My brother-in-law is trying to decide between a 2 year college transfer program OR going after an auto tech degree (to get ASE certified) at his local community college.

I don't think he has the focus to stick to the prep. program but has a decent shot with the auto tech degree.

Is being a mechanic for a living really worth it? Any pros/cons besides obviously forgoing the potential higher income of a 4-year degree?

3/28/2008 8:52:29 AM

depending on the work environment and the area of expertise, mechanics can make a lot of money. I personally value having a new thing to do with regularity as well as a dynamic work environment. if he lacks focus, that might be the thing for him.

3/28/2008 8:57:26 AM

You don't need an ASE certification to become a mechanic. I know several well paid (if you consider $17ish/hour well paid) mechanics w/out any certification. I was one of them during high school and part of college.
Ahmet

3/28/2008 9:01:24 AM

I was a mechaninc for three years.
The pay can be decent, but that depends on where you are.
I started at $10 hourly, and then made it to $18 flat rate. This was mostly becaus I didn't work full time so they werent' going to promote me as much as everyone else.
A lot of the guys there made between $40-60k.
A certified master tech with a large # of years experience can make in the 80k range.

The only problem is that the work is part commission, and flat rate. If there is no work, you go hungry.

I enjoyed it, and miss it, but it takes a certain type of personality.

[Edited on March 28, 2008 at 9:12 AM. Reason : .]

3/28/2008 9:11:49 AM

Quote :

"You don't need an ASE certification to become a mechanic"

Ask
Someone
Else

3/28/2008 9:31:04 AM

I have a friend from this area who got married and moved out to bumfuck west Texas where his wife is from. He works at a Ford dealership and mostly works on work trucks for the oil companies. He started at $15/hour and within a year got a raise to $21/hour, but that is near the max that the dealership pays. He is making over $40k a year in an area where you can get like a 1500 square foot house in decent shape for $60k. Around here that kind of pay is ok but the cost of living is a lot higher.

3/28/2008 9:49:40 AM

You may also look into heavy equipment/ fleet stuff. If you work on buses or trucks or whatever you don't have to deal with the bullshit in a dealership or other auto shop where you have to rely on commission and customers coming through the door. I work on buses, am paid reasonably well, have great benefits and STEADY work/income. There are heavy equipment programs (wake tech's for example)that will put you in a pretty good spot to get a decent job when you are done. There is a shortage of good diesel mechanics and a TON of trucks.


That said, be prepared to put up with some of the cons like, constantly spending $texas on tools, always being around nasty chemicals, coming home dirty as fuck with cuts bruises and burns, and consider that if you are injured (likely) you may be useless to your employer.

3/28/2008 10:31:21 AM

Quote :

"constantly spending $texas on tools"

aint that the truth..

3/28/2008 10:37:28 AM

Quote :

"always being around nasty chemicals = DAMAGING YOUR SPERM/BRAIN/LUNGS"

3/28/2008 11:20:38 AM

10 years of being around the nastiest crap on/around cars and i think i'm fine.

ive got a friend who develops skin rashs when he works around cars. which sucks because he enjoys working on them, but he doesnt want to cuz of his skin.

3/28/2008 11:26:29 AM

I've never worked as a tech in the typical sense, but have worked in a garage, and a junkyard. being a tech, to me, is pretty boring. I like learning new stuff all the time. now i work at a high end mopar hot rod shop, and I'm learning something new each day. if you can I recommend finding a unique job like that. the pay may ot be as much, but you learn a variety of skills.

on a side note there is a really good mechanic program in morrisville that is based around nascar stuff, but teaches you all about general repair. I know a guy who went there (its a year long, and expensive) but he is very well versed in all aspects of repair and fabrication, etc.

as someone said above you may look into heavy equipment. wilson tech offers a really good program on operation and mechanics.

oh yeah, if you get a job at a shop, beware of the snap-on/ matco man. they offer an account for tools, and its easy to over spend on stuff and end up owing a ton of money. its debatable, but I've always been happy with craftsman tools.

oh and depending on the 4 year degree plan you may end up not even making what a good mechanic can. plus you can work on your own junk, which is a plus if you drive junk.

as for focus- adderall

[Edited on March 30, 2008 at 4:37 AM. Reason : ...]

3/30/2008 4:35:07 AM

not reccomended. tell him to find a job making money hand over fist doing something else.
















that means more money for the rest of us

3/30/2008 11:57:29 AM