Too late or crap work conditions being a mechanic?

[mmhmm]

Hi Guys
just wanted to find out, is it too late to become a mechanic? im 26 now.

I always love cars, i fix every vehicle i own, but im not sure if the path is crap or the money is bad etc.
is there money to be made or not? I really want to start working with cars I love it so much.

For those that are in the trade Please let me know

[Lotte]

Depends on where you work. Getting an adult apprenticeship is fine, but to put the money into perspective:
My other half has been working for the same big auto company at a dealership workshop for,twelve years.
I've been out,of uni for 18 months.
Next year I'll be on double his gross wage (not double net due to hecs), and I'll only have just reached the average wage barrier.

[xisled]

It is possible. You will have to find an adult appretichsip, but there is places that can help you find one. Unsure who in Sydney could help. Maybe other can assist with that.

My brother is a mechanic, he was on around 50k a year plus overtime (worked Saturday).

It all comes down to your lifestyle. Could you live on a low wage while you do an aprresticship.

If cars are a passion, Maybe just do a pre appreticeship course. See what it is like. Because you will soon loose it just being a passion and have to look at it as being your career.

Also working on cars all day at work, people asking you to fix cars all the time, may turn you off working on your own.

My brother got out of the trade to work contrcution, gets paid 3 times the amount and he would rather pay somone to service fix his car than do it himself, and he loves his cars.

[chookaradley]

I'm a mechanic and earn 60k a year. I think my wage is above average, but there are guys who earn more than me. If its your passion go for it

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by xisled

Also working on cars all day at work, people asking you to fix cars all the time, may turn you off working on your own.

This. my brother in law was a mechanic. now hates working on cars. He always had a terrible car that didn't run properly, as after spending all week working on cars, he didn't want to come home and do more of it.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

This. my brother in law was a mechanic. now hates working on cars. He always had a terrible car that didn't run properly, as after spending all week working on cars, he didn't want to come home and do more of it.

Mate think about it, 40+ hours of oil leaks timing chains / belts Log book services and breaks, how keen would you be to run your daily up on the hoist for PM servicing? I know exactly where your BIL was at

now i'm off the tools I love getting up to my arm pits in stuff to make it better and now i have a little knowledge to help me do it properly

[Lotte]

Oh also, cars were Daves passion, hence why he's a mechanic. Getting him into the shed to help me with my project though, you'd think I was planning to kill him. It can kill the passion, that's not to say it definitely will though.

[mmhmm]

Yes there are times that people say they lose the passion for it, But im not very money orientated anyway,
If you can have a happy life and the work is enjoyable then I would take the plunge for it. Thats what im really after, I know every job has its crap.

Chook, what are the up / down sides of being in the trade?
60ks not too bad, whether im too old to make the move into it is another thing But i do have a workshop that might take me on straight away so it won't be hard getting a job.

[chookaradley]

Originally Posted by mmhmm

Yes there are times that people say they lose the passion for it, But im not very money orientated anyway,
If you can have a happy life and the work is enjoyable then I would take the plunge for it. Thats what im really after, I know every job has its crap.

Chook, what are the up / down sides of being in the trade?
60ks not too bad, whether im too old to make the move into it is another thing But i do have a workshop that might take me on straight away so it won't be hard getting a job.

I was a bit similar to you. I got good marks at school and my parents would've preferred I did something more academic. I loved cars and wanted to do something I enjoyed. 16 years later I don't regret it. The downside for me is that cars are becoming more and more electronic. Soon hybrids and electric cars will become more prevalent, it's not my thing but if your good at that you will do well. I still get a lot of satisfaction out of doing a big job well, routine servicing can be boring after a while. My workplace just took on a adult apprentice 26, and I think it's the best thing we did, much more mature than some of the knucklehead 18 year olds you get in our trade

[Lotte]

If your not money oriented, and don't thunk it'll ruin your passion for it, you're never to old.

[ratter]

award is something like 34K a year for a qualified mechanic

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by ratter

award is something like 34K a year for a qualified mechanic

That is disgusting, it's not an easy job, the owners of the mechanics only paying there workers these wages must be rolling in it. My MRS earns 58k a year and all she does is manage a medical practice. You would have to do it for the love of the job for that money.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

That is disgusting, it's not an easy job, the owners of the mechanics only paying there workers these wages must be rolling in it. My MRS earns 58k a year and all she does is manage a medical practice. You would have to do it for the love of the job for that money.

there's not that much money in the trade, not many financially rich mechanics out there

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

That is disgusting, it's not an easy job, the owners of the mechanics only paying there workers these wages must be rolling in it. My MRS earns 58k a year and all she does is manage a medical practice. You would have to do it for the love of the job for that money.

Workshop owners pay a sheet load of money towards workers comp fund....they have to spend a sheet load of money upgrading their diagnostic equipment.....so it doesn't leave them a lot of money in the kitty to pay mega bucks to workers....

It might sound like an excuse backing employers, but if they want to cough up more for workers, alot more people will be whinging and whining about the cost of their car repaires....(employers have to find the extra money somewhere, so that's where it'll come from)...

[cs123]

If you enjoy working on cars you must have fixed up relatives and friends POS dungers. Did you enjoy fixing them? because you'll be doing an awful lot of that stuff.

But if it's what you want to do, then go for it. Perhaps you can find a local mechanic that you can work for on Saturdays as an assistant to get a feel for it.

[mmhmm]

Originally Posted by cs123

If you enjoy working on cars you must have fixed up relatives and friends POS dungers. Did you enjoy fixing them? because you'll be doing an awful lot of that stuff.

But if it's what you want to do, then go for it. Perhaps you can find a local mechanic that you can work for on Saturdays as an assistant to get a feel for it.

i like doing it, jsut they don't like buying proper parts to get the whole job done or want to skimp on things .


34k a year is pretty low? anybody that can verify is this is the wage? ok for a person living with their parents but not for an adult.

Yes more people these days are happier taking on adult apprentices for some reason, It wouldn't be too hard to get a local to hopfeully sign me on.

being the new hybrid vehicles what would it do to the industry? this got me worried also because of all the computer and diagnostics thats needed and i believe its also going mainstream to dealerships now who have the " required tools " to fix the cars.

It would be hard to fix the new age cars because the lack of diagnostic machines etc, will that impact the future for a mechanic? seems that most of them will be forced to work at dealers for slave labor?

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by mmhmm

.


34k a year is pretty low? anybody that can verify is this is the wage? ok for a person living with their parents but not for an adult.

That's the minimum adult wage.....If you're in doubt, check with workplace authority in your state...IMA, I'm fairly sure it's a federal award, rather than a state award as well....

Of course you can earn bigger bucks per hour, BUT you have to have a proven track record to get the real big bucks in the trade....that doesn't happen overnight....

Be wary....You'll end up with a stuffed back, carpel tunnel (I think that's how it's spelt) from being on the tools constantly and stuffed knees.....Best bet if you're planning this route, is work yourself up into the management area that way you have a chance of saving your body.....I'm a lowly aligner/tyre fitter and I suffer from these symptoms, but I put up with it...Not much difference between the 2 trades...

[GQ_Smooth]

It's never to late so long as you can support yourself during your apprenticeship years. If you end up being even an average mechanic, you will have a career for life in various industries not just working on cars. The choice is yours. As many have said, your passion will be severely tested.

[Lotte]

34k, as award, is the minimum they can pay you (I think).
And I'm pretty sure the other half isn't on much more than that. Take home he's on about 650 a week if he doesn't do overtime, I believe. They have a good bonus structure, but given he's usually on problem jobs, he doesn't usually reach the threshold for a bonus

Its a fairly underrated underpaid profession imho.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Lotte

34k, as award, is the minimum they can pay you (I think).
And I'm pretty sure the other half isn't on much more than that. Take home he's on about 650 a week if he doesn't do overtime, I believe. They have a good bonus structure, but given he's usually on problem jobs, he doesn't usually reach the threshold for a bonus

Its a fairly underrated underpaid profession imho.

If you want to work for wages it might be low but working for your self (business) is different story, you will make your money.

[bangm001]

Its never too late. If your chasing more mullah, do something like diesel or marine mechanic etc.

[ebv8]

both my brothers are mechanics and I always earned more money than them (they are 3 & 4 years older than me) now they specialise in trucks and plant and they make more money than me and have company cars, there is no money working in a workshop doing services but its good training, if you like trucks or big machines there is more money to be made but its harder work.

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by mmhmm

Hi Guys
just wanted to find out, is it too late to become a mechanic? im 26 now.

I always love cars, i fix every vehicle i own, but im not sure if the path is crap or the money is bad etc.
is there money to be made or not? I really want to start working with cars I love it so much.

For those that are in the trade Please let me know

Try get an adult apprenticeship as mentioned ,failing that and while waiting enrol into Tafe and do some courses ,that helps future employers guage your worth , rather than some wet behind the ears 15 year old .....

Those good at their trade will never have any trouble finding well paid work

[flappist]

Get a job doing something you love and you will never work a day in your life.

You will never become financially rich being a motor mechanic so if it is all about money then it may not be such a good idea but there are more types of "rich" than having a bucket full of money.......

[chookaradley]

Originally Posted by flappist

Get a job doing something you love and you will never work a day in your life.

You will never become financially rich being a motor mechanic so if it is all about money then it may not be such a good idea but there are more types of "rich" than having a bucket full of money.......

Never a truer word spoken

[SantoAU]

I took a similar route: joined the airforce at 24 and became a qualified aircraft techo. Gave that the flick and went to the mines doing fixed plant (probably could have jumped over to hydraulic rigs, but meh). Now at 37, I'm going to uni to study nursing.

Moral of the story: you are NEVER, EVER, EVER too old to start something fresh

[ratter]

my figure quoted was for award for a qualified mechanic not an adult apprentice

[Falcon SXR8]

Just remember probably 80% of your work will be oil and filter changes. I always wanted to be a mechanic but after doing a week with the local guys it really opened my eyes and I just went no way. Working in a performance type garage would be great though.

[Bossxr8]

Mechanics usually don't make much money.

Diesel mechanics are a different story, they get paid very well. This is the way to go.

[olds]

Don't just be a mechanic be a great mechanic . There is good money to be made when the part swappers,oil changers and self taught come up against a real problem that's where diagnostic skill comes in and you can charge accordingly . Although be prepared to be chastised for it .