labor. decided to get my CDL and got a local route. so glad I made that change. im only 22
whats a cdl?
Broke commercial drivers license
Enjoy the shmoneyyy nice
@@binzsta86 lmfao question of what's a CDL asked by user "broke"
It depends. i'm now a 3rd year light vehicle mechanic and love and hate it. My tradesmen told me i made a mistake, but i feel as if it can open up new avenues to better pay mechanical jobs such as heavier diesel, at the mines etc.
Thanks for making up my mind on never becoming a mechanic
You’re welcome 😂
Same here!
Josh Share thanks for this video dude i was just about to work for a dealer ship too you made some really good points and I don’t believe its worth it to invest so much time in education to not get paid alot
TheFailBros wish I could say the same, I’m just not interested in any other career though. The back pain scares me though. It’s bad enough as is and I’m 21
LS Al3X physical therapy fixes that
Very good points made here. I'm almost 30 years in and I agree with you. Just to add: Learn your craft, don't be a hack or a crook always looking for the easy way. Treat people and their cars with respect. It's easy to be average, strive to be something better than that. Find a good, honest place to work (or create your own). Remember that tool boxes have wheels for a reason, if you're in a shitty place just move on.
Thanks for the comment!
In my work experience and i was a diesel mechanic. Outside of good union jobs most companies sucked. The only reason I stayed in it was because I got paid by the hour doing mostly fleet work.
i can definitely appreciate this video. i got out of the field about 6 years ago after working as a gm technician. i wish there were more videos like this when i got in. hope ur Chanel takes off because fuck wrenching for a living lol
dude im trying to get out of the mafia lol
I've watched a lot of videos on what it's like being a mechanic. What I've concluded is pretty simple: become a mechanic because your passionate about cars, not to make a lot of money.
Seems like most of the mechanics on youtube don't truly love cars and being in the environment and they only got the job to make money.
i still love cars. i just hate the industry. the frustrating part is the money hungry management and ownership
There is difference between working on cars on your own time versus working on cars for a living. You can be passionate all you want but that day to day working on cars and dealing with the extra shop stuff that comes with it will wear you down.
The problem is the pay system. At first I loved getting the problem cars that took a lot to figure out. But when I would get a 15 to 20 hour check after having busted my ass all week, it didn't take long to realize that this wasn't going to cut it.
@@joelopez40oz23 - no truer words have ever been typed.
@@meabob Just look at it this way. At least you gained some knowledge on how to fix it in the future even though your paycheck didn't show it. Knowledge out weighs money.
Flate Rate= a way the industry makes you work like a horse/slave and still loose in the end.
basically
Illegal in some states
Like he said in the video, it's all about learning to work the system.
Except if you get no jobs which happened to me unfortunately
Tong L false flat rate is what made my father open his own shop eventually...unless you’re at Nicholas’s position.
Car mechanics in the uk is a crap job. 6 day working weeks, never leave work on time, insulting hourly rate, crap conditions, always being rushed and timed, specialist tools for every job, paying to go to work/buying tools...
is it worth being one?
Trucks is better money, esp if they are specialist kit.
Does this correlate at all with aviation mechanics i was first thinking of becoming an auto tech but quickly realized the bigger the problems the better the pay so airplanes i got my eyes on you ✈️ any suggestions or opinions on aviation mechanics
Automotive helped but one thing you ought to get is your A&P License (Airframes and Power) the difference between an unlicensed tech and a licensed tech is over $20
Good video spot on been a mechanic for 7-8 years and if your feet are hurting get redwing 606 I swear by them on concrete all day really took my foot and leg pain way down
I'm retired now, (THANK GOD!!!!) but I think Josh hit the nail on the head with every point he made. Hang in there man. You made a great video. I think anyone with pretty decent intelligence, and manual capability, can make a decent living. I suggest new guys get tools lined up as fast as they can, and develop a procedure to follow. It really helps to be as repetitive as one can when doing jobs. Especially when doing jobs like tire rotation and other seemingly mundane tasks where a simple mistake can lead to disaster. I'll check out what else you have, but I rally like this video. P.S. the job is tough, but watch the language. ;-)
I’m 24 and make 28 a hour , I’m a field mechanic for a heavy equipment manufacturer . I make easy 70k plus with overtime. I don’t work weekends lol , and I’m on call 24/7 for 1 week every 5 weeks . I’m pretty happy
Nice!
Field work is underrated, nobody wants to do it though. Sucks in the winter but it's better then getting paid the same as a burger flipper to work on toyotas. 40k in tools for $15 an hour flat rate, yea fuck that.
Broke Down Junk right ? Haha I have maybe 15k In tools . Tools Don’t make the mechanic . So I just use brains and knowledge passed down . . It’s sucks in the summer and winter times but that’s life man . You work thru it . It’s fun for me . I love wrenching . I like fixing
Shit . And I’m only going to get better and always chasing the money . Main goal is pg&e . They in the high 40 and low 50s
How do you learn if you're a beginner? Do you have any advice for me as to where to start should I go to a school?
R Bonilla diesel program in a community college . And apply for apprenticeships
Im a mobile mechanic. I work for myself out of a service truck. I average $500.00/ day. Ive worked at auto dealerships, heavy equipment dealerships, ma and pop repair shops and used car lots. I love owning my own business but let me tell you not everyone is cut out for it. It can be very stressful. Also you dont get to start out working for yourself. To all the newbies out there go work for as many different types of shops as you can, learn as much as you can, and dont beat yourself up over your mistakes, rather learn from them. In my opinion 2 of the most important things you can know as a mechanic is what you CAN'T do, and understanding that you don't know everything.
You have to really love what you're doing to be a mechanic. Respect to you folks! I still aspire to do that, but maybe someday as more of a hobby. Right now I service a small fleet of four, tractor, motorcycle, and scissor lift -- until I need to call in the big dawgs (I know my boundaries). I only wound up doing it because I took the personal time to find out how (no pay raise mind you). For the rest of you who might be interested, but not in this: I've heard nothing from masters and journeys from almost all of the trades but how they're hurting for manpower -- right now. Talk to a tradesman, mechanic, union, contractor, whatever -- pick up your tools, get your act together, and get to business. Don't have what you'll need? We'll help you if you have work ethic. Work like it's fricking work, unlike all of the slacking/calling off I've heard of and experienced (from adults living with mommy no less), and you're a shoe-in for a great paying career. Serve with dedication, initiative, precision, and good morale, and by golly you'll climb the ranks.
Josh, thanks for letting a random viewer hijack your comment section!
It’s all good! Appreciate your input!!
Josh, i see your a dealership mechanic. The flat rate is a good way to work as you become more proficient you beat the 100%. However, there are all kinds of things in the background working against you. From the factory to the dealership management, cost of sale is a huge deal. As almost none of the management has come from the back end; (backbone is said correctly), they have no experience or desire to understand talent/pay dynamic. Thus, it is very easy and acceptable to make budget cuts from that area specifically. If you question this; look at the average pay for the F&I or sales management vs. master tech. I think the area of opportunity for more fair pay per contribution to the dealership would be a lot less $$ in the front end and a lot more to the backbone.
Dont forget working on old POS vehicles that have been neglected their whole lifetime and everything sucks asssss😂😂😂
Slow Cobra agreed. car is falling apart and youre expected to make it brand new by the time youre done with it. i see it all the time.
Hell yes! F'ing junk!
Every bolt rusted to shit snaps in half. Now becomes nightmare job
Been in the industry for 10 years and yah this video is true still for 2019. Pay is medicore for the heavy amount of time you will invest. You will work like a mule, and free time goes away. Flat rate times now a days are pretty tight and cut throat, manufactures and the dealers are always looking to maximize profits. Sadly there always a surge of new people wanting to get into this industry despite alot of its glaring negative points, so sadly will never change.
I feel like as long as I get to work with cars, the pain is worth it.
That’s one way to look at it!
I'm 13 and saving money for tool etc for this job. Can anyone give me tips on what to buy and stuff like that???
HD diesel big rigs and trailers, coming up on 2 years. I love it, idk if I'd like working on cars as a living.
Jedidiah I’ve worked both sides I like working on cars better I hated changing tires on trailers just me though lol
Flat rate - so the employer doesn't have to pay you while there is no work, but you're expected to stay for free in case work does come in. So the employee takes the risk, not the owner.
Allyssa Lord absolutely hated it, that’s why I choose to stay away from dealerships
I've been working at a Ford dealership for about 3 years now and I can consistently make 10 hours a day. Some days as much as 12. And I only work 8-5... and i don't work Saturdays anymore. When i was busting g out tires and oil changes i did, but I've moved on from that.
thats where most technicians hope to be!
I've just started getting into automotive stuff and I honestly think you rock for having this youtube channel, I'm going to look at more of your videos now :)
@Bunda Par I do like 'b is for build', I love watching the rebuild of cars
Just really grateful to be a salary tech. I'm new and I've had diags take me 6 hours and I'm only 8 months into my actual career. I think I'm just starting to get the hang of diag but .3-.6 for pinpoint tests is just insulting especially when the connector can only be accessed by removing 13 different panels or the bumper (I'm fleet so I get to see service labor times for GM, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota). I feel really bad for manufacturer techs cause they're getting fucked so hard and they have such an awesome and demanding skill set. That's why I never feel bad bombarding manufacturers with warranty claims and I don't feel too bad for how bad their business is hurting right now. New cars are getting pricier with all these stupid gadgets and gismos and I don't think my generation is super interested or even financially capable of new cars. I think our profession will get better and better in time. I at least hope so. At the end of the day I love and take pride in my work. I believe the rest will follow.
Eric Verster is this your first auto tech job after graduating?
@@TheCm900 It's my first a-tech job. I was lube/pdi tech at a dealership for just under a year.
Aren't dealerships buy tools necessary for mechanics to work there? Or they buy just basic tools and very expensive equipment, like alignment machines and alike? Or I totally misunderstand the whole thing? Thank you for the very informative film.
My dream is to be a mechanic but I don’t know where to start in the auto business iv worked doing tires and iv don’t oil changing jobs but I wanna do actual mechanic work like engine and transmission and wiring. Right now I’m self learning everything I have a 94 Acura Integra that I turbo charged myself and tuned it was pushing 340HP on a automatic transmission then the trans blow so I did a auto to manual swap then decided to rebuild hole car and start from scratch so I took everything out of car to the Frame and now I’m process of rebuilding engine and making my own wire loom for the car. So far I absolutely love working on cars I find it so easy I’m 23 years old. Do you have any advice or does anyone have any advice on how I can get started in this field?
experience is worth its weight in gold. pair that with formal training and you'll be good to go!
if you want to continue to love working on cars i recommend that you stay away from this industry though
You can start by taking few automotive classes at your nearest community college with financial aid/grants. That will also open a lot of windows and you can get most concepts right from the get go. You can then apply for an internship at the dealership or start as a lube/tire tech and of you go.
BlueDrive Diagnostics thank you .
You'll hate working on your own car as a mechanic, sometimes it's better as a hobby
I’m going on 9 years this year and you hit the nail on the head! Flat rate sucks if you suck. Efficiency is key and time is money!
Sounds tough in the states. Good techs in my Dealer in the Uk can gross £4 to £5K per month on flat rate as you call it.
No body making that here in US new techs are starving we should all move to UK 🤣🤣
I used to work in UK as car mechanic but i earn only 1300£. It's impossible earn about 4000£ as car mechanic in UK no matter how good you are.
Peter Tesar Peter it used to be bad pay but now there is a skills shortage. I am talking BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche. You have to work had for that but Dealers are having to pay. I kid you not mate.
I agree with most of what you say except for the working saturdays topic. Where I am at we have a guarantee and I calculate my bills based on that. Any additional hours are additional money to me. I don’t go in on saturdays unless I want to. But your thoughts on everything else I couldn’t agree more on.
appreciate the comment! A lot of people in the industry have to work Saturdays. Im at a larger dealership now so I only have to work one, mayyyybee two Saturdays a month
I'm so close to being out of this rotten CROOKED industry I can smell it. Been a tech for 15 years and I have more injuries than an NFL player. I tell all the young kids to run as fast as they can, this job will chew you up and spit you out. Best description I've ever seen of being a flat rate tech is this, being a flat rate tech is like being in the pony express except your not the rider your the horse you will be ridden at full gallop till you collapse then they will get off and get on the next horse and leave you to die. It's a harsh truth, sorry but this is a terrible job.
@@kanolisausage1552 Yeah I agree with that last part, but if you enjoy cars just as much as I do. It's hard to say whether or not I should go to trade school and become a mechanic. I'm not the smartest, but I love learning and dealing with cars (mainly performance cars). Obviously that won't come right off the bat, but working at a local shop/dealership for a few years until I come up with a plan to work for myself. It can't be that bad, but i don't know, that's just what I think.
ROLLS ROYCE i am also feeling this same way. Thinking about auto tech. I love cars, love driving but all these horror stories are not helping lol
@@rollsroyceroyce7463 working on customers cars is NOTHING like working on your hobby car/hot rod. Your going to be chasing stupid little noises and water leaks. Dealing with block head customers who won't accept that the car won't do what they want it to do because that's not how it's built/programmed. Warranty times and getting slashed all over the place, which will drive down times at independent shops. If you love cars and insist on turning wrenches find a city job working on cop cars or a DPW job working on trucks or fleet maintenance. But seriously bro don't do this job. I live in chronic pain, I'm practically deaf, 2 herniated disks in my back, hands look like I put them in a blender and I'm only 42
@@thomashannafin2149 really appreciate the response brotha. I've thought about it and have researched more since than and it just doesn't seem like it's the job for me. Yeah I still want to work on my own car, but working as a tech seems like not the best for me. OH well, guess I need to keep searching for my career path. Thanks again Thomas
@@rollsroyceroyce7463 my suggestion is do what I did and not make the mistake I did. If you are a hard worker, and enjoy a challenge and have pretty thick skin join the Air Force and do tactical aircraft maintenance (not even sure if they call it that any more). You want a sense of pride and satisfaction nothing like watching your jet leave fully loaded and come back with empty pylons and broken umbilicals and know that you gave your pilot the best tool for the job and some bad guys are now hair, teeth, and eyeballs. But don't make the mistake I did do the 20 and retire young with a 50% pension. Sure the military is a lot of busy work and mindless shit, but it pales in comparison to the micro management, back stabbing, and petty politics at a dealership. Just my .02
I really don't care about the money i just wanted to help people I hate mechanic who rip people off for lil things
As a flat rate tech I would definitely not recommend doing it. Get into a different trade like plumbing or electrical and keep cars as a hobby or side work. Working at a dealership will destroy your passion for cars. There’s a reason why most techs drive shitty cars
agreed
I'm glad I found this video. I was considering being a mechanic because I have a Interest in fixing and building things and I prefer to do hands on work, but I not fully aware of it or even have experience fixing a car. Your video helped me understand what I was getting in to. Thanks
I’m 14 and I want to be a mechanic when I’m older so I’ve been watching a lot off videos about being a mechanic and stuff like that
Do it. This guy is obviously still at his first tech job, and bitter about not being good at it yet. A lot of the other guys commenting here are the same regular whiners you will find in any shop. If you are good at this, you will have good hours, good money, and have time off too. Also, big scary flat rate is on the way out to accommodate the people who can't fix cars efficiently. So no worries there.
I'm turning 17 now always loved cars. 8 weeks into my level 1 automotive course at college.
Kyle Heritage dude you won’t listen but I’m gonna tell ya. I’m a 14 year diesel tech and went to college at UNOH have two associate degrees in both. Applied science of diesel technology and applied science of automotive technology. So not worth it man. If you’re smart you’ll stay away from college and you’ll go straight to the work force. Go get hired as a floor sweeper at a dealership and work like a dog to let them notice you and let them pay you to go to school. You will not make what you think when you get out of college for many years. You’ll be so over your head with student loans and tool debt you won’t know what to do. Making 15 hourly is not very much money but it is debt free and learning your craft while being paid to do so. Many real techs will tell you the same.
@@Nightwing300 is right. I'm also a tech school grad of multiple programs and with multiple degrees. If I could do it all over again, I would've never went to school. My first job after college was as a lube tech, right next to another lube tech who had dropped out of high school. I think I made a couple bucks more than him, but no matter how much school, you'll start in the same place as someone with none. The exception to that is a school like the Toyota T10 program, but its hard to get into.
Josh Barth yup. I try telling people this all the time but they are so brainwashed they really think it’s the best way to make it. My coworker is a high school drop out no college experience and makes 28 an hour as a trailer tech your basic DOT inspection or aka T1. College debt is not worth the slavery it comes with.
25 Year equipment tech. Working in a shop is great, but it ain't all cars, so field service guys are out there in the snow rain and shit weather.
I retired as an auto teacher now, and try and show both sides, the good times and the costs to have it.
I just want to move out of my parents house and do manga
Lol same but that’s not gonna happen
I was a mechanic started at 19years old and graduated from college for it and it is good but I quit at 23 cause doesn’t matter how young you are or old your in pain but now i went back to school for nursing and making better money but still fixing cars on the side.
In california being paid flate rate is becoming illegal and companies are getting sued for paying their employees flate rate and they are also getting sued for paying them lower than the california tool box law of double of the state's minimum wage.
Justin Del Carmen how is it becoming illegal in California? I’m a flat rate body tech in California.
@@kevinneyrinck759 i think you are ok of being a slave.
@@kevinneyrinck759 i'd rather be garaunteed my 8 hrs even if I do something or not than to rather not getting paid if there's no work. Multiple dealerships have switched from flat rate to hourly pay because they were probably getting threatened by their employees were going to sue them or they have been sued already and have been forced to pay backpay.
And it pisses me off the most when a lot of small shops will only pay you $20 an hour and you have to bring all your own tools they won't supply you with anything. Absolutely breaking the california tool box law of paying double state minimum wage and they expect you to do grunt work for that kind of pay? Nahhh I'm good I'll go somewhere else that follows the law.
Justin Del Carmen I guess body shop work is a little different. I do 50hrs easy and work 35. My friend works at a dealership and his numbers are all over the place 90hrs one week and 50 the next. He’s still only working 40hrs. I don’t see Flat rate going away. If I was hourly I’d want $10 more an hour.
This is a very stressful job. yeah, were not cutting people open like a surgeon, scurrying into a burning building like a fireman, or defending a poor soul like a lawyer, but i say all stress is relevant to the beholder... And in the career of being an auto mechanic, the stress-vs-reward ratio is very poor which brandishes a resentful career
Is $20 what you get paid per hour where you work? At my shop, the job labor hour is based on AllData, each hour we charge the customer $95-$125 depending on the brand. I split that with the shop owner and that's how we get paid. Damn so dealerships are screwing you guys with the flat rate. I work 4 full days a week, then half day on Saturdays, i bring home 1000 on a bad week and 1500 on a good week working 36-38 hours. Find an independent shop that's busy and work there.
Nice! I like getting factory training
Vince u make 1g a week as a mechanic? I'm thinking about going to school for 15months and get certified and be a mechanic.. that sounds legit if its something I could work towards too not expecting right away..
ronny rodrigo as long as you don’t mind hard work and don’t expect 1k a week starting out
Hell ya
@@shaunmichels5803 At the right shop yup 1000 a week is very easy to do, i work at a service station where we do inspections and if the car fails i repair it and bill the customer based on what the Dealership labor book's rate is. Most of the time i'm doing brakes, suspension, power steering, engine mounts, belts etc. Once in a while we get a big job like timing belt, rear main seal etc...those pay big and usually 1 job a week will pay me enough for half of what i would earn normally. Mechanic's job is a passion, if you like cars then go for it, i like cars so it's more of a hobby than a job at this point.
I have a question how does labor work. For example labor is $800 does that all go directly to the mechanic that was working on your car?
Lol definitely not. Mechanics make between $18-$28/hour
So basically the work is never done in an auto shop. You’re basically going to be on the job 12/5
Basically
Pretty insightful you should do a video where you talk about the day to day aspects of being a tech as in what do you spend most of your time doing, what tools do you use, what's the hardest part, etc.
i could do something like that!
Josh Share That would be awesome, a lot of us are thinking of being technicians so we would appreciate something like that
I like your reactions to the lift and the end! I understand the pain.
I was in school for automotive and ended up doing industrial maintenance. I eventually got into the oil and gas industry where I finally make decent money. Cars should only be a hobby.
Agreed. I’ve looked into oil and gas
You're basically an automotive doctor
I’ve been a mechanic for over 25 yrs and agree with pretty much everything Josh says here,I’m now 54 and my body is worn out(especially my lower back)and I’m struggling to keep going,if you’re young think long and hard before going into this profession because although it might seem appealing it’s far from it,let’s just say if I could see my time over again I’d never ever have gotten into this game
basically. thanks for the comment!
I have been heavy trucks and industrial equipment over 18 years , and you are right about all of it, truth be known you have to do what you love. I started on my own cars and worked my way through a trucking company, then went to Warren cat and I rebuild engines for them. My body constantly hurts , and I am always broke but I love what i do. Or I wouldn't do it.
How are you broke?
Thanks 4 this, I start school Monday and I will succeed in the automotive industries
new sub. your videos are clear + insightful, but if you worked on editing out all the 'uhs' and pauses, the pace is gonna be way smoother, other than that, alright quality
I literally subscribed because of your honesty much respect!
thanks!
Subscribed. Good luck getting out of the mechanic mafia.
New subscriber. Amazing the difference in uk, we work Average 8.30am to 5.30pm and every other Saturday morning and are hourly paid for the time we clock in. Bonus is paid on hours you produce over the book times. Most mechanics take on private work for extra cash but I’m getting a bit long in the tooth for that now. Good video.
British-mechanic so is being a autocare technician a good job?
I enjoy it. It’s also a hobby for me too so it’s Almost like I’ll never have to work a day in my life, I get paid for doing my hobby!