www.status.co/LetsDriftMedia discount code "letsDriftMedia" IG @nick.nakai Todays episode I explain some key points to consider before going into the mechanic career path.
Just so you're aware, when you mentioned tool buying, federal law says employers have to provide you with any and all tools required to do your job. Look it up. Mechanics need to stop buying their own tools, that responsibility falls on the employer and we both know dealerships can easily afford to invest in their techs
That is true if you are an hourly employee. and if so you are probably making close to min wage. Most jobs in the industry are flatrate pay and in CA state law is they have to pay you double min wage if you supply your own tools.@@COBRO98
From automotive technician to mechanical engineer, I make twice the money and dont come home unable to move from pain. Being a mechanic was rewarding in some ways but I highly recommend taking the drive you may have to learn about how these machines work and apply it to an engineering degree. It is difficult to get the Bachelors but it is far from impossible.
@justinhayward5027 Currently work in an MEP firm designing HVAC and Plumbing systems for large health care facilities, it is very rewarding. The cost is dependent on the school and can be greatly reduced if you begin with 2 years at a community college and then transfer to a university ending in a total of 4 years of education.
@almightyracing mechanical engineering is the broadest of all of the engineering disciplines, everything from Aerospace to manufacturing to product development, ultimately most objects you interact with on a daily basis were at one point influenced by a mechanical engineer.
How many years were you and automotive technician? And did you work for a dealer or Indy during that time. Also how long did it take you to finish your degree. I went to community college for automotive technology almost a decade ago and received an associate in applied science. I’m 30 rn and make 90-95k as a train mechanic. Very easy work , but not as rewarding as being a diag tech at a dealer like I was working towards when I was at a Mercedes Benz dealer. I’ve been thinking of making the transition to learning how to code and potentially going back to community college to pursue a computer science degree , being married and having children makes it tougher for a guy like myself but I’m at a transitional part in my life where I think I want to potentially something else during this next decade of my life. Looking for some insight and inspiration. Thanks in advanced.
Did warehouse work for 16 years and was a single parent. when my daughter went off to the military I decided to take up automotive at 40 lol, quit my job, sold my house, gave a bunch of stuff away and moved to Hawaii. now I'm 45 and making more than I did at ware house work, I'm one ASE test away from master tech status and never in my life have I been happier. it doesn't matter how long you've been at a job or how old you are, do something you love. life is too short.
Nice man happy for you, in case you are new here are some free ASE study guides that may be of help drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rZZ-HJJ1reDpruMupih-VFaizWHx7PdU?usp=share_link drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1jHkr8RuNgzhyIWzAgUPrv_FxBwQye4RR?usp=sharing
There's a warehouse near me paying 40 an hour for 2 days of work. I'm a young guy but I need a budget part time job to save up for some of these tools, but there's alaos a transportation job next door working on the semi trailers, is that a good idea? I mean like he said it might make it a chore for me :/ but I also have a shop and a welder and a bunch of tools already, feeling like I should work on my own projects
@@NatS8445 If you have a goal for what you want to do or be in life and you need to do other jobs to get there, then that’s ok. Just don’t lose sight of that goal, it’s easy to get stuck in a job because it pays good even when you’re unhappy. I’ve know a lot of unhappy workers who felt they could not leave their job because they had too many years in or didn’t want to start over at a lower pay. Doing what you like everyday for a job is priceless, you shouldn’t be working hard all week only looking forward to the weekend, you should be looking forward to going back to work on Monday to learn something new, or do something that interests you. This is all just my OPINION so do what is best for you. Just make a plan, try not to tell too many people as most will discourage you, then keep working to reach that goal. Life is short 🤙
maybe I needed to see this. My life's been crazy. in the past I had some electrical knowledge dealing with the ACE system on an Avenger. learned how to read schematics and troubleshoot 20 years ago. never knew what to do with that knowledge after life happened. I've been studying this. Stay blessed.
30 year old here. I've been working on cars since I was 16. Worked construction from 18 years old until 25 years old. Went into corrections from 25 to 30. At 30 decided to go work as a mechanic at a dealership. Told them I knew how to work on anything. They started me at 12$ 3 months later got bumped to 22$ flat rate. 4 months after that asked for another raise since I was running circles around their "master techs" got bumped up to 30$ flat rate. Been working 1 year there already. I will be getting another raise after I complete their manufacture training. I do not recommend getting into this field unless you already have real experience working on cars. Flat rate is not for the weak, especially if you're not self driven and a hard worker.
I am a hard worker but I also like to make sure everything is done clean and right so I’m not one to speed through it and possibly forget something. Imo flat rate encourages shotty work and I’m not going to do it. I work on boats though so it’s a seasonal thing also, I’m not getting shafted all winter
One thing to remember is "the grass is always greener" and every career has problems. In IT 80% of people are on adderal/ psyc meds for depression and/or anxiety, electricians spend the first decade digging trenches and climbing into 150° attics trying not to fall through the roof or get electrocuted while having rats crawl on them, plumbers obviously have some shitty days too 😂
As a someone who was working in IT for more than 4 years, I agree with you there. Being a real worker is much better like the works where you interact with people or with physicality.
I knew a guy that loved to work on cars and was a mechanic for a while but ended up leaving the industry. The thing that turned him off was people would neglect their cars until it just had to be repaired. They would then want to spend the very minimum on the repair but expected it to run perfect.
Mechanic work is the hardest physical job I've ever done, and I've done many blue-collar jobs. It kicks your ass! Just working on own vehicles, not a professional. Much respect to mechanics.
I don't think most people know what a service writer even is, nor do they understand how intelligent you need to be to be a great mechanic. Mechanics have their victories in the seclusion of the garage and people don't know much about it.
On the other hand they will probably be replaced by robots. Cars are already mostly built by robots so that would be the next logical step if they're also serviced by robots. But the mechanics can then service the outlawed Mad Max cars outside of the smart cities.
A computer tells you what to replace and a manual tells you how to do it on these new cars. The old ones require knowledge, experience and intelegence. All 3 not just one.
@Number6_ eh. When you start getting some funky engine problems, the codes will only get you so far. Plenty of mechanics these days replacing a half dozen parts before giving up without fixing the problem, you do actually gotta know what you're doing. And fwiw they had service manuals since the early 70s... but without any sensors or circuits, they were pretty thin.
@@dcgregorya5434 agreeable. As a mechanic myself I have never been in a parts cannon situation, but If I was a customer I would not pay for random parts and work, because the guy does not know what to do.
Worked at a dealership on the lube rack for about a year and a half moved up to be a line tech about a year ago. Made more money on the lube rack and had double the head aches. Did lots of repairs for free because the advisors “forgot” to flag me on but always told me they’d “take care of me in the next ticket”…. Never happened started to call them out on their bs and let the service manager know about what they have been doing and nothing ever changed. Got asked if I enjoyed working for the company Monday morning told em “you’re not gonna like what I have too say” and they let me go on the spot. Then called me back about 2 hours later offered me my job back apologizing about letting me go the way they did. Told them I’d think about it. Currently applying to performance shops to actually pursue the career I want.
17 yrs Diesel Mechanic and on going. I never liked working for a company that deals with sales/economy/customers so I went for a government job and boy it was night and days working for public transportation(bus/train) under Union. Become an apprentice, great benefits, great pay with longevity, no labor charge (Unfinished work just passes on to the next shift), no warranty work, awesome vacation(5 weeks for me), the shop provides tools too, lots of open opportunities to move up but all these examples can vary per states. Bottom line is this is a public transit and not a dealership.
I went to public transit in 2005. Pension, don’t pay out of pocket for insurance, we’re at $57 an hour and will be $59 next november. They can’t find mechanics like most places now so car guys are coming in swearing they’d never go back to dealerships but want to bring their car world ideas with them. They’re ruining what was once a great environment
I worked as a dealership technician for a few years after going to tech school. It wasn't long before I realized that the work was really hard on your body over time. The few older guys had n the shop all had bad knees and/or bad backs. So I looked for other opportunities using my skill set. I ended up working at a big pharmaceutical company as a machine mechanic. Indoor work, tools supplied by the company, regular hours, overtime pay. It was a dream come true. Then I got promoted to shop supervisor. Then department manager. Now I run the whole department and make almost $200k a year. All from being a dealership technician. So just remember that your skill set can take you places if you make the effort.
Many years ago when I worked for someone else. When a customer came to pick up his car and everything was done right the owner of the shop would say he did it. When the owner never worked on anything. When there was a come back the owner would tell the customer I did it.
I changed careers into a Diesel Mechanic from 15 years of warehousing. I made more money in warehousing at a very well known brewery. However, it took me 10 years to make $28/hr in warehousing (here in PA), but it took me a little over a year to make that as a “new guy” in the Diesel Industry. Learn a lot, show your value, and leave a shop when your being under paid, you’ll almost always get a raise this way. You can make the money, but sometimes it doesn’t feel worth it with all you gotta know, continuous training, tools, beating up your body, etc. Gotta ask yourself if the game is worth the candle.
You forgot the part about cars getting more technical and over-engineered making a typical hour long job take longer with more parts to remove. To all the auto engineers out there… If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
When I was young I wanted to become a mechanic, but I ended up in IT/Data Warehousing as a career ($170k/yr). I have no regrets. But I agree with you, my passion is still cars and fixing/restoring them, but I do it as therapy on some weekends to get away from other stresses. I do all my own work (from fluids, bearings, brakes, timing belts/chains, engine swaps). So it’s a hobby and from time to time I fix friends and family cars if they can’t afford certain major repairs.
Gotta love how unappreciated you are as a tech. When you see your nurse friends averaging 90k a yr all over the US and theyre not even 30 yet or your it/tech friends in the 6 figures but you struggling to hit that after 10 yrs makes you re-evaluate your career. Mechanics are no dumber than those other professions either. I’ve never seen so many dealers desperate for techs before in my life. I love seeing them suffer after years of shafting me. Glad i woke up and quit. Glad it worked out for you Nick.
Man you nailed it 100%. I wrenched for over 40yrs. & everything you said happened to me. Cars where fun back in the day , now you need to be a computer genius. I still have 11 cars/trucks, they just sit around. I'm so burnt out i bring my daily driver to the oil change place.
As a middle aged tech on my way out of this hellscape of a profession my advice for those thinking of getting into the automotive side of this industry is, if you want to work on your dream car/truck become a mechanic, if you want to own/enjoy your dream car/truck pick a different trade preferably a licensed one.
working on cars for 20 years.. I agree with him. Nagging back and shoulder pains. Wish someone wouldve told me. The one positive thing is alot of what you do can be a stepping stone to other things. Plumbing and electrical for example.
At probably a bit more than twice your age, I can unequivocally say you've hit the nail square on the head with this analysis. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
You brought up some important points. The fact the job is physically demanding. It’s very hard and the older you get the worse it becomes. You won’t see many techs over 50 for this reason. Most people have no idea how much techs invest in tools. It’s an ongoing expense. Others in the trades spend very little in comparison. It’s not an easy way to make a living.
Most things you said it's true, I have been a mechanic 30+ years I can say I regret it, had I put an effort into becoming a lawyer, medical field, union job my life would have been completely different. you are always under paid, cars there is no room to work on, the book always says way less time than the actual job takes because it was written for the advantage of the manufacturer to pay less for warrantee work, customers they don't want to pay always arguing.
Nearing 30, been working on cars since about 17. Went to the oil field for a bit, led me to hd diesel.. tech school led to $25/hr start, a few yrs in I found myself in calibration engineer for autonomous semis. Now in maintenance engineering for autonomous robotics looking into going back to school for electrical & controls engineering.. Though I miss turning wrenches some days, the toll working on hd equipment took is insane.. not to mention that spark and burning passion I once had now being simmering ash.. I can honestly say that I don’t regret my path, as what I loved doing for a period paid the bills for years thereafter and will forever be something I can call on if or when needed.. I implore those curious about being a tech to truly weigh out options. I firmly believe in growth.. if you are coming in chasing money, tool badging or dreams, you very well may find disappointment one day. However, the journey to attain a skill set that may lead you to other opportunities in the future…that’s something no one can ever take away from you.
Facts. I'm in the autobody industry and I went to college for it and have been doing it for 23 years. I tell people all the time that now is a bad time to get into it. I used to enjoy it back when you could make good money. Now, the insurance companies are keeping us from making money. Also, hard to get parts. Some parts are on back order. I've had to resort to Ebay and Amazon to get stuff.
So many negative comments about this field I’m planning on going to school soon to become a tech and eventually wanna own my own business. Wish you the best
I am glad that you are describing the automotive repair industry for how it is. I was one of those with a idealized vision of what it would be like repairing cars professionally until I got into it. Having the mechanical skills & passion will often be NOT enough to make up for the flaws of the flat rate system & all the money you have to invest in tools. My take would be for the would-be mechanic to listen to your advice & have a plan to ultimately move into parts, service writing, or management, or fleet service. The flat-rate system was probably instituted for the lazy mechanics, but it hurts the good mechanics the most. Who wants to be rushed when they are fixing a complicated repair? Who wants to work 40 hours a week & sometimes be payed less than?
I am retired now and work part time at a car dealership in the parts department. A few years ago they went from hourly to flat rate for the techs. Half the techs quit within 6 months and they now have a turnover problem. The most experienced techs who got the toughest jobs weren’t making enough on the book rate while the less experienced guys getting the simpler jobs were the ones who if they hustled could bang them out and make a little extra. But one other thing that happened was the experienced guys no longer were willing or able to help the junior techs because if they were not working their jobs they were losing money. And I agree - the techs get blamed for everything wether it is their fault or not.
Thank you for your honesty for the ones considering being a mechanic. I worked 18 years as a heavy equipment mechanic. Low pay and high price tools at that time. I have recently checked some tool truck prices, and they are extremely higher than when i was working as a mechanic. I really enjoyed the work but i never felt like the pay was any where it should have been. You always hear tales about some body making a mint, but you never come close to it. The ones that are sucessful are usually independent and broke away from dealerships. These ones will tell you it is extreamley diffcult, and very costly to keep up with technology if you can find reliable sources of repair information.
I was a Nissan and ASE master tech back in 1987. Still in the business as a successful manager. I never forgot where I came from. I would occasionally change my clothes and go help the techs in the shop. Wanted them to know i wasn't better than them, I just had a different role. With all of the large Dealer groups and publicly traded dealer groups that has gotten almost impossible to do. It seams to be profit over your people. I have a problem with that. Vehicles have gotten so technical and expensive along with increased customer expectations that it's difficult to balance. I will say, all of the service writers and most of the service managers couldn't fix a sandwich let alone a vehicle. I still have 10's of thousands of dollars worth of tools and try to take new techs under my wing to help them be successful. I've always remembered, it's not me, it's we.
A very meaningful comment, so humble man. A 4 year backyard diy mechanic here and build a small shop. Now on the tip whether gonna proceed to auto techschool or not having that said i need to also focus in different expenses for my family. Still in the verge whether i'll continue to do this. Or not, Or i may just by hitting some regular pms , basic repairs again for the clients after. I see my self not into going deep trouble shooting and full rebuilds of engines & transmission. Rather focus into light troubleshooting & diagnosis + pms.
I definitely have to agree with you on everything you said… I started out helping my neighbor on his race car and got to go with him to 3 different drag strips and there I got to meet a lot of those famous guys in PA MD and NJ. I was a machinist and toolmaker but always did this work on the side. Today I’m so physically messed up from all that hard labor I wish I could have changed coarse. I always wanted to be a Lawyer and I should’ve went that road instead…
From a shop b*tch, to parts runner, pressure washer guy, shop cleaner within 3-5 months mechanics started getting fired, showed my self /skills now running the field service truck for construction equipment with crane, welder, hydraulic tank, oil tank, wastetank you name it started at 18$ now at 32$ in 2 & half yrs and much more room to grow in pay. no school just youtube University for me and its worked out great for what i want/ need to learn. yes tools are expensive but you dont need everything from tool trucks im talking the expensive brands. 90% tools are off the Internet/retail stores 10% tool trucks with only specialty tools that will be hard to warranty at other places . its not for everyone and name brand tools dont make the mechanic. Hope to bring these skills when i am able to open my own business.
Name brand tools don't make the tech, but, at the same time, after you've punched the metal inside of a car because your ratchet slipped, you start spending a little more. That being said there is plenty of shit in my box from harbor freight.
This man is absolutely correct. Having spent 34 years as an automotive mechanic professionand I covered more than just most people. I have certifications for aircraft engines. Marine engines 12 years as a heavy equipment mechanic and the United States navy C. B's. And and the reminder in general automotive. So I know my way around the vehicle. Gas diesel doesn't matter automatic transmission standard transmissions doesn't matter. Differential brakes, I've done it and number one. He's absolutely correct about tools. Shops will not buy your tools you have to buy. The should have mentioned one thing here. Don't buy your tools off the tool trucks. You will get snuckered and you're going to spend way more money than you need to. For example, years ago I bought a wrench set 1/4 inch to one inch Snap on French set. I paid almost $500 for that wrench set today. Today you can go down to Harbor freight and by the exact same set from the icon line. 450 dolland I know they're exactly the same because I have taken my wrenches. At her Snap on and looked at the icon and the part numbers are exactly the same. So they're made in the same factory. The only thing is you're paying for a price for a name. And the same thing with Mac matco all of those. Don't buy a Snap on toolbox, either go to Harbor freight by US general or by an icon. You're gonna get one hell of a lot. Better quality tool box at a hell of a lot. Less money than you'd pay for anything off the tool trucks. Another point I will point out. Do not work for dealerships. They will s**** y** over no matter what he's right. They treat you like c*** and they will blame you for everything. And here's the one thing he did not mention. You can do the job absolutely perfect, but if something goes astray, a defective part. The dealership is not going to want to eat the cost of that. So what do they do? They f*** over the mechanic? By back flagging the mechanic and not paying him for the job. In other words, when you get back flag, they deducted out of your next pay. Check so in some cases you can lose money. Also I will mention. Flat rate is a doke. You can be the fastest technician in the world. You can be getting paid flat rate but if you have something that is beyond your control. I.e. A bolt break off and it takes a few extra hours to get the job done. Because you have to extract broken bolts or repair stripped threads. Book time does not account for that. Neither does flat rate, so you lose your a** on the job. When when you work in a shop that is paid hourly, you get paid for your time by the hour so if you have a bolt that breaks off and it's a real pain i* t** a** to get the broken bolt out, you're still paid. That is why I will never work for a dealership. Dealerships, quite frankly, in my opinion are a*******, and they're all for them. They don't give a d*** about their mechanics. The bottom line is you're better off to work for a small independent shop getting paid hourly He's absolutely correct about being tough on your body physically. After 34 years my knees were shot. My ankles are done and I have a torn rotator cuff and torn labor death muscle in my shoulder. So my shoulder is wrecked act and I'm only 54 years of age. And they don't tell that. To the young mechanics, he's also spot on about all the chemicals and all the things that you will've come in contact with and back when I first started. They didn't tell you to wear gloves they didn't tell you to wear masks or hearing protectso I'm here so I will tell you this if you look up the national statistics now. Being an automotive mechanic is one of the top 5 of the most hazardous jobs. In the United States.
I’m doing online study currently and having my apprenticeship at this family owned business auto shop. Glad u mentioned about cons working at the dealership. I thought about applying to them and even enroll at UTI. RU-vidrs like this Man brings plenty of eye opening realities and this is gem 💎.
I've been a heavy fleet mechanic for 10 years. It's killed cars as a hobby for me. I'm so burnt out on working on my own stuff that I let the dealership deal with most of it
I learned that passion lesson when I was 17, and didn't listen. worked a lot of my life for the $ , re-discovered passion at age 70, going strong. best of luck to you, bright young guy
56 here. I love wrenching but have experienced everything you talked about in this video...and still do. This is a very good, comprehensive video and it's perfect for those who don't know what they are getting into. Well done man, I'm subbing.
I could of been a union pipe fitter but... decided I wanted to turn work on cars for a living. Many times I have thought to myself why it was super rough in the beginning school tool bills no money flat rate etc... I hated it for a long time made me bitter towards the trade. Now two decades later it's different due to the fact left the toxic dealer world ans went to a major utility company fleet. It's way different some days are eazy other days you find yourself having to drop what you are doing and have to rescue a boom truck 125 feet in the air. It's 24/7 now with call outs break downs or storm but the end of the day I love for different reasons now the trucks I fix provide a service people need.... our saying in fleet in my company is WITHOUT US THEY WALK.
I was a tech for years and agree with all of this. Especially the last minutes of the video. I am so grateful when people don’t ask me to fix their vehicle, even though I usually know how
After graduating my 2 year automotive program, I was stuck in the lube rack for about 3-4 years before I started doing floater/main shop work. If anyone of you guys make it into the main shop regardless of having a degree or not. Strive to learn everything you can. Even electrical diag and heavier jobs. It will make you more valuable not just in your current shop but in any other shop/industry you are trying to move over to. In this industry, having a degree isn't going to give you an upper hand over someone who came out of high school or with lesser education. However that degree will open up so many other doors outside of the automotive industry. I now work for a very well known semiconductor company as a equipment tech and make double of what i was making as a auto tech. That degree and my experience is how i got the job for that company.
When I was 18 I graduated from a trade school. My first job was at a ford dealership. It didn’t take long to realize I didn’t want to to do this work for the rest of my career. I decided to go to college I earned my bachelor’s degree while working as a mechanic. I now work in a specialty security field making just as much if not more than a master tech. I still repair my own vehicles and save a lot of money but definitely not as a career.
Here's an idea to save your back and legs. Get old computer chairs, one to sit on and the other to use as a work table. Using them to sit on and place tools/parts makes life so much easier. Been working this way for a few years now. Needs a reasonably flat floor for those small wheels to run on. With my large tool box on a garden dolley/trolley I do not have to run back and fore to the tool chest. When I think back to the way my Dad worked with the car in the air - back arched and neck craning, tools put in pockets, balanced on suspension members, or just dropped on the floor. It was no wonder he had health problems and often lost spanners and sockets. If you have a pit or roll around under a car then there is no alternative, but with a two or four post ramp we can improve the way we work on chassis jewelry (and oil changes).
Thanks for the video ! I've been watching your channel for a while being on the fence about becoming a mechanic. Lots of people will give reasons to not do it but I think there are reasons people are still doing it today. I love cars and the passion is what keeps pointing me in this direction instead of some college degree or a different trade. I hope to be able to learn how to wrench, drive the shit out of my cars, break them, and do it all over again. If I can become a great technician in the process I think I would be satisfied.
Totally agree I went head first into it because I want to wrench doesn’t mean it’s easy for sure. I have 4k between my tool box, tool cart, and basic tools and I barely scratched the surface
My experience as a 20 year old in the field has been I started at a dealership straight after high school. I went into the field knowing I didn’t want to stay in it long term. I started as a quick lane tech doing oil changes. Moved my way up to flat rate there. And after a year got a apprenticeship with the best tech in the dealership. ( we consistently are hitting at least 500 hours) which I have done for just over a year now. It hasn’t been easy at all lots of long days with no lunch’s and late nights sometimes. It’s been great I have gotten what I want out of the industry and will soon move on to bigger and better things. If you want to get into it, it’s not going to be easy you will have long days and you are going to break a bunch of stuff. Especially if you don’t have someone to show you how to do stuff.
Dude you NAILED IT. Without getting all worked up into a rant , like I would . You really hit on all the major points. Especially being underapreciated .
I just transitioned into teaching auto shop at a high school . I’m just one month in and it has been an amazing gig so far. I’m looking forward to the 4 weeks of vacation by the time this new semester rolls around.
35 years ago it was the same thing. I went to school to be an automotive tech and lasted in the business for 6 months. The two dealerships I worked for were not the most honest places around. And I do not mean screwing customers over either. There was always a problem with your paycheck. Wound up going civil service in another career but have no complaints. Ive developed into an advanced hobbyists with a nice car collection. I love my cars but this business was not for me.
I was an aircraft mechanic for many years and pretty much the same deal. Also lousy pay for what you have to know. Being tied to a large airport was no fun either.
I can attest to this. I worked for an airfreight company for 2 months during a miserable winter, they put me on a split shift. I did automotive, and a little diesel for 5 years. Dusted off my A&P license and now work for a flight school where the pilots and students appreciate us. Personally, I will never touch the airlines. Being appreciated goes such a long way, it makes the work enjoyable and motivates me to do a quality job.
One major point that was missed in this is that mechanics are underpaid. A lot of places still pay using flat-rate and they just use sometimes arbitrary estimates that decide what you get paid for a job that many times are not accurate or fair. Like you said you have to invest a lot of money in tools, more money than with almost any other trade. However unlike almost every other trade these companies do not want to guarantee you a livable wage for the hours you work. You're basically like a contractor working in the shop but you have no say over what jobs you take and what you get paid. All while pretty much having to have all the skills as every other trade to fix these increasingly complicated vehicles that require more and more specialty tools and knowledge to fix. The compensation for this usually pales in comparison to your investment into this field. It has been like this for years and it still shows no sign of ending anytime soon. This is one of the major reasons for the technician shortage and regardless the companies just refuse to budge. The only way around this is to get into a good independent shop that pays hourly or one of the rare dealers that's actually fair with technicians. The job openings at these kinds of places tend to not come up often and the competition for them is steep due to the fact that good mechanic jobs are hard to come by, so people do not want to leave them. If you can be a good mechanic chances are you can make more money and have better benefits in another trade or field with much less investment, in much less time, much more easily. If you're in this field you need to be in it because you're passionate and not for the money.
You sir are 100% right on these especially your last point. We all got into this field to work on cars, make them better and or repair. We did it because we wanted to be some of the best in our fields, masters of our craft. What we didn't know was how terrible the industry is. It turns our passion, into misery. It turns our skilled passion into regret. It uses's our time and experience invested knowledge against us. There is a very common misconception about techs, well truth be told, we aren't machines. We are humans like everyone else and we make mistakes. We aren't immune to sickness, or health issues. We aren't immune to fatigue and exhaustion. We aren't exempt from having a bad day or being tired or not feeling well. We have the same responsibilities of human adulthood just like everyone else. Contrary to popular belief, we don't work for charity. We do what we do to earn our income just like everyone else.
Right now, my parents are trying to push me into this because I love cars, but I don't want to be a mechanic, and they will just not stop drilling it into me that I must become one. You summed up my basic argument in far better words than I could articulate, but they don't listen. It's impossible to tell them that this field isn't what they think it is, but thank you for this comment.
@@zbj4240 If you are into cars, id say keep it as a hobby. You may like cars but it doesn't mean you will like fixing them everyday. Modding them for a purpose is much different than having to fix them for someone else. If you want to pursue a passion in cars, do it on the media side of it. Let everyone else spend the money, you can just record the moments. I wish I knew and understood this in when I was younger.
@JayDLC123 That's what I've heard other mechanics say. My dad won't hear that, he has his mind set on making me into an employee for a Mechanic Shop he wants to start. I'm not letting anyone steer my life in a direction I don't want to go in, including my family. I would happily work on my own cars, but I don't want to work on Camry's, Priuses, and Teslas, lol. Especially when I can make more money, doing something less physically demanding.
Started working for the county 5 years ago making 22$ bucks an hour doing lube tech work and tires. I worked my way up to full automotive mechanic and now make 45$ an hour + 4$ night differential for working swing shift. It was honestly the best move I ever made in my career. I used to work at the Chevy dealership making double minimum and the pay cut hurt in the beginning but in the long run it paid out more than what I thought… honestly as mechanic you make a better living working for the local government I.e cities-counties
@@Jeffrey_Gauntt Santa Clara County-California. All of our pay salaries are public, you can look them up on the internet @ Santa Clara county job specs and salaries
You're right on the money bro. I've been a mechanic at shops for at least 6 years. Not only do tools get expensive after a while, but mechanics sure are underappreciated, and you do get blamed for minor things. Not gonna lie... sometimes I did mess up, but getting blamed for stupid little minor things is just bogus. Though I still have a passion for being underneath a car, helping people, and buying tools haha. I am doing something else right now, but lately I've been missing being in a shop again. Though when I am remined of the stuff that I would have to deal with again, I'm like, "do I really want to go back?" I wish it was all rainbows and erasing engine codes. It also depends on who you work for, like manangers. I had good ones, but I also had jerks which made it horrible. I may be better off as a side gig mechanic so I can still have that passion. But thanks for reminding me of the truth. Just started watching you too, good stuff. Peace bro and God bless.
Welcome to the channel man, and yea definitely not what some people make it seem to be. I miss the fun times in the dealer but good times don't pay the bills! Gotta do what's best for you and your family.
Brother, that under appreciation hits the hardest... as an airplane mechanic i say all your points are valid. pilots and FAs get all the glory... nasty chemicals, years of straight night shift, tools... these kills your passion
I learned from family as kid to some day save money. Tired of taking my vehicle for repair the end paid for still had the same problem. Went to community college to learn how to save time and money. It has paid off family and friends pay for my services. Tried al dealership after 3 years was dismissed as new owner. My job help oil change, service some things to help the techs for bigger jobs. Also test drive vehicles to see if worth trade in and customer complaints. How about the noise air tools and radios at various levels and different stations all crap Very reason went back into finish carpentry.
I appreciate ya, My friend owns his own business on a farm. Has his own lift and smart just like you and his neck and back is taking the toll. Hats off to you Nikko.
Dam dude your 100% correct about being a mechanic. I went into diesel mechanics straight after high school went to college for it and been working in the field ever since I first loved it but now slowly hating it because always in pain, more you do more they want you to do. Pay sucks at first and takes a along time to work yourself up. When you get home last thing you want to do is work on a car but someone either in your family has car trouble or a friend. And It just gets old after the years go on, I wish I chose a different career path. Just make sure when you start you need to make some kind of retirement plan because you don’t want to be doing this shit when your a old man, you will be crippled
I almost went back to school to go into Automotive Technology but at the same time I'm glad I didn't. I ended up working in I.T instead. Automotive Techs just don't get paid like they use to these days much as i like tinkering with cars on the side. I found you that you make way more money working in I.T. You can easily make well into the six figures esp If get into Cloud Computing, System Administration, Networks or Cyber Security. I always had a love and passion for computers too. There's a lot of similarities between the two different fields esp analyzing trouble shooting, diagnosing and resolving problems. I resolve trouble tickets.
currently in automotive and if you dont mind me asking how would i go about getting into that field i currently have an associate degree in automotive at the moment
@@mar-uh9ob I would look into the CompTIA certifications esp the A+ certifications and then start applying for Help Desk or IT Support jobs in your area. While you gain IT experience, I would continue to keep training and teaching yourself and gather a few more certifications but this all depends on what your focus area is rather you want to go into Networking, Cyber Security, System Administration, Cloud or DevOps Engineers etc. Ficture our what your interest are start training in those skill sets.
Hey great video, I started out in 1995 graduated from uti , worked in several dealerships and I love your channel . viewers listen up everything in these videos is 100% truth!
@@ramiroramiror2399 I graduated from uti, my tips is to study hard,read everything twice ,ask a lot of questions and be one of a kind and set yourself apart from the rest. Get as much experience as you can . My instructors were great ,many had 25-40 years of experience. Always be on time and do not be absent, perfect attendance shows you’re not some clown. Do good lab work and work on anything you can . Goto a manufacturer graduate program. Take charge and be your best and it will show. I’m still a mechanic but after almost 30 years , my back is bad and I do have joint issues but that’s expected. Don’t get reeled into tool trucks ,when ya start out ,buy what you need only and build from there . Book hours now are about 47$ , but even at that ,in this economy folks don’t buy work like you’d think. So I do side jobs . I started out making 6$ changin oil in 1995 ,so I’ve come a long way .good luck just focus on your work,don’t give up ,do side jobs and be productive and you’ll go places ,good luck .
Right now currently saving up and going back to school (8years as a tech). Everything is getting expensive makes working as a flagging tech difficult I’d rather be focused on a career then a dead end trade. Fortunately I pay little rent so I can get away making major changes on the spot.
Oh man he hit the nail on the head it is not easy to be a mechanic to me the enjoyment part is when you finish knowing that you completed something so complicated and you are the one who did it feels so good😮
I love helping my family and random people with their car problems and maintenance so the scan tool would be so very helpful to me! Along your journey I’ve always been a subscriber I’ve never ever won anything but wow this would be an amazing win!!
I appreciate the truths you have said about the industry. I did it for five years then fifteen on my own on the side. Definitely made more working for myself.
I'm an electrical engineer by day (Mon-Fri) and I love doing auto repair after hours and on weekends. Another thing I noticed about auto repair work, is technical knowledge is a requirement with today's automobiles, and require the use of a computer and oscilloscope. Also, the industry is slowly shifting towards EVs as well, which will have it's own host of tools and knowledge.
I agree with this i was atva toyota delarship by my house as a Lube tech for 3 months then they let me go due to slow days now im working warehouse but wanna get back into automotive as a Lube technician then work my way up. Good point on tools they can get expensive but for the hand tools nothing wrong with harbor freight stuff power tools id look for tools sales at home depot lowes or people selling online
That was on the spot I been working on Cars since I was 14 the whole thing about service advisors getting praise and management being recognized is sooooooo true I used to work at some subaru dealerships here in utah and man must be nice to sit on your ass all day while I'm busting my knuckles
If your heart is not 100% into it. It don’t matter what you do. If you are in the field just for the tools and gadgets, you are definitely in the wrong field. To be a happy mechanic you just gotta know how the shit works and how to diagnose it effectively aaaand doing all that thinking and believing your are doing what you love, you are living a dream. Otherwise prepare to battle until you quit or love it, either or you can’t have both.
My issue with the automotive industry is you actually have to work your ass off to make a dollar. I took a break from it for a while and hopped in another industry and I can honestly say in order to make good money you have to hustle unlike other industries! Not to mention the amount of over head in tools, you might as-well start your own business!
A friend from high school over 20 years ago dropped out of college and became a car mechanic. When we were in our 20s the people I socialized with were broke but he always had a lot of cash on him and bought project cars to work on as a hobby. It gave me doubts about maybe I should have become a mechanic too. However, these days he is still making good money but he is worn out and looks 15 years older than his age. He also gained a lot of weight by eating poorly because the job is so demanding. I figure he will have a burger and fries or similar frequently to get a boost of energy to make it through the day. It is definitely not a job for someone who can’t deal with pain and the beating you take year after year.
@@Harry-rm5is Covered in dirt, grease, and sweat a mechanic is less likely to go to a salad bar for lunch than someone who had a white collar job where they are in an office and the biggest hazard of the day is getting a paper cut. The bad food is absolutely a coping mechanism. High fat and sugar foods with empty calories taste good and release chemicals in the pleasure centers of the brain to give instant relief to the beating a mechanic takes on a daily basis. White collar jobs have their own set of problems with coping. The super high pressure hedge fund managers that are responsible for money in the billions have problems with cocaine use while middle managers under stress abuse alcohol or less intense substances like weed or tobacco.
I had a totally different path, I did all the auto credits in high school. I had other careers for years but I always worked on my cars , sometimes other peoples cars. I got a job in a lube shops and moved up there 8 years doing that. Then took at job at a chain shop and now I do Oil and tires and other jobs A-Z when needed. I get paid well , I didn't do school I learned on the job, I'm not great at welding or pressing parts in and out but I feel like a could be a 3rd year apprentice just by challenging the tests. The management at my work are great, they don't blame be if a car is rusty crusty and things keep breaking. I feel you about working after hours for people, I'm too tired from work already.
Ive been a tech for 13/14 years now and i wouldn't recommend it to anyone who actually enjoys cars as a hobby. It will destroy that when your hobby is leveraged against you day after day. Eventually the last thing you'll want to do when you come home every day will be to work on your own car.
Don’t forget. You rarely get praised for all the jobs you do right, but you’ll definitely hear about the rare instance when a job that goes south! I’ve been a tech at a dealership for 39 years. I’m a 6’4 diesel tech. My feet are numb. I have degenerative disc disease which is the term used for worn out discs. My hamstrings are constantly cramping up and the back of my legs are partially numb due to nerve damage from my back. I’ve had quite a few epidurals. My hands always cramp up. Walking short distances is a chore. I could go on. Anyone entertaining the idea of doing the long term should seriously. reconsider!
Why should you get 'praised' for doing your job? You're getting paid for it. If you screw up, of course you should 'hear' about it, because it is wasted money.
I graduated high school in 1969 and went to work at a Lincoln Mercury dealer as a mechanics helper. With in a few months I noticed that the 50 and 60 year old guys that I worked with, hated the job. I didn't want to end up that way so I went to a local university, sold my tuchus to the Army and got a degree in engineering. I worked as an engineer 40 hours per week and fixed up cars, did home repairs, and built a house in my off time. All trades require you to have tools. I've collected tools all of my life. Now that I'm retired, I still fix up cars for my use and I restore antique garden tractors. Good video. Good Luck, Rick
This day and age you gotta be a bad ass to be a true mechanic and not a parts changer. Mad props to all the mechanics for sure. (Electrician 6 years here)
I came from automotive to the diesel field and I wouldn’t change a thing, I went to the academy my job provides and after 6 months from hire date to now I’m making a ton more than I was told I could make at automotive
@@fl5099 it’s tough work and very much so manual labor, but if you move up the ranks and become a tech it’s worth the money, I don’t know if I’m allowed to say it on here but I recommend Loves travel stops if you have one nearby they have a diesel tech program that is worth going to
@@fl5099It’s extremely hard work. Very heavy lifting especially brake drums. You have easier days though but more money and more options. You can do it. Just go to any diesel shop and tell them you have no experience but eager to learn that’s what I did
I spent a year in a diesel shop thinking it was the greatest place on earth after that year started to realise how crappy it was and have just shifted into equipment where sure I still need all my tools but they supply a lot of it as well
One of my friend is a mobile mechanic he is certified as well. that guy is a genius though no matter what car you give him he knows how to fix it without taking a long haul day he has crazy memory skills even if he unbolts more than 40 bolts nuts screws he remembers where they all go but anyways he started from the bottom and got tired of his boss so once he did the mobile he remembers all the prices his boss shop charges so he would charge his customers less and yeah he makes 3 thousand a day yup a day sometimes even more . I’m super happy for him he bought a house owns 2 company vehicles and 2 regular cars . So it’s not a bad job if you are the business owner . My other friend who actually owns a real mechanic shop paid off both his houses has 15 employees and owns 2 restaurants with another additional 15 employees different llc . You be surprised though these guys not only work hard but they charge way cheaper than most shops and get more business where most shops hate them because supposedly they’re not following the rules of keeping the price balanced in the market in the area . For example all bmw and European German shops told me a quote on changing a starter with labor is 1400 cheapest I found was 1200 the part is 400 separate and they were all going to give me Bosch brand so I called my friend he got the same starter from his whole sale price for 170 took him 30 minutes to change it I asked him how much would he charge labor for other people he said business is business so he would of said he got the part for the retail price but for about a hour of work and him going to the person or bringing the vehicle to his shop he said in total with part included about 700 if he wanted to he could of charged 900 and still got paid for it but he said bmws always has problems so if they go in for a good price at 700 they’re coming back again more than likely to do the spark plugs next fuel injection cleaning along with brakes rotors bleeding the brakes oil change it adds up . But yeah it’s still a good business if you know how to run a business .
I am a successful shop owner working on semi trucks and trailers. It’s totally worth it if you know what you’re doing and you’re not afraid to put in the work.
I’ve been really interested in changing my career path and becoming a mechanic. I’ve been welding since junior year of high school at a fab shop in town. I’m 19 now and been welding and working my way up for 2 years. I’m getting burnt out on it tho. Makes the days longer and the same thing over and over is beating me up. Not to mention the fumes and how hard it is physically. And I have a lot of passion for wrenching on cars and trucks. I’ve got projects of my own that I work on. Even building a motor rn for one. My welding job, in my starting days I was installing lift kits and aftermarket parts before I started fabricating them. I want to become a tech but I just don’t know how to do it without being jobless and in school again. My local Toyota dealership is hiring an apprentice technician tho. Is this something I should look into and Any advice?
Mast auto tech here with about 10 years in, from 22 to 32. I have probably between 50 -100 k in tools. I do enjoy tools though, you are pretty spot on with all your points
Just turned 19 currently going to school and been working at a shop for 9 months. Plan to do this for a for a few years then move up to an auto management/corporate job after getting a decent amount of experience on vehicles and go up from there.
@@manasseexil1950 They’ll start you off at the bottom usually Lube Tech, they’ll have you their 6-12 months then eventually move you up. I was a Lube Tech for around 8 months before I got moved to C Tech. It varies depending on person because they carefully look at how good you are at your job, how fast you can do it, what’s tool you have available, and if you’re the type of person willing to learn. It takes some time and dedication but in the end the work pays off and you’ll get moved up. Put yourself out there and show people you are willing to work and learn.
I'm looking to switch over to either being a mechanic or electrician at 29. Been doing business work the last 5 years and it's just not for me. Used to always love working on cars with my dad and brother. Then being an electrician just seems like something I'd enjoy. Some people don't mind sitting at a desk all day, but I don't think I can do that anymore.
Dude you nailed it i dont work on anything after work anymore. Burned out. Its annoying how the idiots who cant fix anything treat us like garbage. But i dont think i could do anything else either. Double edge sword brother. Cheers.
Just got my first job at a Goodyear and I got my toolbox and a lot of tools for free on Craigslist. I had to clean them up and paint them but way better deal than new.
