Mechanic wage

mushtafa

mushtafa

mushtafa

Soldato
Joined
17 May 2013
Posts
2,939
Location
West Sussex, UK
Are you a mechanic? What is your rough wage?

I only ask because I feel I need to earn more. I've Googled for an average wage, but even those results vary a lot.

I've been working at the same place since leaving school - 15 years ago.

Fully qualified, plus additional training, and MOT tester.

I earn around 23K a year and feel it's not enough - thoughts?
 
Have you considered self employed??

Serious question, bloke round here was getting paid peanuts from his prev employer, decided to go freelance using his own garage and AFAIK is now booked pretty much all the time as hes good at it and has already got a good rep.

You've already got all the quals, worth having a look into what public liability insurance you need and maybe set up your own thing?
 
I'd like to know the answer to this. It is a highly skilled job, but one that has always been looked upon as never paying very much.

Anyone who tries to work on their own car, knows how much skill and experience is needed to efficiently carry out the job. Not any old hack can jump in and have a go..

Also starting on your own.... Wouldn't that call for lots of different manufacturers and having to learn the nuisances with each different model? i can only imagine what a headache that would be.
 
thedoc46 said:
Also starting on your own.... Wouldn't that call for lots of different manufacturers and having to learn the nuisances with each different model? i can only imagine what a headache that would be.
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A lot of garages use software such as autodata https://www.autodata-group.com/uk/ to give them information on service information and common faults across different makes and models.

Things like dealer level diagnostics are something to purchase later on, so building a relationship with other local garages could be useful to cover this initially.
 
I was on about the same as you and changed jobs to a nightshift position doing internal work. Earned just over 32k last year inc overtime. Agreed it is a terribly paid career. Wish I knew that 12 years ago. It also seems to be the hardest trade to get away from and start something new.
 
I would absolutely love to go self employed, but the price of an empty unit is around £500 a month minimum. I just can't afford to take the plunge and get started.
I did think about going mobile, but I don't fancy that to be honest, everything becomes so much more difficult without a ramp.

Most people forget or just don't realise that mechanics have to buy their own tools. So my £23k doesn't sound too bad, but I spend around £1.5k on tools a year.
 
mushtafa said:
I would absolutely love to go self employed, but the price of an empty unit is around £500 a month minimum. I just can't afford to take the plunge and get started.
I did think about going mobile, but I don't fancy that to be honest, everything becomes so much more difficult without a ramp.

Most people forget or just don't realise that mechanics have to buy their own tools. So my £23k doesn't sound too bad, but I spend around £1.5k on tools a year.
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£500 per month is a very cheap entry point to start your own garage. If you can get a unit for this honestly its worth taking the plunge. Make the effort to get everything in place ie purchase ramps/MOT testing equipment etc first so that when the time comes the transfer an opening can be done swiftly and you can be getting the MOT's rolling.

If you focus on MOT testing and basic services to start with you can develop a customer base and then get some staff if you want to move in to more complex servicing work.

Obviously this is over simplifying things but if one of your biggest costs (the unit) is that cheap, I feel you should give it a go.
 
Do you work for a main dealer or an Indy?

Someone in my family has recently finished his apprenticeship and is now on 21-22k (before overtime/bonus) at a main dealership.

He's now looking to continue training for his L3, and then onto master-tech. He's mentioned the current master-tech at his dealership is earning 40-45k depending on overtime and bonus.
 
I work for an Indy, specialise in Renault, but work on anything and everything, including vans.

We have no bonuses, and no overtime. If I could do more hours I would.

A lot of people I speak to regarding main dealerships say they're a load of rubbish to work for. But like I say, this is the only garage I've worked at - obviously loyalty doesn't seem to matter.

Yes, £500 for a unit sounds cheap, but I can't afford it. I was looking at grants and loans, but the majority of stuff I've seen is aimed for under 25s
 
Yep there are plenty of things he moans about, but i guess it's one of those situations where if you want the better pay, you grit your teeth and get on with it.
 
mushtafa said:
Yes, £500 for a unit sounds cheap, but I can't afford it. I was looking at grants and loans, but the majority of stuff I've seen is aimed for under 25s
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£500 for a unit is cheap. It doesn't sound cheap, it is. You say you cant afford it but have you tried to pull together a business plan for a business loan? OR have you considered even a personal loan or family and friends help... £3k will get you 6 months rent.

Now £3k might seem like a lot BUT if it gets your business up and running you could be turning that over per month in no time! Lets say you do just MOT's at £30+costs (I think its what £10 per mot?) a pop, 8 per day, 6 days per week... that's £5760 per month, 6 per day is £4.3k, 6 per day only 5 days per week is £3.6k.

Taking the equivalent of your current wage out of this £1.9k pre tax (remember to put money aside to pay your tax).

From a pessimistic point of view you are left with £1.7k...that's enough to pay for your unit right there.
 
I haven't worked out any figures yet. I don't know how much stuff costs, rates, electric, water, phone and broadband etc. The water will be less than I use at home, but the electric would be very high.

The equipment can be paid off over 5 years normally, but that would still cost me around £30K which is £500 month plus any interest. The MOT testing bay is £20K+

Do I need to factor in a business phone line and internet? I could use my mobile, but would customers prefer a land line?

You make it sound very easy! Not sure how I'd get that many customers when first starting out?

I suppose it's the risk putting me off, what if it doesn't go to plan? I don't make enough money, have to give the unit up, sell the equipment at a loss, and live with the debt for a number of years - leaving me worse off than I am now...

I need to find someone who's done all this and go over some numbers I think
 
water, gas, electric, phone, broadband, rates, surely you are looking at an extra £500 per month on them.

£30k for equipment? what are you buying a gold plated air compressor? As an established mechanic shouldn't you have a lot of tools as it is?

£20k for an MOT testing bay?

Also while new is ideal maybe look in to a 2nd hand MOT testing ramp and break tester. Getting a pit put in shouldn't cost you hugely either.

While I am over simplifying things, to be fair, you are not providing to much in the way of additional information. Yes it probably is the risk that is holding you back.

There are also plenty of ways to drum up business. Facebook Page for the garage, website, Group on deals.

Talk to people, in the mean time, save what you can, worst case scenario is you find a better paying job and you have some savings :)
 
mushtafa said:
What dealership does he work for? I'll have to do some more research
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The franchise he works for is Jaguar/Land Rover, i'm not sure who owns the business though, it's normally one of these local businesses that cover a single county, and they just open up different dealerships for different car manufacturers in all the big towns.
 
Syla5 said:
£30k for equipment? what are you buying a gold plated air compressor? As an established mechanic shouldn't you have a lot of tools as it is?

£20k for an MOT testing bay?

Also while new is ideal maybe look in to a 2nd hand MOT testing ramp and break tester. Getting a pit put in shouldn't cost you hugely either.
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£30K isn't unrealistic. I own tools, yes. But I will need to buy equipment which is normally company bought.

Ramp, compressor, welder, tyre changer and balancer, alignment equipment, A/C machine, diagnostic hardware and software subscriptions from the top of my head.

If I bought all that new, it would be much more than £30K. I expect if I did take the plunge, most of it would be bought second hand.

Here are some examples of these costs;

http://www.ap-tech.co.uk/products/mot_bay_packages.html

https://www.hickleys.com/pdf/tools/deals.pdf

http://www.jbsequipment.co.uk/
 
mushtafa said:
You make it sound very easy! Not sure how I'd get that many customers when first starting out?
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OP this is the biggest question mark for ANYONE going into business themselves.

Question is, do you have a reputable personality ? Liked by others? It may take more than just mechanical skills. You're going to need to instill trust into your customers so that they return, and pass your name onto others.

No biz setup is ever an easy money falling into your lap affair.

Truth be told, i'm now happier, being an employee. No trying to keep afloat. I'm too old to take any new gambles in life.. But if you do not have a home or family to support are young and energetic, then now is the time in your life to do it...
 
Best thing to do would probably be to start off doing it on your own on weekends, through friends and family (obviously set up a business and not get trapped into doing things for free) advertise on facebook etc to begin with then word of mouth will spread hopefully.

Maybe look to help out people who have MOT failures? Offer cheap oil changes and minor services? Maybe offer to do it on their drive? People like convenience. Lots of people pay for bulbs to be fitted.

At first it won't be about making money really, just about getting your name out there and building a good rep. There must be a few local car clubs that you could advertise on too.
 
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Syla5 said:
£20k for an MOT testing bay?

Also while new is ideal maybe look in to a 2nd hand MOT testing ramp and break tester. Getting a pit put in shouldn't cost you hugely either.
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We had to have a new ATL with pit put in at our new premises due to room constraints (the footprints demands for a new fit NOT grandfathered are mahoosive) and that set us back £45000.
 
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