Industry pay issues

I've been doing this for 6 years now company I'm at isnt too bad got my yearly review got the usual your doing a great job , sales are down here your $1.00 3% increase. Ive been working my tail off getting difficult jobs , troubleshooting issues , working on machines I have never worked on before getting them fixed the last year and a half. I told my manager I've seen you guys hire a lot of older field techs that have been supposedly doing this since they came out the womb and can't even figure out how to work a phone or let alone work a computer to find a service manual or spend thousands of dollars in parts for a wire pay them 35-40.00+ an hour then when it's my turn its like pulling teeth for more money.Im not the best tech on the face of the planet but I own up to my mistakes , I work hard I enjoy learning , I make sure my work is good, feels like I'm getting shafted. Is this happening nationwide? , or is this just my luck makes me want to get out of this work.

Hard telling, without knowing you better. That’s why your toolbox has wheels. Time to drag up. This is what you should be earning.

We can't have an apples to apples conversation about pay rates without discussing the geographic location and most importantly - Cost of Living. I've been to Alaska and I've been to Savannah. I would wager 10 - crisp $100 bills it's much cheaper to live in Savanna than Prudhoe Bay Alaska. One can work year round in the Southeast to boot.

You don't get pay raises anymore by being very good at what you do for your employer. Your leverage is to be able to be hired by someone who will pay you more than you are currently making. Start looking for work else where if you need more money. If you like where you are and are just wanting more money but would like to stay with your current employer, then look for another employer who will pay more and then use that to negotiate with your current employer. I don't know anyone who lives permanently in Prudhoe Bay. All the people I know just cycle through there and live somewhere else.

CM1995 said: We can't have an apples to apples conversation about pay rates without discussing the geographic location and most importantly - Cost of Living. I've been to Alaska and I've been to Savannah. I would wager 10 - crisp $100 bills it's much cheaper to live in Savanna than Prudhoe Bay Alaska. One can work year round in the Southeast to boot. Click to expand... I get it. I picked that particular job on purpose because nobody lives in Prudhoe. Or, Deadhorse for that matter. Maybe 25 residents at best. 40%-50% of the workforce is out-of-state. Live in Savannah, rotate 3x3, three hots and a cot, double time on Sunday, stack the cash. Only expense is Redbull, Zyn and OF subscriptions. The training, certs and contacts gained during that time could set a young feller up for success. Enough time left over to have a side gig back home, build a house, or a part time job.

Now, if a feller wants to settle down and do the 9-5, skip the adventure, weekends off, take the kiddos to soccer practice, there are options in town. Only if you can deal with working on trucks all day. Now, the cost of living becomes a thing, but the pay is adjusted for it.

I never had a problem if more experienced guys got paid a little more. I had a problem if a journeyman rate was set and some didn't get it. Also if an apprentice was getting the same or more than a journeyman largely because they knew someone higher up. I'd take less pay and better working conditions over higher pay and working for a tyrant any day.

Coaldust said: I get it. I picked that particular job on purpose because nobody lives in Prudhoe. Or, Deadhorse for that matter. Maybe 25 residents at best. 40%-50% of the workforce is out-of-state. Live in Savannah, rotate 3x3, three hots and a cot, double time on Sunday, stack the cash. Only expense is Redbull, Zyn and OF subscriptions. The training, certs and contacts gained during that time could set a young feller up for success. Enough time left over to have a side gig back home, build a house, or a part time job. Click to expand... See your point. I am so past those days of considering something like that, not even thinking about that aspect.

I think that I’ve aged out of those adventures, myself. I finished a big out-of-town trip last Sunday, and I’m still recovering.

Welder Dave said: I never had a problem if more experienced guys got paid a little more. I had a problem if a journeyman rate was set and some didn't get it. Also if an apprentice was getting the same or more than a journeyman largely because they knew someone higher up. I'd take less pay and better working conditions over higher pay and working for a tyrant any day. Click to expand... My issue is the fact your putting a man in a service truck and says he's been doing this trade "all his life", and they pay him whatever he wants then ask then they know he's incompetent keep him around then guys in trucks already busting their tail actually fixing issues end up having actual work loads because your ur highest paid wannabe salty dog gets paid top dollar to do simple jobs because he can't be trusted with anything else then when raise time comes guys getting things done get hit with heres a dollar we can't pay you much more.

Unfortunately there are some shops like that with relatives or friends that are never laid off or let go because of who they know. They're kind of useless but get paid the same or more than more competent employee's. It's especially bad when the person knows they can slack off with no repercussions and act like they are the best in the shop.

Welder Dave said: Unfortunately there are some shops like that with relatives or friends that are never laid off or let go because of who they know. Click to expand... Rule # 1, never work in business soaked in nepotism. Rule # 2, never work where the managers wear flat top haircuts {lord he thinks he's cool} {Paycheck}. Rule # 3, never work in a shop that has too many rules. Rule # 4, once have some factory training--find a Independent shop for employment. Rule # 5, expect to get the shaft working large or corporate type shop. Rule # 6, keep your nose in your own business, forget about the company snorkelers, ----------they are living in your head and taking up space and causing undue stress. Rule # 7, the grass is always greener somewhere else, but never really is after a few months. Rule # 8, there are no hero's in this industry, it's just a job worth doing if your up to it. Rule # 9, Find a after work hobby, thinking about work all day makes for a dull personality, ----------there are other things besides other peoples problems on wheels or tracks.

That's a good list. Sometimes a good job can go sour because a new person becomes a manager or shop foreman. I was a victim of that. The guy didn't stay long at that shop afterwards but the damage was done. I pursued a wrongful dismissal and a lawyer even said it was BS and pretty clear cut. It dragged on for years but even worse the company was giving out false info to prospective employers. It was just before the privacy act became law where a company couldn't say anything unless the employee signed a release. I think all they could say was you worked there from this date to that date. I was essentially black listed from getting a welding job. It was a big company and very well known and hard to fill in a big gap between jobs. Why was I dismissed by the new shop superintendent? The shop put a policy in place to pay all the journeyman welders the same rate. I was off with a broken collarbone and when I came back the other guys in the shop told me to inform the super I was a j-man. I was only getting 3rd year rate which was $1.50 less. He offered $.50. I asked why and never got an answer. I said if you're not going to pay me the j-man rate then lay me off. He told me to punch out and will right it up that I quit. I could come back in a couple weeks to get my final pay. Lawyer said to wait and see what employment record said. It said I quit that was wrong. Everybody in the shop except for a brown noser agreed I should have got the same pay. A good friend there figured they were mad because I broke my collarbone on my bike and they were really busy at the time. After losing my memory and being in the hospital I wasn't able to go back to work for over a year. When I did go back it had to be a low stress job. A couple years later I bought the skid steer. I did some landscaping for a guy who was the head engineer of a fab shop that built flare stacks, knock out tanks and some vessels. We got talking and I told him my story. He asked me if I'd like to go back welding and I said yes. He said they were busy and set up an interview for me. I got the job on nightshift. Got complimented by the shop manager at the start of my 2nd shift which apparently didn't happen very often. When Christmas came around several month's later I got a bonus and the boss said I was too good of a welder not to have my B pressure ticket. He booked an appointment for me at the boilers branch to take the B test. I wasn't really ready but got lucky and passed it. I left that job to go to a bigger vessel shop because the boss changed. Speculation was he was getting a monthly bonus if jobs went out before month end. One day before I even started he was complaining I wouldn't be working fast enough. He said I should be able to get 2 hexagon shaped flare stacks welded up and if I didn't there was a problem. I got almost 3 done which was as much as anyone else in the shop could do. Getting @hit before I even started I thought was totally uncalled for. My production proved it. I took it to heart and figured I wasn't appreciated anymore. The boss was kind of shocked when I gave my notice. I said the new job pays more. Then he asked the real reason I was leaving and I told him straight up! After the wrongful dismissal and hospital experience I don't put up with unwarranted BS! Life's too short and your health is most important. This is a little out of order but less than 3 month's after the wrongful dismissal I was in the hospital and stayed there for 5 weeks. 3 in the psych ward (probably because I said I'd rather be dead). At the time they thought I had encephalitis, inflammation of the brain. Years later found out it wasn't encephalitis. They don't know what it was, mini stroke maybe? I'm sure the stress of losing my job wrongfully was a big factor in ending up in the hospital. It's scary when you can't even say who you are for 17 hours! I'll quit a job than deal with a-holes. That's why I left the job as welding supervisor at West Edmonton Mall but that's another story. Sorry for the long post. I'm not in the best state of mind these days since losing my partner.

Depends what is out there. A private company might place value in a good employee over a large multinational company. Cat man. Awesome mechanic. Good customer relations. Got tired of being a number. Bought his own service truck. Says it's a struggle sometimes but the gratitude is real

cuttin edge said: Depends what is out there. A private company might place value in a good employee over a large multinational company. Cat man. Awesome mechanic. Good customer relations. Got tired of being a number. Bought his own service truck. Says it's a struggle sometimes but the gratitude is real Click to expand... Finally found an independent mechanic to wrench on the things we don't do ourselves which is mostly maintenance and plug and play stuff. He is a former Cat mechanic with all the pedigrees. Has a nice KW T300 with a Maintainer body and crane. Very reasonable on mileage and rates. Sends me an invoice through QB and I pay the invoice with the Amex. Easy-peasy.

I have worked up North and down South. Cost of living is just a little bit less but the company owners and bosses think they have you over a barrel. That’s because there is only so many places to work. If I feel I’m getting shafted my toolbox goes somewhere else. Worst thing I hate, is when I find they are hiring mediocre morons at the same or very close money. While I generally mind my own business, when I work for a company, I will crawl over broken glass and make their problem wife, disappear in a hole, if I have to. I expect to get paid for the loyalty and the experience, along with the ability to do just about anything. At this stage in my life and how beat up I am, I will walk at the slightest disrespect or disappointment. The boss is not my father and I will not be talked to like a child.

CM1995 said: Finally found an independent mechanic to wrench on the things we don't do ourselves which is mostly maintenance and plug and play stuff. He is a former Cat mechanic with all the pedigrees. Has a nice KW T300 with a Maintainer body and crane. Very reasonable on mileage and rates. Sends me an invoice through QB and I pay the invoice with the Amex. Easy-peasy. Click to expand... It might just be my regional perspective, but it appears as more guys are going mobile independent. I think it’s easier than ever to go independent. The accounting & tax software, phone apps, and various other technologies makes the office stuff easier and mobile. The overhead, technician shortage, drama and direct expenses required to staff a dealer or indi shop has gone through the roof. From a client perspective, having an obviously inexperienced dealer tech arrive on a job site while you watch him fumble the ball at $200@hr is very disheartening. Unless your company has stroke, you can’t even request the salty guy. Where you can talk directly to the independent guy and game plan a project directly.

It's been that way since I went out on my own in 1996. The only thing stopping a person from doing it is the initial expenses to get set up and have enough cash on hand to pay the family stuff until you find that good paying customer to pay your absorption costs.

Coaldust said: I think it’s easier than ever to go independent. The accounting & tax software, phone apps, and various other technologies makes the office stuff easier and mobile. Click to expand... X2 on this. Text to say whats wrong, where the machine is at and what level failure which dictates the last question of when can you get to it. Email a bill, pay online. Don't even need an office or a postage stamp.

CM1995 said: X2 on this. Text to say whats wrong, where the machine is at and what level failure which dictates the last question of when can you get to it. Email a bill, pay online. Don't even need an office or a postage stamp. Click to expand... I very much appreciate ACH transfers for accounts receiving. However, I still enjoy waiting for what surprises the mail truck lady may bring. There is just something about that mail box money. Big stacks of checks.