engineer money

[jaircraft]

anyone know who is paying the best for experianced AMEs ??

[Bulawrench]

Tim Horton's

Happy New Year

[Pat Richard]

[roscoe]

Just about any car dealership!

[KISS_MY_TCAS]

Hilarious question for your 6th post, well done. Companies normally don't "pay the best" until your reputation precedes you, at which point any given company could pay the best. From what I have seen, AMEs that chase money are useless, AMEs that work hard and get high offers are worth something. Food for thought, where do you strive to work in the future? Nobody will give you a good offer without numerous solid references.

[Fox 3]

Spot on.

~FOX~

[jaircraft]

So I gather that most who replied are more than happy to be paid less than what you are worth, just like pilots who work for free! I am sorry but that is the kind of attitude that degrades the industry and it is why wadges are as low as they are for engineers, I am sure there are alot of AMEs out there that have families and could use extra income that would really appreciate all your help.

[itismedd]

So I gather that most who replied are more than happy to be paid less than what you are worth, just like pilots who work for free! I am sorry but that is the kind of attitude that degrades the industry and it is why wadges are as low as they are for engineers, I am sure there are alot of AMEs out there that have families and could use extra income that would really appreciate all your help.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you.

I graduated from College in 1991 as an AME apprentice and in my opinion was a low point in Aviation. I couldnt get a job because I didnt have experience and I could get experience because I couldnt get a job. So what did I have to do..............volunteer. And I am sorry if that pisses some people off but guess what.......they dont pay my bills. I don't think it degrades the industry by doing what I did and what I felt I had to do( mind you choosing to stay in Atlantic Canada did'nt help). I am glad I did what I did because if I never I would still be at Tim Hortons flipping donuts.

[Bulawrench]

I agree with kiss my Tcas. Once a person has some solid experience, has proven to be a good employee and not just another whining jerk-off. His or her reputation in the industry will demand better than average rate of pay. I am grateful that the industry is in better position to demand better pay. I started at $5.00/hour and left a very good job at $9.50/hour to start as an apprentice. I now have enjoyed a good career as an AME and am in a position to hire. Pay above average and treat people well is now my theme but i don't think an apprentice that has never loaded a grease gun is worth $16.00/hour. we all have to start somewhere. Work hard to be the best you can be and the employers will be wanting to pay you more.

[jaircraft]

I also agree, you do need to have a reputation. What I am saying is that it seems 75% of the companies out there are more than eager to pay you as little as possible, no matter what your position is or your work ethic or reputation. If people in the industry do not try to seek out the really good paying jobs and try to get the best wadge possible you will see more and more instances where a experianced AME who is in management, (DOM ect...) are making less money than a newly licenced auto mechanic working at Canadian Tire. This is not a whine or complaning, and I think that you all have very good arguements and pionts of view, It is just my experiance with people that if they can get away with paying you nothing, they will, and a way of building a reputation ( along with workmanship and work ethic ) is to stand up for your self and get paid what you are worth. IF YOU ARE ALWAYS WORKING FOR A LOW RATE OF PAY YOU WILL ALWAYS BE TREATED LIKE A LOW RATE EMPLOYEE. I do not think that someone should sit back and hope that after years of hard work an employer ( out of the pure kindness of his heart ) will give out a whopping .27 cent an hour raise, no thanks.

ASK YOUR SELF THIS: Why is it auto mechanics, marie mechanics, motorcycle mechanics ect. all make more money than the average AME?? Probably because they will not accept less. This tells me that we are doing something wrong and they are doing something right.
Thanks for your input.

[jaircraft]

Also, I am not new at this, which I think some of you may think I am. I have been at this for about 12 years have held middle management positions, and have gleaming referances and worked in various places around the country.

[Ballsssssss]

but can't spell better than your average 8 yr old.

[Troubleshot]

supply and demand...nothing more, nothing less.

[Fox 3]

So I gather that most who replied are more than happy to be paid less than what you are worth, just like pilots who work for free! I am sorry but that is the kind of attitude that degrades the industry and it is why wadges are as low as they are for engineers, I am sure there are alot of AMEs out there that have families and could use extra income that would really appreciate all your help.

Here is the question that comes to my mind whenever I see these words written...

Where does it end?

At what point and at what pay stops people from saying these words? What are we worth? If we got paid $45.00 an hour as AME's is that considered to be satisfactory? what about $55.00? $65.00?? I think you could pay everyone $65.00 an hour and then within about a year people would be demanding a higher wage because someone else somewhere is getting paid more. I don't know the answer but I do know I'm happy with my wage and I shouldn't feel bad because of it.


~FOX~

[bombardierfixer]

Go out on your own, be a merc! Contracting is the way to go. You have to pay less tax, you are your own boss, you don't get bogged down in the political BS. Of course you don't know where your gonna be from month to month but hey you know what they say about cake. Not that I really know I'm sitting at home reading forum posts because I'm waiting for my first job...

[Human Factor]

*snip*

ASK YOUR SELF THIS: Why is it auto mechanics, marie mechanics, motorcycle mechanics ect. all make more money than the average AME?? Probably because they will not accept less. This tells me that we are doing something wrong and they are doing something right.
Thanks for your input.

It's apples to oranges in that automotive is a heavily profitable industry and therefore can support higher wages for the workers. Aviation is borderline profitable at the best of times and bankrupt in the worst. There just isn't (IMHO) enough cash available to pay AME's the same wages as automotive techs. If automotive ever gets regulated like aviation though, they'll be much worse off.

[AMOowner]

Ther is more to life than money.
I maintain aircraft because it is what I want to do.

[Bullet Remington]

Ther is more to life than money.
I maintain aircraft because it is what I want to do.

Geez, JO that's an open post!! Especially from an AMO owner. ( No sarcasm intended)

Yes there is more to life then money. Like spending time with your/my family ski dooing - No wait, it takes money to purcahse a ski doo! How about skiing? Nope takes money to purchase ski lift tickets and skiing equipment as well!! How about a vacation with the family?? Nah, can't do that, that takes money as well.

Can't even go for a Sunday drive with the family without spending money!!

Just to clarify, JO, I've been in this racket for 30 PLUS years, and that's a big plus. I have the M1, M2, S AND a Commercial Pilot's license. AND, I maintain aircraft because that's what I want to do. For money! Fair money.

I don't expect an AMO owner to pay me more then he/she makes, but I do expect him/her to be fair. A honest dollar for a honest days/hours worked.

When I see posts like the one you made, I just shake my head and I scratch your AMO off my list of possible "opportunities"

I do appreciate and see your point. On the other hand, the drug store owner, the doctors, the insurance company, the bank that owns my house, don't.

I wish you luck with your job advertisements. Oh, and just for the record, I contract. I am very busy and I get $45.00 and hour for mechanical work, $55.00 for structures.

Were I ever to go back to working full time for a fixed employer, I'd be getting $80,000.00 a year - to start.

Yep, money isn't everything, But without money, one gets nothing! Go figure!!

All the best.

BR

[AMOowner]

Wow Sorry I didn’t mean to offend anyone
I guess, I should have expanded a bit more
The point I wanted to make is that if you are able to live the life style you choose
skidooing, skiing, spend time with the family, vacations what ever it might be
That is more important than chasing the dollars.
I didn’t mean for it sound like we should work for free because we like it.
As a AMO owner I am all for paying top wages for qualified AME’s

again sorry I really did not intend it to sound rude.

[jaircraft]

BULLET REMINGTON... You took the words right out of my mouth, this was the point I was trying to make.

[Bullet Remington]

Wow Sorry I didn’t mean to offend anyone
I guess, I should have expanded a bit more
The point I wanted to make is that if you are able to live the life style you choose
skidooing, skiing, spend time with the family, vacations what ever it might be
That is more important than chasing the dollars.
I didn’t mean for it sound like we should work for free because we like it.
As a AMO owner I am all for paying top wages for qualified AME’s

again sorry I really did not intend it to sound rude.

JO:

No need to apologize, No offense was taken (on my part) by your post. As I stated in the first line of my post, no sarcasm intended.

I also stated that I appreciate your position, as in point of view. I was simply stating mine. And to make it obvious, I concurr with your response to my post.

Having said that, Money is very important to most if not all engineers. GA or otherwise.

With reference to your post, on another thread RE: GA Engineers; I can't say I disagree with you one bit. I have spent a great deal of my time working on GA piston ponders and rebuilding evry thing from PA18's, up to C208's. On the same token I also have endorsements on Helicopters and B737's.

There is a vast difference from driving a # 6 rivet into .060 skin compared with driving a # 3 rivet into .016 skin. And as you stated, there are alot of Heavy Iron Engineers that just can't do thinner material. I suppose it's because they're so used to using a 10X gun cranked wide open all the time.

And MCRS pretty well summed up the whole reason why folks are trying to steer clear of GA aircraft.

My reason on the other hand is quite different. With the time that I've accumulated sleeping in "crewhouses, whether made of canvas, tin or lumber, I am most reluctent to venture anywhere that begins with " Fort XXXX"

Especially one with a now defunct chop stick factory??

[Pat Richard]

Ther is more to life than money.
I maintain aircraft because it is what I want to do.

Geez, JO that's an open post!! Especially from an AMO owner. ( No sarcasm intended)

Yes there is more to life then money. Like spending time with your/my family ski dooing - No wait, it takes money to purcahse a ski doo! How about skiing? Nope takes money to purchase ski lift tickets and skiing equipment as well!! How about a vacation with the family?? Nah, can't do that, that takes money as well.

Can't even go for a Sunday drive with the family without spending money!!

Just to clarify, JO, I've been in this racket for 30 PLUS years, and that's a big plus. I have the M1, M2, S AND a Commercial Pilot's license. AND, I maintain aircraft because that's what I want to do. For money! Fair money.

I don't expect an AMO owner to pay me more then he/she makes, but I do expect him/her to be fair. A honest dollar for a honest days/hours worked.

When I see posts like the one you made, I just shake my head and I scratch your AMO off my list of possible "opportunities"

I do appreciate and see your point. On the other hand, the drug store owner, the doctors, the insurance company, the bank that owns my house, don't.

I wish you luck with your job advertisements. Oh, and just for the record, I contract. I am very busy and I get $45.00 and hour for mechanical work, $55.00 for structures.

Were I ever to go back to working full time for a fixed employer, I'd be getting $80,000.00 a year - to start.

Yep, money isn't everything, But without money, one gets nothing! Go figure!!

All the best.

BR

What he said...