Why The U.S. Has A Shortage Of Auto Mechanics
Car dealers and repair shops have been struggling with a shortage of service technicians for years - and the problem has intensified and spread to other jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Research from firms such as JD Power and Ducker Carlisle say low pay, a lack of a clear career path, workplace stress, and declining interest in the trades have all made recruiting talent difficult. It is also hard to retain workers - turnover is as high as 50 percent for some jobs. Dealers are taking action. For example, one Ford and Lincoln dealer in California recruits and has created his own in-house training program. Large dealer groups such as AutoNation, Lithia, and Penske may have resources smaller dealerships and independent shops do not. Ducker Carlisle researchers say independent dealers may need more help from manufacturers to compete.
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Why The U.S. Has A Shortage Of Auto Mechanics
there’s no such thing as a labor shortage, it’s always a pay shortage.
Facts, 100% right
Automobile dealerships are extremely profitable for the owners.
That’s true, but inelastic supply - it takes a while to train up new people - is a complicating factor.
I completely disagree with that statement. We're not talking about Building a house or operating a piece of equipment. In order to be successful in this industry you have to be capable of critical thinking. And critical thinking is not something that can be taught.
There is a competency shortage as well..
Not a single interview from an actual mechanic. Solid journalism.
because they know the truth would come out; this allows them to keep pushing the narrative that people are lazy instead of rich people just keep screwing the working class
But they aren't "industry experts" just dumb grease monkeys. This really highlights one of the big reasons people don't want to be mechanics. You have to be smart, learn fast, have 50k in tools and work your butt off just to survive. Yet, it's thankless, low status, low pay, and dangerous.
SUPER underrated comment. Most of the report seemed to lean around dealerships losing profit because of understaffing
It’s CNBC. They are hot garbage all around. Hahaha
Whats happening to auto techs is the same thing that happened to consumer electronic techs a few years back . Poor pay horrible cheap customers on goIng complex systems increasing cost of operating a bussiness to many local bottom feeders passing them selves of as leaders fining zoning regulating plus the global leaders have declared war on citizens mobility in most parts of the world
It's the old "I'll spend $100 million in studies and interview random people to find out a problem" instead of giving that money to the employees.
😂😂 Exactly 💯👍
True. They could of learned all of this if they actually cared to listen to their employees' complaints instead of writing them all off as "ungrateful" or "entitled".
Not a single mechanic interviewed, just a “marketing researcher”, a “consumer behaviour analyst “ and a dealership owner. The opinion of the actual mechanic is as undervalued as their skill too.
The new way of researching
Right on.
Incredible that you were able to have an entire show about auto technicians without interviewing a single auto technician. Great job SMH
Yournelizm.
Lol they know better
If they interviewed some of the technicians I worked with back in the day, they would have to bleep out half the interview.
Because they don't understand mechanics and never want to hear them. They only want to talk to like minded individuals.
Can't do an interview when the rack is full of waiters lol
As a former mechanic, who is ASE certified, I will tell you why I left the automotive industry: 1. Flag time, aka flat rate (i.e. paid for the job). The burden of the ebb and flow in the amount of cars in the shop should not be foisted upon the mechanics. There were many weeks where I worked for 40 hours, but I was only paid for 20. Flat rate also encourages mechanics to cut corners on repairs, just to save a little bit of time. 2. I had to pay for my own tools. Not only was I getting paid terribly, I had to purchase my own tools. I have at least $30k worth of tools. 3. The pay is not commensurate with the amount of knowledge a good mechanic needs to have. In my opinion, this is an engineer-level amount of knowledge. Electronic systems, hydraulic systems, air conditioning/heating systems, internal combustion theory, transmission systems, electric car theory, etc. The amount of knowledge is huge. 4. The benefits were TERRIBLE. Very little 401k match, vacation, bonuses, crappy insurance, etc. I was a smart mechanic (in my opinion), and I left the business to get a bachelor's and master's degree in science. Now I am a scientist/engineer, making the amount of money I should have made as a mechanic. The industry will continue to hemorrhage good employees until they fix the issues stated above. Edit: thanks guys for all the feedback, glad my post resonated with so many of you!
Don't forget you can get to the showroom and find a handful of guys making double that of a tech and know far less about the cars than a tech. Pay is way out of wack in the car biz. 🤦♂️
100% accurate
Someone pin this comment!
Yes same here minus the getting a masters and all that I became a truck driver and make way more money with way less work and little learning having to be done
Former GM World Class Certified Tech here. You hit the nail on the head. Now, I run my own one man transmission shop. I won't go back to the dealership until a lit of changes are made.
I work as a technician and the secretary is paid better than me. That's like saying the nurse making more $ than the surgeon
More like the janitor being paid more than the surgeon
It would still be the secretary making more than the doctor, though, the problem isn't that the secretary is making more than you, is that you are not being paid the same as him/her, as a minimum.
The white collar/blue collar divide is killing the economy. And at this point all that divide means is is the job clean or dirty. Clean jobs are seen as higher status and so pay more, while dirty jobs are lower status and so pay less. I know people with no job, living with parents in their 20s because they are unwilling to work a dirty job because that is not success.
Lol
That is a common problem. Alot of people in this world wanting to be the middle man, take a piece of the pie without doing the actual job that's getting billed.
I love shattering my back knees and ankles and maintaining a doctorate in electrical engineering for McDonalds money.
1) 100k in tools 2) flat rate pay 3) low benefits 4) lots of hours with no appreciation 5) easier jobs pay more
You got that right on all 5 points
Got that right
Dropped out of auto tech classes when I found this out. I'm a Building Maintenance Technician now, only high-school required and I make $50k/yr, tools and uniform provided, 401k, dental and health, 3 weeks of vacation, weekends off and 6am-2:30pm Mon-Fri. There are better options unfortunately. I do love working on cars but there is no incentive to do it professionally.
I made a offer back in the 90s for just transmission repair. 1/2 the book labor rate or minimum wage for slow weeks(optional). The parts profit was the shops. Come backs was my pay for any problem. Or just go for 1099 employment. I knew how to take a transmission out and take it apart, clean it and put it back in and it would run right on the 1st try. Also had the tools. For RWD that is a 8 hour job. At today's rate that would be $70 and hour. FWD that is 16 hours. 4WD/AWD that is 20 hours. I went to a warehouse instead and worked there instead. Driving a fork lift. For more than what the shop offered. I moved back to Michigan from CA. One of my friends had a heart attack and I did his labor 5 hours a day and Saturday. Worked in another warehouse afternoons after that during week days. Until he got well enough. No pay. He had child support to pay off.
@@alexr62that’s why I went aircraft maintenance tech, pays higher, no flat rate BS, downside? Spent 4yr in the Air Force to gain experience and get my certificate because I can’t afford to go to school 😂
Ahh yes. Interview the people who create the issue instead of technicians who have an ACTUAL perspective.
This comment is bussin
That’s what I was thinking the whole time watching the video
I find they always do this so they can broadcast a self serving message. Rather than pay people what they are worth, they will talk in circles avoiding the obvious.
@Mike Romano Amen brother I was saying that the whole time.
The dude talking about flat rate BUT they potentially can make a lot of money 🥴 yeah "potentially". Failure to mention the idiosyncrasies like cherry picking the jobs they dispatch technicians. Service writers pushing jobs that benefit them in commissions but not the tech, or the fact that the higher up the pay scale you climb, the less gravy work you get. As dealerships would rather give the job to the guy under you who will do it just the same, but he makes 3-4 dollars less an hour. 🤷♂️ the industry has its short comings, but can also be rewarding if you plan accordingly.
15 years ago i was a auto tech, every year i saw the owner open a new dealership. After 6 years of working for the guy i asked for ONE raise and managers reply was 'its not in the budget' the next day i put in my resignation and when i was asked why my reply was 'its in the budget for the owner to keep opening more and more dealerships but there no room for a $1 dollar raise'. They tried there best to keep me but i left and it was the best thing i did. I'll never go back to dealerships or this trade, the owners are beyond greedy.
That was Bad
Did it for 5 years. I loved wrenching but I'm telling you, this is one of the trades that needs to step up how they treat people or there's going to continue to be a shortage.
Same her man, can’t be motivated when you’re in a room full of assholes, almost feels like I was being taken advantage of.
It's all the trades the companies keep the pay as low as possible for the blue collar guys they don't value them, they treat them like crap and then wonder why no one wants to go into the trades. People actually communicate withe each other....
@@mattm9619 I feel like people who have never done anything for themselves don't fully comprehend what goes into the trades. They think they understand what's happening and so it must be easy, like flipping burgers or something.
When I started in this industry in the 70's, mechanics made 50% commission. If the shop charged $30/hr, I made $15/hr. Now shops charge $160 to $180/hr, and top pay is approximately $35/hr. So, after 45 years learning to deal with all of the new systems that come out nearly yearly and many tens of thousands of my own dollars buying tools (every tech buys his own tools). My pay rate has dropped from 50% to around 15%. THAT, gentlemen, is why you have a technician shortage!
Very well said
So true.
Been there, done that. We need to unionize. ASE was created to stop organization by mechanics.
Keep voting Republican. The billionaire CEO's will be fair to you. You can't trust government. It will all trickle down someday. This is all because unions lost their power. Biden is trying to help.
It's also why the average of cars is 12.2 years. Regular people have to work 10 hours to pay one hour of shop time. Can't have a big payment and the warranty run out just before things start breaking with 2-3 years still to make payments.....
"We want to pay slave wages and can't find anybody" - Employers
The conclusion of this 13 minute CNBC video is “We want to hire *engineers* to fix these cars but pay *mechanic wages* ” . That is fantasy. Auto manufacturers will have to reduce the cost of their vehicles to make them disposable, or roll back designs 20 years to make them less complex.
Yep takes about an hour just to replace a headlight bulb after removing the whole front end off a vehicle.
Yep. Honda wanted me to be mechanic and porter for 13 an hr
?? Almost all the dealer techs I've worked with made over $100,000yr easy don't get me wrong it can be stressful
@Jerry Boden pay for school? I got paid to go to school 😂 and that's funny 80k is insane to be a tech
The fact that the journalists working on this story did not interview even one auto mechanic, tells volumes. The fact of the matter is that auto mechanics are treated like garbage and severely underpaid by dealerships and auto repair shops. The culture is so broken. Imagine, journalists doing a story about auto mechanic shortage in the economy, and not even include at least one interview with an experienced auto mechanic.
Journalism 101: let’s make a video on why there’s a mechanic shortage but let’s not interview mechanics
There is NO shortage. Employers WON'T PAY.
And customers are fed up with rushed, expensive, and botched repairs cuz of some metrics obsessed manager wants to look good to supervisors.
@JoseLopez-hard to find good mechanics took us years to finally find an honest good shop tk4tq
Same old story, every single time. Greed kills.
If they were smart, mechanics would join together and open Co-Ops. Give yourself a pay-raise, and offer clients a lower cost at the same time.
Just like trucking - the industry always claims "shortage of workers" when the real problem is low pay and shortage of respect.
Companies in the U.S. are shameless.
@Jerry Boden You have no clue. There was a time when truckers used to make ten of thousands a week, before eld's and before these ratchet brokers came out of nowhere and started taking a big piece of the pie, now drivers take all the risk with little in return.
i do apartment maintenance/hvac work and its the same thing.....low pay and lousy benefits and the " we will just replace you" attitude....
Well,the push now for the younger generation is easy quick fast money or a college degree sitting behind a desk doing nothing..absolutely no physical labor.
The media says theres apparently a shortage of everything , yet i have no problem finding someone to fix my car , more made up stuff from the media
Left the auto industry in 1977 to join the IUOE Local 12 apprenticeship program as a heavy equipment repairman ,never looked back
If your blue collar the union is the only one looking out for you.
I left the automotive tech industry for construction and have never been happier. I’m able to take care of my own vehicle. Every year the hours for warranty work went down. People don’t want to fix their cars around Christmas so being flat rate meant I was working for free. You could be at work for 50+ hours but only get paid for 25.
I’ve been turning wrenches for 25 years. You could’ve seen this coming from a mile away. Owners hiring business consultants that tell them the technicians need to have 100% productivity, while simultaneously keeping pay stagnant. You used to have techs helping each other, now they’re all competition. If you want to attract technicians, you got to pay more. How can you expect a mechanic to buy tens of thousands in tools, while barely making more than a fast food worker.
Hello how are you doing.
Crazy when I see my manager from Burger King more than I do as a technician meanwhile she been there for only 2 years and really does nothing all day except make sandwiches and bag food meanwhile I turn wrenches all day everyday for 10-11 hours a day getting in the most random position that are in no way good for the body and they want me to stay there and try to make it seem like the best thing in the world. 😐
It's crazy, isn't it? and yet they act like the pay vs knowledge required to diagnose and repair cars is acceptable and turn a blind eye to it all... For instance. This video. Plenty of technicians speaking up about the problem in the comments... but yet we got this manager in charge that seems to think he can hire anybody to be a service advisor and pay them better than the technicians that spent years honing their skill.
@@xae7816I know someone that works in a horse stable that makes more money than the average technician just mucking stalls and doing regular around the barn chores
less know in cali mac dees have to pay premium now
I've been a mechanic for 20+ years and I agree with All the this comments . Would've like to see the tech's point of view on this problem instead we get a couple of analysts that have never touched a wrench in their life .
They never want to show the tech's point of view, because then we'll get honest answers. It's always the "analysts" that want to lie and tell you what to think.
I think this is true in other industries, maybe all of them! Lots of people are talking ABOUT technicians, nobody wants to talk TO THEM! I've been noticing this in trade publications for decades. Wages are declining, we call it "Stagnation" !!! Frankly despite all the blab about STEM and RESHORING, we just have to admit that America (in general) hates technical workers, mechanics, laborers, and is very determined to not have staff or to pay them if you do! I tell students (speaking of their potential employers and how they see you) "We used to have slaves, we intend to have robots, but for now we have YOU".
literally any video made BY a auto tech says the same thing, flat rate made them leave, dogshit service managers made them leave, there’s tons of kids that love cars and community colleges run full classes for automotive because they do, those kids just make way more in construction, pipe work, aviation tech
That’s exactly the mindset of employers that got them into this problem. They want smart, educated people with work ethic and integrity, but treat an pay them like an unskilled day laborer. 😂
You are absolutely correct! I left the auto tech industry in 2006. Why? Because I for tired of getting paid pennies once I calculated how much time I spent at the shop, and how much "free and almost free" stuff I had to do to just get a measly paycheck. Meanwhile I was working my butt off to get those pennies. Never again!
I worked at a dealer, and it was the lowest paying job I've ever had. Flag hours are a scam
I work at an independent shop in illinois, I interviewed for 4 shops after leaving my last one. They all offered me the job. All of them offered me flat rate. The dealers were offering like half of what I got offered at independent shops.
And the dealerships charge the customer the most
They sure talk about the techs a lot without having a tech actually weigh in on this issue
Exactly
Yeah interview the boots on the grounds!! Idiots
👏
Why would they do that, than they would get the real answer lol.
There is never a shortage of workers, in this case mechanics. There is a shortage of salary. Pay people what they are worth, and you will always have a full staff.
@The Shah of Iran Raise pilot pay to $400k, $500k, or whatever it takes and the airline will not have a problem in recruitment and retention. It is how competition works. Assuming there is actually an employee shortage, that is even more reason to pay well so your company is not hurting for talent.
@@gusasiu I agree with you. As a automotive tech and welder, I could fill a shop with A-level talent in both fields, just the owner would have to come off their wallet to get it. I also believe the term “competitive pay” is misleading. That’s a fancy way of saying we’re doing the same thing as everybody else and when they get the same results as everybody else, they wonder why.
Easy
Thank you. This was said so well. It’s not that hard bro just pay them a higher wage
Exactly
Mean while, we have the sales team making 200k - 1 mil a year, bragging about how hard they worked.
"Cars haven't changed much in a long time"... Did she really say that?? People with answers who do not even vaguely comprehend the question! This is the problem. But boy don't they speak so elegantly!
I thought the same thing , just more interviews and talking heads that have 0 clue what’s it’s like working as a tech
I can answer that question easily, its because employers are expecting highly skilled and knowledgable people to accept being paid dirt cheap wages compared to the value they provide. That statement goes for just about every other industry right now as well.
Shhhhh, you're too smart. Don't let them know. Thanks.
No one speaks up is a problem as well
The dealership will Milk them too by saying "be patient with us, give 2yrs changing oil, then 2yrs as an assistant then finally get sent out to get factory training. Freshly Graduted Tech: Know what, maybe I'll just drive trucks or become a cdl
LOL 80K TO 100K! CHECK THE MEDIAN , THE AVERAGE AND ITS SAY 39-58K A YEAR. 100K IS SO RARE
And as the complexity of new cars goes up, the pay is expected to go up with it
Pay a living wage. Don't ask for 20 years experience and only want's to pay them $15 an hour.
And I'll only paid you if we have work ... totally bull
I saw a job ad for Mobile Mechanic. Read futher and it stated: Must have own tools. Must have own truck and phone. Who are they kidding? If I had all that I would just go independent without a middleman or broker.
I am a computer programmer, I fix my own cars usually because it's just insane how much mechanic shops charge. I bought a 2014 Mercedes e350 brand new, my wife drives a 2016 Porsche Cayenne, and I have since replaced the spark plugs/ ignition coils, brakes, and changed the oil/ filters on both those cars. They wanted $500 per service, when the parts only cost $100 online. When the start/stop system started making the car sputter at low rpm, I replaced the ignition coils/spark plugs for $300 in parts for 4 hours when the dealership wanted $2k! The parts usually costs only 15% of what the dealership quote me here in Washington. It's just slightly more complicated than doing home repairs/renovations in my opinion.
@@designexplainedllc346 But shops also have lots of overhead. That's why they charge so much.
@@designexplainedllc346 Worst part about that is there are some things that you cant get around needing a Dealer only diagnostic tool or some nonsense like that. Luckily my Merc was made in the 80's and I don't have that issue.
There's no such thing as an auto tech shortage. Just like there is no such thing as a truck driver shortage. There is a pay shortage, plain and simple.
Techs are being paid more than fast food workers, but have to know more and provide their own tools. It's pretty clear pay people well they will fight tooth and nail for these jobs but if not then why would you want all the stress to make a few bucks more than min wage
As a young, potential technician who grew up seeing family reach retirement age - their retirement was cut short by the fact that a)they never made enough money nor had good benefits in the trades and b) they were crippled by the work they did. I sold all my tools and decided to pursue a different route.
Treat technicians as white collar jobs. Pay them a salary, give them benefits, make sure their work environment is optimal. It’s not that difficult. A technician should make more than a fast food worker.
ABSOLUTELY
Yep, I wouldnt be afraid to get my truck serviced at a dealership if I knew the techs were actual techs who had skill and got paid well for that skill. When a guy just starting out and changing oil and brakes is only $10 or $15 an hour under the guy who is a total whizz at figuring out the complex communication, emissions, and fuel control system problems in modern cars, there is a problem. At the same time, the industry wants the vehicles serviced poorly. Once the complex systems act up then they want the owner frustrated into another car.
This right here, no way in hell should I as a tech (for Monro) have to carry serious liability while not even 15 ft away the bobevans is hiring for $15 (I make less than that)
A technician should make nearly as much as a doctor
Way back in the late 70’s all I heard was that there was a shortage of aviation mechanics. I saved up and spent the money on the 2 years of mandatory schooling and got a job as an aircraft mechanic. What I found out was that there wasn’t a shortage of mechanics, there was a shortage of mechanics that would work for low wages, poor benefits, and 24/7 mandatory shift work.
SO TRUE, I am an A&P, IA. I can't afford to work on aircraft full time, with the personal liability attached, and risk of night shift induced errors and omissions.
Same for X-ray technicians & respiratory therapy
@@everythingisfine9988 at least with Radiologic Technologists we have a way out...i.e. CT, MRI, Interventional, etc.
@@backcountrynomad5109 I've noticed. I wish the government's data from occupational outlook was more accurate. It's such a gamble choosing what career to get into right out of high school. ~Is your profession in high demand or not? How in the hell is an 18-year-old supposed to know this?
@@everythingisfine9988 Healthcare professionals are always in demand. Many RN's, surgical techs, CT techs, xray techs have left the hospital and are working as travel employees making 3-4x more then theu did at the hospital.
'Deep generational shift'? Long days, work every weekend, low pay, huge tool bills, unrealistic flat rate times, unpaid diagnostics, little to no vacation, no sick leave, 30 minute lunch break, and very little, if any, respect for the profession. Sound too good to be true? Don't worry, it'll wreak havoc on your body too. If you're lucky you'll get to experience having some of those hard earned tools stolen as well. 10 years, $30,000, tech school tuition, and a huge pile of certs was enough punishment for me. Glad there's a shortage. The entire industry needs an overhaul. It's past time for technicians to get PAID.
I applied at a tire shop, pay was like $11an hr,,work was 11hr days,, I think 6days a week,, I just laughed at them and walked back out too my car,,
Thirty years of being a mechanic here. Being a "technician" at a dealer is a losing game, especially since the manufacturers create the labor times the flat rate system is based upon. They never take into account that metal corrodes. The engineers and designers who create these vehicles, and who make two or three times the people who have to fix those vehicles, have no clue what it's like to fix their f*#$ups. If a "technician" gets stuck doing warranty work at a dealer... May as well go and apply for welfare benefits. Fleets and independent shops (if you can find a good one) are where it's at. Want to solve the "technician" problem? Pull some of those engineers away from their desks and make them work on their creations in the repair bay for a year. The flat rate system has to go as well. Customers don't help much either. Mechanics are automatically thought of as crooks by those customers who expect Wal-Mart prices for decades of knowledge and experience.
A mechanic could do worse than applying at The Car Wizard's (David Long) indie shop in Kansas if they have mad skills. He appreciates his customers and employees. And yes, the engineers need to have to work on those vehicles they design. That GM vehicle where part of the frame had to be removed to change a spark plug is insane. Same goes for a few of the Ford vehicles.
I agree 100% with your proposal. Design engineers should have to pull wrenches, work grease guns, thread bolts into tight, hot spaces, etc. They can't teach that stuff in school. MSME, Georgia Tech, 1990
it took you 30 years to become cynical?
@@billmoyer3254 I was born cynical. I just show more of it the older I get :)
@@robw9435 There should be cross training in both directions and I understand why a lot of vehicles are made the way they are (cost, assembly line stuff etc.) but, as I'm sure you're well aware, some things just leave me scratching my head. Some things make ya wonder if the engineering departments ever talk to one another.
as a full time mechanic and independent shop owner, I can confidently say that its not the shortage of techs, its the shortage of pay. This job requires constant training, car companies are constantly changing technology in vehicles, on top of the fact that each job has to be done with care, precision and no room for error, as well as spending tens of thousands on tools, and performing a job that takes a toll on the body. all for a median salary of 45k. dealerships and manufacturers struggle to make profit and their way around it is to take advantage of the techs.
Facts
100%. I'm so glad that so many in these comments see what's going on.
45k isn't worth it for such a highly skilled job.
engineers, hate mechanics. I agree with u.
Not to mention and I found it out first hand, if you want to do anything other than be a lube or tire tech you're required to get brand specific training which costs a minimum of six figures. I tried to go through the ford asset program and found out that even if I could have put every cent I earned into paying off the school loan I would have been paying it off for the next 15 years, that and the fact that pay scale was conditional to my scores during training and I calculated how long it would take assuming I got perfect scores through the whole course, by my math that means even if I could take up to half of each paycheck I would have been a debt slave for the next 30+ years, still be tens of years away from retirement, only just be able to afford to do anything for myself let alone a family and I would be in my 50s at a minimum
How about you pay technicians more? They're charging $150 to $200 an hour for labor and only paying the technicians $25 to $30 an hour.
I've been hearing about the "tech shortage" ever since I got into the business in the mid 90s. Common sense says if there's a shortage, pay should go up but they've been avoiding that solution. They would rather run the business into the ground and complain that "no one wants to work" than pay what it's worth.
People don't like mechanics. Treat them like trash. Closed my shop after 3 years. The last straw was we saved a family friend $2000 over a dealership repair. She left us a 3 star review on our Google page because it took 3 days longer than expected. The dealer sent 1 small incorrect part that had to be re ordered. That wasn't our fault!
Is that a prime reason to close your shop? Sh1tty people are everywhere, try being a nurse or (in my case) a college professor. If someone gets an F for the course, it is always MY fault and the internet is a good place for them to vent. I am still in the profession because I like to work with people who DO appreciate me. And there are plenty of good customers too.
Shallow people dont care about your difficuties. They only care about themselves.
Finding a good mechanic is like a miracle. I think I found one. Balance of Cost and Guarantee. Repairs done right the first time. Lets Go Brandon
Same here. Pulled an all nighter to put a transmission in so they could have their car for the weekend then they claimed they forgot their checkbook. I told them to pay when they got back from vacation and never heard from them again. I used to go out of my way to help everyone I could but after that I sold almost all of my tools on eBay and haven’t worked on anyone’s car since then.
You got to have thick skin, that's for sure. Communication is also very, very, important.
Way to go on making a story about the shortage of auto technicians and service providers where not one auto technician or mechanic or advisor is interviewed.
I was thinking the same thing.
They don’t want to hear the truth.
We would tell no one to do this it's not a good job
Certainly you didn’t expect a highly-compensated knowledge worker to personally interact with a mere…peasant….did you? Heavens forfend!
Dammmnn u are so right, I’m auto technician I might be end switching my job.
Why not interview a mechanic rather than this corporate snobs?
$100K is not enough for that job!
The fact you have to buy your own tools in a job that on the low end is making what someone at Walmart makes is actually insane to me
After reading through the comments obvious patterns start to emerge. Mechanics are seen as janitors while doing an engineers job. Good o'l American capitalism. 👍
@@Halcon_Sierreno blame capitalism yeah ok bud 😂😂
When I got a job at a shop (I’m not in the industry anymore for right now), I left a job at Walmart overnight stocking for $14.50/hr and got paid $10.50 an hour as a lube tech. That was a probationary period, not sure how much I made after bc I left either right before the raise or right after, but I’d guess I probably would have been raised to $12/12.50.
BINGO!
@@jtrooper5771 Shop owners cut salaries to increase profits. The burden is passed on to the worker. It's a brand of capitalism.
20 years experience here, and I can say there is a shortage of mechanics willing to work for free. My dealership charges $200+ an hour and I don't even make 25% of it. I'm changing career and becoming a welder.
Took you 20 years to find out
I'm working in a 3 bay gas station and making 30% of the labor rate and we have different tiers depending on age of car or if it's diag work. Need a little steadier work flow but I do have a decent guarantee. The least I make for a billed hour is 42.18 the most 65.09. I mostly need to train my boss to actually use the correct labor rate from the jump. It's coming along but he forgets sometimes.
last time I paid for mechanic shop, was charged. $200+ to put on new heater hose and bleed the system. took them 36 mins from start to finish. 🤡 never again. never again I'll buy a Subaru too
100% agree. They treat us like tools and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Have fun selling cars with no service dept.
Welder, that's just as bad or worse. Welders are in and out of work as the economy booms and goes into recessions. seen it in the 80's. Plumber--- you will be paid more and it doesn't dip with the economy. Its harder though.
Yep. In high school, I was on track to become a mechanic. Saw how hard the work was, which I actually enjoyed, then saw the pay structure and I noped right out.
It's a terrible job in the most toxic work environment.
I was a tech for 10 years. When I started, dealership labor rates in my area were around $110, by the time I left they hovered around $180 while tech pay was stagnant. I actually loved being a tech but the pay was no longer worth it.
Shhhhh, don't let them know.
The dealerships are billing their customers 5x to 10x what they actually pay their mechanics to do all the work.. Healthcare industry is even worse.. There they bill everything at 50x to 100x what the labor costs. Now they cry woeist me, "can't get mechanics". "Can't get nurses". (Despite laying off nurses in droves over the unconstitutional mandates. 10s of thousands in New York alone)... everybody who works in this industries for these evil abusive companies needs to put their foot down and PERMANENTLY REFUSE to work for them. Do so until the do nothing leeches are forced to shut down. Go off on your own and make 5x the money.
@@billbyrd1361 the reverse of this,is without a service department,there 's no franchise,in other words they have to close the doors,if you sell a new car truck,it has to be serviced there or within 50 miles of the purchase,sooner or later,dealership owners will have to go back to 50% commission,i worked commission all my career,i also found out,that you have to specialize,i did two,a/c and transmission rebuilding,as i wanted top pay
@@strattuner No need for the rip off sales commission either. Just order your vehicle online exactly how you want it and have it delivered without all the games. The American people would be far better off without the ripoff hospitals and car dealerships. And the best healthcare plan is a plane ticket to another country. Let the whole corrupt house of cards collapse under its own weight.. As far as repairs and service goes there are more then enough honest small business owners to handle the demand..
@@billbyrd1361 "...Go off on your own and make 5x the money." I'm just saying it worked for me. So far 5x is an exaggeration compared to top techs at new-car dealerships and top indies, but it is better from purely from an income standpoint. A central significant point, that affects my customers, is that I take the time I want to, to take care of the vehicle the way I want to, to take care of my customer the way I want to. I have no boss to pressure me into cutting corners.
I'm an ex mechanic and I could type up a whole book on why... So I'll just keep it short. These dealershits and repair shops demand skilled techs then underpay and abuse them. For the amount of skills you need to require, the stress, wear and tear physically and mentally, and constant learning required as technology changes.... It just isn't worth it. The job gets more demanding by the year and they pay you garbage money.
Also one major factor is the physical aspect of the job. After so many years your hurting. Body aches. Racking vehicles , bending over, twisting. And more. Then when it’s 105 degrees outside and the shop inside is 105 also. Your sweating so bad. All you have is a fan. Same with winter time. Then you go into parts or the service department and it’s nice and cool with air conditioning. The advisors are clean and make twice what you do sitting around complaining it’s to hot out. Unless your an Auto tech for even a month you will never understand what we all go through.
LOL dealershits I love that one!!! gonna use it from now on.
where did you move onto afterward? i want to be involved in the auto industry but not by being a tech
Hello Howard you doing. Can we be friends
@@Aaron-or6ovhello how are you doing. Can we be friends
Dealership guy (read stealership) says 80-100k is "pretty darn good money". Sure, for 1998. Truckers and plane pilots can make more, also in demand.
He was lying because they showed the most you could realistically expect to make is 75,000
Not only in the US. Years of under payment,people looking down on the mechanic's job,little recognition for their job and efforts to do a good job while providing for their family. But why is is that everybody is interviewed BUT a actual mechanic??? Maybe because the mechanics can tell you precisely WHY this job suffers from lack of people willing to do this anymore . I'm a mechanic for 33 years now and i strongly advised my son NOT to make my mistake.
My dad was an old school mechanic but I was discouraged from entering the industry. Ended up working on medical equipment where the pay is better and the work is actually appreciated.
Your dad is a smart man and so are you for listening
Your dad truly loved you.
@@454bard ...what?? lol bpppth. fkin weirdo.
Yup, mine as well. Taught me a lot of what he knew but he looked out for me and im about to be a nurse practicioner. No complaints and grateful for his wisdom
My old man was an auto mechanic when I was a kid he changed careers thankfully. Now he does it on the side and knows how to work on our cars. I, on the other hand, am in HVAC
You gotta love the fact they didn’t interview a actual Technician. I was a dealership tech for 25yrs. The job got worse every year I got out in 2015 & wish I did earlier.
I was thinking of getting into the industry but now you guys are convincing me
I was a dealer tech fof 17 years did the flat rate thing, sometimes you made good money but the majority of the time you had to kick, scratch and bite to get any extra time especially on warranty repairs. You stories on the repairs done (always had the 3 C's, concern,cause, correction) were constantly scrutinized by service management, you didn't dot this i, cross that t, punch time isn't correct or you didn't punch off or on properly for the additional repairs needed. We can't pay for that or my fav was your punch time wasn't long enough so you'll be paid for your straight time, especially with warranty repairs. Penalized for beating the posted labor time. Especially when had a warranty clerk who didn't know her ass from a hole in the ground. Parts inventories were severely reduced, you couldn't parts needed to finish the job in a timely matter. E.G. a 2 hour job took 3 days because you had to wait for parts, before you know it you have 4 or 5 jobs delayed because of parts. Then the service writers won't give you anymore jobs because of those delays. You might be standing around for awhile and your lift was tied up if needed you could put a jack under it a push it out, then do the same and push it back in when the parts needed finally showed up.. Then you called into the service manager's office and he or she tells you your not flagging enough hours and have to step up, when you tell them its because of the parts situation it falls on deaf ears. It there's a warranty description you have to "do battle" with both your service manager and the Factory service rep for the particular repair and why the additional time was needed. Your were out there by yourself and get 0 support from management. Then you get your cut throat techs who would stab in the back to steal a job from you and management doesn't care. Then they hire "apprentices" to train under the Vets which in turn your either training your replacement or they get all the good paying jobs and the Vets are stuck with the crap jobs that don't pay ,waste more time then anything. You get the weak service writers who are scared of their shadows complain that were not working hard enough because they are making enough money and refuse to sell work or are afraid too. Sorry don't mean to vent, but it can go on forever.
Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends
@@michaelmurphy6869hello how are you doing
THEY own the mainstream media Did you see any females being interviewed?
When the service department charges upward of $200 an hour and the technician get $25 an hour its a giant problem🤷♂️
I am a mechanic for 23 years and getting out was the best thing I ever did . The problem is flat rate pay they manipulate your time and you work for free way to much untill they pay hourly for showing up they will continue to have this shortage and it will get worse .
soooo true
This video BARELY touched on the fact the fact that techs need to purchase thier own tools and that they are not getting any cheaper. There are also new tools they constantly need to purchase for newer model cars. As a result, some techs are constantly in debt with the larger name tool trucks if they don't shop smart.
Agreed. The other factor with owning tools is storage. I can't buy some tools if I have no place to keep them safe and stored properly.
This is a huge factor, especially with modern cars that require increasingly more expensive diagnostics equipment to communicate with all the computers. A scan tool can cost thousands of dollars, and you will likely need multiple ones depending on car make, subsystem, age, etc.
@@iguanamoat Scan tools should be bought by the shop and if you are an independent shop you should probably have the factory tool for your top three brands you service. The shop should also have a subscription to factory websites for the same. Sure you can program a lot of brands with a J2534 box but you also increase the chance you brick that new module by accident.
I am surprised to learn that the dealer shops do not even provide the tools. Literally, the dealers just provide a workspace, technicians are making $200/h, but pay 90% to “rent” the workspace, and only keep 10% themselves???
I work on the front side of the dealer. In a small city, our dealership sells less than 100 vehicles a month. Our GM made in 2021 $450k in one year. How did I find out? I found his W2 while detailing his car 😂
I’ve been a mechanic for over 40 years, and I haven’t seen any lifelong mechanics that didn’t have bad back and bad knees. It’s a hard job it requires a lot of knowledge and a lot of money spent on tools and training. The industry just does not pay people enough. I have been lucky enough to make some good financial decisions and I retired at 51 with broken body.
With a broken body? How are feeling in general day to day?
@@gigiesparza396 He probably feels like crap, physically. Bad knees, back, shoulders, etc. It’s heavy work in weird angles, in hot/cold weather…. I’ve never done it but I worked as a service advisor for a few weeks and I’m so happy I didn’t take their offer to become a quick lane guy. Hell no I didn’t wanna do oil changes and other quick jobs with hopes of turning into one of the grumpy ass miserable mechanics like the old guys at that shop.
Damn - a mechanic since age 11. Incredible
@@WhiteCheddar. haha. Close but not since 11. However just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I’m not still a mechanic, I just don’t work a full time job. Now it’s just a hobby 👍🏼 But I did start working in a garage at age 14and now at 57 yes over 40 years. I love it , always have and always will. I bet you I dreamed about being a mechanic before I was 11.
@@gigiesparza396 I have my good and bad days. Try to focus my personal health. I know part of it just comes with age but I also know a big part of it comes from the job, the chemicals, the weather in the Northeast. But I wouldn’t change much, probably would’ve learned how to deal with stress better. Stress is a real killer!
No Career Path, You Work Long Hours, No Benefits, No Health Insurance, No Union, No 401K and they Wonder WHy Young People are Not Going Into the Trades? I see Why Young People Are Not going Into the Trades..
No mechanic wants to do 99% of the work for 5% cut of the billed amount.
As a 40+ year master auto technician and consultant, I know that this problem can easily be solved by paying auto technicians what they're worth. For what you need to know (electrical, computer, programming, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic), and what you need to have ($10k- $30K+ in tools - easily!), they don't get paid squat. Take their avg pay of $30-$50 hr. for having all of these skills and tools, and compare to, lets say a plumber, who can make $100+hr, with a fraction of tool costs, and a fraction of the required knowledge required for their field, in comparison to an auto tech. THAT'S a problem folks!!
I’m saving this comment you nailed it on the head . Very well put .
Problem is ain’t no one ever paying 30-50 and hour. I left the industry. Had a AA EVERY ASE besides L1 and did everything. Couldn’t get more than 16$ our trans guy was only making 22$!!!!!
Exactly name another carrier that requires you buy $50k in tools lol
@@ericrotermund1004 I stated $10k-$30K that a professional auto technician will spend on their personal tools. So I don't understand your $50K in tools question.???
@@krga94cAs a plumber myself, you’re mistaken if you think a master or journeyman plumbers spend less than $10K on tools. A pro press gun alone can run you $2-3K. Never mind actual snakes, hydro jetters, cameras, locators, liners, etc. I know you didn’t mean malice but it’s just a bit arrogant to put other trades down to lift auto mechanics up as if plumbers aren’t mechanics in their own right with extensive schooling as well to learn about DWV, Gas, welding, and that’s not including HVAC, Pipefitting, steam fitters, etc. I’d also argue that Plumbing as a whole is a lot more important to society than being an auto mechanic so we rightfully get paid more.
I was paid $15 an hour at a Ford dealership (as a Master Automotive Technician) while they charge $100 an hour to the customer. See the problem?
bro where are you working 😭
Used to charge people $200 an hr for IT. So I could make $20 hr. There is such a dispensary between the money invested in businesses vs individuals it's amazing that the average person can get anything done.
And we are the ones that supply the tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools
I worked as a certified mechanic for Nissan 3 years and Toyota 4 years and I was getting payed same as you. Thank GOD I walked out from this demonic carrier. They always were overworking technicians, always ""accidently"" underpaying us, always yelled at for not upselling blinker fluids for $500 or coolant flush on a car that has less than 10,000 miles.
WTF I worked at a Mercedes-Benz dealership their master tech made double that!
After 16 years in the field i left. Bad managers, worse owners. No raises, no incentives and yet the labor door rate for the customer continues to grow but the techs see none of that. Even worse is the joke that is warranty pay.
After seven years as an auto technician, I switched over to being an HVAC tech. Best career change Ive ever done.
As mechanic, I put up with long hours, overtime, less pay, 6 days a week, 11 hours a day, skip lunch, kept my mouth shut even when manager stole money daily, even knowing my checks is always $300 short, I always prayed the lord to get me out of that situation. One day an evil customer just started ratting on me, yelling shouting very violent wouldn’t stop for long time saying he was ripped off when I had no idea.for no reason it’s about,manager didn’t do anything at all. So I walked out w my tools left the job. I felt better I did that. You see lord has a way
You really shouldve reported wage theft
Gettin ready to load my box on a trailer and get out myself new career otw can’t wait
@@xae7816 Same bro. I got panic attacks due to the stress at the job so i quit and now i look out for my health first. NGL it could be hard to transition to a new type of career, already in the journey to find something else, good luck and let the wage gods look after you!
@@DemonOfCybertronsame bro
I feel ya guys been with gm since 2008 back then mostly doing maintenance/lube. I’m a master tech almost world class. I have been keeping my out eye for other options I’m still young 36. Looking for a city/government job. Hang on there fellas we are some resilient tough dudes.
With 38 years in the automotive trade, 29 years are with dealers I would never consider going back into that ever again. Dealer managers and owners are all about greed, the flat rate system only creates conflict and hate, in fact I am surprised there isn't a workplace shooting every week. My advice to the younger generation, there are much better ways to make a living.
Right on bro... Mickey Ds, bar back, Petco employee, all way preferable to shiester-ass mechanic.
Amen, Brother.
all this tells me(which I already knew) is that they treat their workers like crap specially with that turn over rate
I worked for Chrysler for 17 Years as a master tech and the Owner actually told the technicians at one meeting that he is in THE CAR SELLING BUSINESS. not repair business and wish we were all gone.....One year later I opened my own shop and that was 20 years ago.
@@jetblair how did you start your own business? How’s it going now?
based on this section, thank god people are learning, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF WORKERS, there is a shortage of character and decency in those greedy companies.
I’m 17 years old and I’m currently in school to get a diploma in automotive. Reading these comments has me thinking what should I do when I graduate. My plan was to work in a dealership but apparently that’s a bad idea, plan B is to join the Coast Guard. So I think I gotta stick to plan B. Thank you all for leaving your comments it saved me time, stress & money.
Run away from automotive repair as far and as fast as you can kid, diesel, heavy equipment, manufacturing mechanic work can be a good gig but you're better off doing something entirely different. It's not worth destroying your body for $40K/year
As a Ford technician. I’d say the main reason I second guess my career is due to poor pay from flat rate times and warranty pay. Working as an auto tech is a very daunting and we should be paid accordingly.
TBH I didn't know until seeing this video that mechanics were paid that way. I figured they were just hourly whether the shop had customers or not.
Open your own shop. All you need is a two-bay shop and you'll be overrun with work in six months.
@@mrcead You must of bumped your head. Do you understand that shops are charging $120 per hour for labor and holding cars hostage for almost a week. Imagine how much money you could make in a three bay shop doing "fast lane" repairs in three days? There is a guy on KZhead that showed exactly how easy it was for him to open his shop with only five years experience as a mechanic doing just that. He already had many of the tools and equipment he needed. What he didn't have, he purchased as he went. My advice to all is to stop working hard to make someone else rich and start working harder to make yourself rich. Because at the end of the day, their is not enough meat on the bone to make the company that you work for rich as well as yourself.
As a former diesel mechanic, I got hurt during the job and I was a month on leave without any pay. That being, being a mechanic is a dangerous job believe it or not. We make contact with auto fluids that is detrimental to our skin, we risk picking up heavy objects repetitively, we work in extreme hot conditions, we’re constantly breathing in toxins, and we risk de-gloving our hands. All these for a lousy 15 the hour and no health benefits. Way to go America! Way to lose the workers who keep America moving
Seems your choosing to ignore osha and your own safety. Wear gloves but I forgot that only girls wear those right? Safety in that industry is just for girls right?
@@jayroberts2555 clearly you’ve never worked at a shop. If you did, you’ll see the risks of being a mechanic regardless of protection.
@@jayroberts2555 no it’s more like many shop managers don’t provide gloves and masks even though they are required to. My manager refuses to even though he was told by corporate he’s suppose to. Gets expensive buying your own protective gear but I still do
@Sid The sloth sadly it’s not at a lot of shops. Yes some are paying $22 which isn’t much better when techs were making more than that 20 years ago lol
@Sid The sloth ya there some around my area that pay $20 to $ 25 for fleet but I’ve also seen some that only pay $16. I know fleet and working for the city is only decent automotive jobs.
Being a mechanic is one of the worst trades out there,pay wise,especially peace work in union shops
Sounds good I’ve been trained since I was seven,handling tools with my dad, shining the light. But it became difficult to navigate the career field.This certainly sheds light on why. Thanks a lot 👨🏽🔧
I need to tell you guys one thing once and for all. I was a master tech from 1975-1999. I worked at many shops and dealerships and it was tough work. I had thousands of dollars in tools, certifications up the wazoo and fixed many cars no one else could, or didn't want but in 1999 I got so fed up with the business, I left for good and never looked back. I can tell you horror stories that would fill KZhead. I got so tired of poor wages(flat rate is fart rate), poor benefits, and poor management. My wages being so bad my family suffered. From what I'm now hearing from you young guys its still the same way. There was a mechanics shortage back then.The automotive field HAS NOT CHANGED ONE BIT. Get it through your head- it never will! You can offer all the solutions and ideas you can muster but ITS NOT GOING TO CHANGE. Take my advise- in 2000 I changed careers and it was the best thing I ever did. Its said, "A wise man learns from his mistakes, but a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others." Wake up guys and move on.
Start a channel, I like hearing these types of horror stories
What career did you get into? Tech pay is terrible
Hey, maybe you have some insight. Do you happen have any ideas on why an a GM 2.5 liter iron duke engine would be running rich at idle? Or any scan tools that can read live data on an 87 engine with the pre-OBD ALDL interface?
As a former tech, I can say I left disappointed. My passion was cars. But I realized working at a dealership is not about your passion for cars. It's about politics and productivity. How many, how fast. Period.
where did you move onto afterward? i want to be involved in the auto industry but not by being a tech
@@notlotus985just do it on your own time. It’s rewarding working on your own vehicles but a waste of your time and life to work in the industry.
Aren't independent shops more flexible than dealerships?
As a mechanic, it’s simple always getting the short end of the stick without ever being compensated for it
I'm a professional automotive technician for over ten years and it's the pay system that's always the problem that's what's causing the shortage across the nation.
8 years ago, I remember working as a entry level mechanic at a dealership. A customer paid $550 for a rear brake job on a SUV. I got paid .9 hour from that work order. My flat rate was $14/hr. It really opened my eyes as to how that industry is. I only worked there for 4 months. I’ve change my profession since.
just curious - what do you do now? & are you happy with your new proffesion? cheers
I know, bro. They treated us like grease monkeys.
@@mrdol I am in law enforcement now. I am pretty happy with my decision. It's nice to know that I'll have a decent pension after a 20 year career. I also have a pretty clear career progression and good benefits.
@@man_of_culture5558 cool! happy for you. all the best
@Karl with a K I think it’s a lot more than teaching critical thinking skills lol. If you pay your employees what they are actually worth, you’ll keep them for longer.
NOT ONE TECHNICIAN was interviewed for this story!!! Nobody asked former techs why they are leaving the industry. EVERY dealership owner I worked for stated that all they want to do is SELL cars. My son got a degree in I.T. His FIRST job paid more yearly salary than I EVER made in my 40 year career!! Poor pay, lack of benefits, poor working conditions, giving our time/expertise away for free (free inspections) all while being told to work faster equals people leaving.
you sound like a ford tech.
The real problem is that the public refuses to recognize the skills and knowledge of a good mechanic. Add to that the increasingly complicated electronics.
I'm a tech. For 18 years, and I can tell you exactly what the problem is, it's having to have a vast amount of knowledge and own your own tools, and the pay needs to be higher. When I went to tech school, I had a teacher say that with all the makes and models and different parts, you need to be smarter than a doctor to be in this industry
My instructors told us that over 30 years ago. Easier to be a doctor. The human body never updates or outdates.
I delivered to this dealership when I worked for FedEx. While I usually just delivered and left, sometimes I’d talk to the techs when there was a rare car in for service. One conversation that sticks out to me was when they got a gt40. I was talking to a technician about how it was going, and by the end of it he was asking me if we were hiring. It wasn’t just this one interaction either. Every conversation I had with a technician always soured. Overworked, underpaid and the physical toll it takes on your body is unprecedented. This dealership was always slammed too. Felt bad for those guys.
That sucks. My husband (who is American) is friends with a South Sudanese guy who recently got refugee status in the US (thus allowing him to live and work in the US). Back in Africa, this South Sudanese refugee, used to work as a mechanic back in Africa, working in South Sudan, Sudan (north), Ethiopia and the DR Congo. He mostly worked on old, broken down cars with mileages of 300,000 to even 1 million. Now that he has the right to live and work in the US, it's his dream to continue being a mechanic in the States. Right now, he just does Uber Eats and Doordash, driving a PT Cruiser.
Been there too many times!
@@trekkienzl2862 auto techs have it thr worst in the usa. They'd make more in other countries
I'm a fedex driver myself and former auto tech. I only lasted 6 months at the shop, and quit because I spent my days off recovering from body aches. Also, you're constantly spending money on aquiring more tools. Even if you buy budget tools, it's still an out-of-pocket expense that racks up quickly. Three of my former classmates from auto tech school quit their dealership jobs and switched to a different career.
It’s horrible
Get an associates degree, invest 10k in tools, make mid 50-60k after 4-5 years experience, get yelled at for things out of your control, get micromanaged, get injured, develop back problems all before 40 years. Then be out of a job because the mechanic can’t meet the physical demands. Same with construction work. It’s a great short term career. If you are young, good with your hands, do it for 10-15 years, but then have a plan B. Take classes on your spare time or receive training to go beyond being a technician. Good luck out there. Go make that money, get dirty, but always always plan for the future.
Wisdom
Yes sir. This applies to all industries however. It's not how much you make, it's what you do with what you make
I went to school to become an automotive technician. Did a little over ten years at a Ford dealership. It’s all commission pay, and when there is no work, you don’t get paid your actual pay that comes with turning wrench. No benefits, and warranty work pays diddly squat. I made a lot of money on good days, but the bad day’s were just more. Lots of competition. Decades have passed, and I now treat water in the state of Texas, with much higher pay, and have the best benefits ever. Two to one retirement, and a great hourly pay rate. These new cars coming out, pretty much require mechanical engineering to know how to properly repair and maintain.
Probably because workers don’t get paid well, get little benefits, or get treated well either. But nah, like the older generation says: we don’t work hard.
12 year mechanic here, here’s my take: 1. Lack of appreciation from management. 2. Flat rate is robbery no matter what way you slice it, whether you’re a great mechanic or not. Pay should be consistent and systematic. Like…. Idk… the majority of places. 3. Stop treating us as profit. Each person has a value more than how “fast” and how proficient they work to bring in money. Just because they don’t hit their usually ridiculous incentive amount doesn’t mean they should be in the hot seat. 4. Subsidize how much we *have* to pay for tools. I look at my $40k worth of tools with discontent cause of the years that I had to pay for tools. These are just a few reasons why nobody wants to be a mechanic, or stay a mechanic
Dang could probably start your own one man shop with that much in tools.
@@TheStrafendestroy have you seen price for mechanic tools… you get 6 wrenches at $300 from snap on
@@AutomotiveDysfunction nobody has to buy luxury tool brands like snapo
@@TheStrafendestroy A shop is more of a burden, think tools, equipment, subscriptions to information, building lease.
@@AutomotiveDysfunction he said he already had the tools I would think 40k would br enough I've seen people do it with far less working from their garage at home.
All I heard in this entire video was that "This field isn't lucrative enough because of self-acknowledged low pay and terrible working conditions. We're not sure what we can do to acknowledge this." They literally answered the problem in their own assessment. pay people more, and offer better conditions and training to workers. The whole idea that it's a "good salary" is clearly not true, or it would not be a sector-wide problem. "If they're able to make what they need to make" isn't the same thing as "If they're able to make what they're worth."
yep yep... go work elsewhere or where compensation is great
What did you expect from Clickbait CNBC?
No one cares about working conditions. Its dirty manual labor. Not a problem. But we need $$$ to live on. $500/wk before taxes is doo doo
Aviation pays double. * the auto school I went to qnd * their pay.
So true, Dead right on the last paragraph........
Nampa ford Lincoln has job postings up. $20-28 for a tire and lube tech and service advisor is $20-28. The avg pay in Napa ca is $35. You can make more at McDonald’s.
As a former Technician The industry is filled with corruption and companies that refuse to keep thier techs safe in the working environment. Shop management has always been a issue in every place I worked. The entire industry has become undesirable to be apart of becasue of the lack of Pay Safety Techs are flat out saying It's just not worth it..
I’m absolutely shocked that dealers and manufacturers act like they don’t know why people do t want to be tech’s anymore. I was a tech in the 90s and I got out of the business because of the ridiculous designs they are using making cars so complicated to fix. Throw in the horrible warranty pay and there is your answer.
No, there’s car diagnostic scanner to scan a problem for you to help you
@@aladdingames6557a scanner doesn’t fix the issue…. That’s the complicated part on these newer rigs
@@aladdingames6557sensors break scanners can’t always help you
@@aladdingames6557there are way more to diag than a stupid scan tool to solve issues lot of times
@@aladdingames6557 the diagnostic can help narrow it down but it doesn't usually give an exact solution. theres so many useless features in cars all of it is just more things that can break
As a young person who went to school for auto mechanics, I found a job servicing forklifts making more money, better benefits, and no flat rate pay. Gotta say I don't see myself ever going into automotive service as the industry stands today.
You know I might just work on forklifts at this point and time. Sounds like fun to me.
Fleet, diesel, installers for many etc. So many so much than flat rate dealerships.
I worked in the restaurant business for 15 years. Then I left it for a machine operator at a Darnel warehouse, making a lot more money with better hours than in the restaurants business. In the restaurant business, I had no life, worked from open to close. Then go back the very next morning. I got sick of it. Now at Darnel I work from 7am to 5pm, 4 days a week.
Forklifting is way better than being a car mechanic in this Day and age
I'm young as well, left the transportation repair industry for industrial machinery repair. Easy work, it's hourly pay, making double what I did before. Good retirement and benefits too
Also not one mention of how the tech gets screwed on warranty related repairs 😂
Being an automotive technician for over 20 years, i have noticed that since COVID nobody wants to work, it is difficult to get someone to work, yes the pay is not top notch, but even though offering at 20 an hour, or flat rate it is hard, i still struggle to keep a good mechanic yes this is a family-owned business and seeing these things sure hurts. so yes, the pay schedule is bad out there but as with any business, insurance, pay benefits are also very expensive to keep more people motivated. Being now, i have to run my shop and be the mechanic at the same time since i cant get someone to work. businesses out there are also very corrupt and not helping out the older folks keep their jobs.
As a mechanic, I have to say this is pretty accurate. I’ve been in this field for 13 years, and it’s the only thing I’ve ever done. It’s just been in the last year where I found a job that fills all the needs of pay, healthcare benefits, and retirement package(s). Most mechanic jobs don’t meet all 3. For example: I had a job with decent pay and had healthcare benefits, but they wanted HALF of my monthly take home pay as a premium to cover my wife and 2 kids. Plus a $10k max out of pocket and $2000 deductibles. Most people don’t know that mechanics supply 90% of the tools needed to to the job. I currently have no less than $30k invested in my tooling and in this industry that’s not a lot. I’ve known mechanics to have $100k worth of tools. I think I have found my forever shop now. Last year I made $82k. I pay $0 premium for my PPO healthcare, $0 deductible that covers my 3 kids and wife. I have a pension, stock options, and a 401k. I have 3 weeks vacation and 7 sick days every year. It really is the BEST combination of pay and benefits for a mechanic and it’s the standard that the industry will have to meet it attract and retain quality mechanics.
There are good places out there but I'd still never advise someone to get into the work. I clear about 80k before taxes working on planes. Took years of working weekends, coming in on OT whenever an issue happened, and dealing with low pay. Happy to be where I'm at because office work is not all it's chopped up to be. The people who know how hard it is pay properly. You need a mixture of book smart and hands on smart people to handle the variety of problems that come up.
Where do you work
Sounds like a municipal fleet job
Good for you! I hope your job outlasts your kids needs for college tuition!
Stock options? As a mechanic? Get outta town....I don't believe you.....unless you work for Tesla.
Throughout this video, I see working techs, YOU gave them no voice. Their opinions did not matter in your video, the same in the dealerships/shops we left. That manager is either oblivious, or doing a great job at hiding that dealerships and other service shops ABUSE good technicians.
I have been a tech over 23 years now. And did you notice the owner walking around looked like he had no clue what was going on in the shop? Same with the dealer I worked at. The owner only knew our names because it was on our uniforms. Your right and even I said this, they do not want to talk to the techs because the techs will always tell the truth about why no one wants to be a tech.
@@Aaron-or6ov the terrible thing about videos like this is young, eager people will see them, and believe theres an honest shortage of techs for the reasons they said. Those young people may even invest their education, time and money into one of these careers, then one day realize they were lied to. Hopefully they wont just dive in, without reaching out to techs who have left the dealership/service shops. We are here, and we'll tell them the truth.
@@rustedhorsepower5132 your right in every way. But with the forums now and these videos that lets future potential techs and lube techs see and hear what actually is happening to the auto industry. They can make the correct decision to pursue it or not. But I’m one former tech and after so many years do not get into the business. Listen to the techs.
@Paul Lunsford Its a great trade to learn. I just fixed a coolant leak on my daily driver and an a/c leak on my wife's car. Feels great to only pay for parts and come out with successful repairs. But you have to be cautious about your employment turning wrenches. If you feel used, use them for experience, then move on. To me dealerships should only be a stepping stone. Food service is also good tho, we all gotta drive and we all gotta eat, lol.
The mainstream media is owned by THEM
I've been a mechanic for 30 years, it's too expensive to be a mechanic anymore. Tools are ridiculously expensive, boots are stupid high unless you get the cheap ones that hurt your feet from a long day of work. Most businesses do give some kind of tool allowance but 1000 a year can't buy you crap anymore. The technology continues to change every 6 months. Your constantly relearning everything. The pay just doesn't match the killing your body all day long.
Let me get this straight: 1. You must pay for all your tools. Investing $60,000.00 or more for tools. 2. A service advisor makes more than the mechanic and does only 5% of the work as the mechanic. 3. You don't get paid for all the work that is done with diagnostics. 4. A large portion of mechanics are contractors. Hence, no benefits. 5. The amount continual education you get does not directly correlate to your pay. People don't seem to understand that transmission repair is far different from engine repair or that diesel fuel systems are vastly different from gasoline systems. All this takes considerable understanding. Yes, mechanics are treated as trash. 6. Currently, you're in an industry that is in a massive change from ICE to electrical. Your education and skill set is going to become obsolete. 7. Mechanics in many instances are seen dirty work even thou it's very technical. You can't just decide to do a timing belt service and valve adjustment on a Honda J35. 8. The dealership model makes mechanics compete against each for work. 9. You work with a dealership that is known for scamming their customers. Not all dealerships but enough to stain the industry. 10. Lastly, dealerships lobby the government to keep their archaic model in place that only benefits dealership. Any system that protects itself from evolving via market forces is inherently a bad system. What other industry does this? Why in the world would anyone want to get into this industry. I learned quickly from a young age buy reliable automobiles and do all servicing yourself (oil changes, transmission fluid changes, brake fluid, spark plugs, air filters, cabin filters, and so forth).
The average c tech makes $12-$25 an hour and have to pay for training and tools. The average tech will max out near $25-$30. My local Walmart is paying $20 an hour. It seems pretty obvious
Can't forget about Subway and Tacobell
Mechanic here going on 20+ years now. I got my start fresh out of high school in the early 00's. Worked at a franchise dealer (VW) for a little over 8 years. It ebbed and flowed, but I quickly realized that the industry was lopsided in how the pay structure is organized. However I really love working on cars, it's my passion, and didn't want to do anything else. So I became Independent. I've been running my own repair shop for almost 13 years now. It was the best decision I ever made in my life, and has changed my life. I always tell any fellow mechanic that will listen, before you hang them up, before you quit and go start from scratch in another industry (that will have its own unique problems, because no industry is perfect) try running your own show. Our duties require us to micromanage, and think outside the box by default. The leep to becoming your own boss is not as steep as you might believe. Plus there are so many sources of information to refence at your fingertips thanks to the internet. Look into it. It may be the best thing you ever do for your life and your family. Stay safe 🛠
I found an independent shop who the owner was just like yourself. I did business with the guy for over 30 years until he retired and sold out to a new owner. I liked the new owner but his quality was sub par. He went out of business 3 years after taking over. I am now trying to find a new shop to have a long term relationship with. Have not found one yet.
Always seen my self doing the same 🤘
My brother had his own shop for 30 years. It's the only way you'll make real money in this industry.
Hey Gabriel, I'm launching my Auto Repair business within 3 weeks from today. I'd love to chat with you sometime and benefit from any tips and advice you might have for me. I thought about sending you a direct message, but not really sure how to do it on you tube.
Identfix let them know of it.
17 Solid Years working for Independent shops, overworked pretty much every day, thousands of dollars in tools invested to make someone else money, no real benefits beside the paycheck. Making hourly wage of 30 bucks an hour and more is nearly impossible, bosses constantly micromanage your every move it becomes annoying, constantly being timed on your jobs, restroom breaks, road tests you name it I’m not Joking this business is not for the weak. Good Luck 👍
It's many factors, all of the manufacturers keep cutting labor times for warranty and many dealers do 70% warranty work, pay is poor at best even when the door rates keep going up the hourly pay for flat rate doesn't go up. I just left the dealership world after 14 years with gm and Subaru. I now work independent and its much better and less stressful.