AME Wages - AME's Unite!!

[Troubleshot]

That was a good post Robert.

Lets face it, there is no real honey pot in aircraft maintenance. Like Robert said, you hear about the odd guy that has the sweet paying gig but on average $30-35/HR is tops for turning wrenches. Personally for me there were a few factors that lead to me "getting out"...For one, I hated night shifts. Also, I wasn't crazy about topping out at $30/HR...honestly I felt I was worth more and had a lot more to offer to any maintenance related industry that would give me a chance.

I never had any "toys" working in aviation, couldn't afford them. Now I have two, bought with bonuses (ATV, snowmobile). Now to be fair, if you are a miserable person a snowmobile will not bring joy to your life. But I will say that having these luxury items have brought me great joy and it is something that my son and I can do together and make some memories....so there is that...

Aviation doesn't owe you anything, but it has given you a great wealth of knowledge you can use to write your own ticket. There are great jobs out there but you have to be willing to jump ship. It is scary leaving but the rewards are great (IMHO).

So if you like/love aircraft maintenance disregard this post. If you don't like the way aviation is heading just do your home work and be picky, I guarantee something will pop up. I also guarantee from a career perspective...you'll never look back.

[brownbear]

I don't think all AMEs should be at 140k a year or paid the same as university trained professions. But I do feel it's an industry with a wage disparity in comparison to other trades. The amount of training and responsibility to be an ACA at company with medium sized airplanes, like twin turbines etc, is quite high.

For one, I don't think any ACA (read signing authority) should be less than $45 an hour. Management when you sign on to be responsible should be double that. It's all on your head. All of it.

If your an AME turning wrenches and can't make the fateful decisions of being trusted as an ACA I could understand 25-30 an hour but....

Apprentice electricians are 30 an hour not yet a journeyman.

But lets get this straight. If your happy thats great. But move on if your not. The industry is not going to change in a long bloody time and will only get worse in regards to compensating our skills and responsibilities. When we sell $99 dollar seats to the public and treat it like a bus we can only expect companies will falter and have to slash operating costs.

One mini van and a paying the mortgage doesn't do it for me. Look at what the plumbers have who live in your neighbourhood. Your wasting your earning potential. Its a small window in your life that sets you up for life. It determines the quality of life going forward for your children and maybe their children. Wealth passes along, even if its only 10 an hour more. Sorry son I can't afford to put you in sports this year, our hydro bill went up..

Just because my folks couldn't put me through school doesn't mean I'm not going to try for my kids. To do that you need more than 30 an hour. Heck cops make over 40 an hour. 40-50k a year is not a liveable salary as a tradesman.

[Pat Richard]

Great post.

[NeverBlue]

One mini van and a paying the mortgage doesn't do it for me. Look at what the plumbers have who live in your neighbourhood. Your wasting your earning potential. Its a small window in your life that sets you up for life. It determines the quality of life going forward for your children and maybe their children. Wealth passes along, even if its only 10 an hour more. Sorry son I can't afford to put you in sports this year, our hydro bill went up.. 

I think I'm.....

Look man, if you've got a wife and kids in sports and a mortgage and a car payment and you're only making $40K then maybe it's time to start looking at other reasons why you're in your situation.

Heck cops make over 40 an hour. 

Really? A probationary officer makes about $40K.

[hoptwoit]

I think I'm.....

Look man, if you've got a wife and kids in sports and a mortgage and a car payment and you're only making $40K then maybe it's time to start looking at other reasons why you're in your situation.

Heck cops make over 40 an hour.

Really? A probationary officer makes about $40K.

Well said!!!! So lets get going stabbing people in the back so you can climb to the top of the shit pile. It smells the same but the view is better.

[chowda]

One mini van and a paying the mortgage doesn't do it for me. Look at what the plumbers have who live in your neighbourhood. Your wasting your earning potential. Its a small window in your life that sets you up for life. It determines the quality of life going forward for your children and maybe their children. Wealth passes along, even if its only 10 an hour more. Sorry son I can't afford to put you in sports this year, our hydro bill went up..

I think I'm.....

Look man, if you've got a wife and kids in sports and a mortgage and a car payment and you're only making $40K then maybe it's time to start looking at other reasons why you're in your situation.

Heck cops make over 40 an hour.

Really? A probationary officer makes about $40K.

and encore, which you're a supporter of, currently pays $44000 - $50000 a year. . Hell, I'll have two kids and put them into karting.Not counting any profit share or bonus because banks dont either.

[azimuthaviation]

Not counting any profit share or bonus because banks dont either.

Right, therefore that money doesnt exist.

[chowda]

Sure it exists, but they dont value it any better than going to vegas. You may get it you may not. Nothing new.

[azimuthaviation]

Huh? Money in your hand is money in your hand? Whether it came from Vegas or not, you think the stores wont take it?

[chowda]

WHEN A BANK ASKS YOU FOR YOUR GROSS ANNUAL INCOME THEY DO NOT QUALIFY BONUSES OR PROFIT SHARING AS PART OF IT. WHAT YOU GET PAID HOURLY IS WHAT COUNTS TO THEM. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THAT THICK, SO WHY PLAY THE PART?

[azimuthaviation]

The banks dont take overtime when calculating a mortgage either, neither do credit cards, they go by base salary. That doesnt mean the money from working OT "doesnt count". Its income, its real money, you cant factor it out because some mortgage companies wont consider it as guaranteed income when considering the amount of mortgage youre approved for. You can still use that money to pay for your kids karting, (whatever that is).

[NeverBlue]

It's always the same here...you people are talking about a wage and earnings base on what the banks recognise so you can get a bigger loan...

Phuked up generation...

[brownbear]

http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=98

no idea what a probationary officer is, but an OPP officer after 36 months makes 90k. Go up north and earn 20k more.

I didn't make that as a PRM. So…

I'm not saying go be a cop. But other jobs pull a liveable wage. fixing planes doesn't and you it's up to you to do what you need to do.

If your 40 years old or so and are at 30 an hour after being a skilled tradesman for 20 years your missing the boat. Missing the chance to live better, missing the chance to improve. It's a block in our industry that isn't changing. Change will only occur if you want it.

[iflyforpie]

It's always the same here...you people are talking about a wage and earnings base on what the banks recognise so you can get a bigger loan...

Phuked up generation...

As much as wages need to increase, this is absolutely true.

I've seen so many people in this industry and life in general mortgaged and leveraged so much just so they can have the pleasure of paying massive amounts of interest owning a driveway full of rapidly depreciating assets..... .....and then wondering why they can't get ahead in life.


I own one motorized toy.... and based on past performance it will hold its value or increase as time goes on..... and I don't owe the bank a single cent for it.

[NeverBlue]

http://vancouver.ca/police/recruiting/p ... icing.html

...considered one of the best compensation packages for cities in Canada.

Probationary Constable $60K...after 20 years $98K

I've been in this industry for over 28 years and I make more than $98K...and I will never be in the position in my job that I may be shot at...

[Troubleshot]

It's always the same here...you people are talking about a wage and earnings base on what the banks recognise so you can get a bigger loan...

Phuked up generation...

You see when you make only $50K/Year in Calgary you will need a loan for everything(Car, House, Motorcycle, etc...) you most likely will not get approved, but you will need them. It is simple friggin math that you will not get far on $50K after taxes. There is nothing "phuked" about the generation except the wages, don't change the subject.

The subject of the thread is more about not wanting to be "house-poor", not about wanting more money for loans...snap the f@ck out of it man...If you work for Encore, you most likely will not be approved for a Mortgage, certainly won't be if you need a car loan and have student loans. These are not luxury items, these are life essentials...

What do you want a young person to draw from so he doesn't need a loan? His many years of savings when attending school, or his robust wages from Encore? Maybe he could save his/her money...oh wait, what money???

such arrogance and naivety...and this from some one who's been working damn near 30 years..and you say I'm outta touch.

[azimuthaviation]

You see when you make only $50K/Year in Calgary you will need a loan for everything... It is simple friggin math that you will not get far on $50K after taxes.

Fair enough. You left aviation to go where the better money is. But you sure as hell didnt move to Calgary or Vancouver or any other decent metropolis. You went somewhere in Saskatchewan with 40 000 people and a Walmart and Canadian Tire IIRC. You posted a similiar job as yours and it was in God damn Halkirk Alberta! If you decided to leave aviation and maintain the quality of city life, how much more do you think you would have made? Check the HRDC job boards for jobs INSIDE Calgary. You find anything close to the compensation package you claim you receive?

[Troubleshot]

You see when you make only $50K/Year in Calgary you will need a loan for everything... It is simple friggin math that you will not get far on $50K after taxes.

Fair enough. You left aviation to go where the better money is. But you sure as hell didnt move to Calgary or Vancouver or any other decent metropolis. You went somewhere in Saskatchewan with 40 000 people and a Walmart and Canadian Tire IIRC. You posted a similiar job as yours and it was in God damn Halkirk Alberta! If you decided to leave aviation and maintain the quality of city life, how much more do you think you would have made? Check the HRDC job boards for jobs INSIDE Calgary. You find anything close to the compensation package you claim you receive?

Ok well I am not a city person, never have lived in a town with more than 300,000. I currently live and work in a town of 160,000 and my drive to site is 20-30mins. I am not saying that wind parks are in downtown cores either. For instance, there is a job posting for an Operations Manager for a wind turbine manufacture in Stoney Creek, Ont. the posting is with Siemens Canada. Stoney Creek, Ont. has only 60K people so if you like city life this probably isn't your gig...I get that...but I know for a fact that this position pays north of $115,000 plus bonuses (approx. $130K/Year) and you are a stones throw away from Hamilton. So you can go work for CargoJet and make $30-35/HR or get out of your comfort zone and go make $60-63/HR and have far better benefits.

Listen, I found that Siemens job in 5 mins. There is waaay more out there if you are really committed to leaving aviation, but if all you are going to try is to pick out the crappy locations to prove your point....then, honestly you have no intentions of leaving aviation. I am not saying to jump on the first thing that pops up, hell, I am not saying to get into wind either. What I am saying is there is a lot out there that you, as a expert technician, can do to maximize your career potential. Ok, take what you know about gas turbines and how to maintain them and tell me that is not considered valuable to a utility....I know it is valuable because I know very well two ex-AME's that left aviation and are doing just that. Their knowledge in boro-scoping and how to maintain turbines made them very good candidates. They both started at $44/HR 3 years ago, so probably north of $46-47/HR now working day shift with 4 weeks holidays. In Halifax, NS

If you get hung up on what the qualifications state in a job posting...you are doing it wrong. Or maybe just looking for a excuse not to pursue the job I dunno.

Ok my Tony Robins speech is done now.

[NeverBlue]

You see when you make only $50K/Year in Calgary you will need a loan for everything(Car, House, Motorcycle, etc...) you most likely will not get approved, but you will need them.

Thanks for proving my point.

Nobody "Needs" a mortgage from buying a house if you make $50K

Nobody "Needs" a Car payment, Mortgage Payment, Motorcycle payment, Boat payment, etc...if you make $50K.


Take the bus and rent an apartment until you can afford it.


...that's simple Logic

[Troubleshot]

You see when you make only $50K/Year in Calgary you will need a loan for everything(Car, House, Motorcycle, etc...) you most likely will not get approved, but you will need them.

Thanks for proving my point.

Nobody "Needs" a mortgage from buying a house if you make $50K

Nobody "Needs" a Car payment, Mortgage Payment, Motorcycle payment, Boat payment, etc...if you make $50K.


Take the bus and rent an apartment until you can afford it.


...that's simple Logic

it sure is simple (minded)...why go through school, apprenticeship, and getting a licence all to make $24/HR? People normally educate themselves so they have disposable income, not to scrape by for years. Putting off a major investment like a house because your wage sucks and your college diploma/student loans are eating up all of your cash is ass-backwards. If you cannot afford a house because you are carrying $25K in student loans you need to re-think your career choice. My wife went to university and racked up $35K in student loans, but she started $100K a year at her first job. Sure, college is different than university but the investment ratio should hold true. If my wife was single she still would have been able to invest in a house, get her own car, and able to have a little fun while paying off her student loan. If you flip burgers for a living and never did any post-secondary...well, I'm sorry you can't afford Jack...but you would think a specialized field such as aircraft maintenance would afford you the simple things you want in life.

Your education is an investment, plain and simple. If you are not seeing a return on your investment you can ride it out and hope you get those negative years back over time, or you can "sell" and invest somewhere else.

P.S.- it will take a lot more than twisting my words to prove your point my friend...

[NeverBlue]

What the hell are you talking about?

I had no debt when I graduated. I bought what I could afford when I could afford it. My house and car and motorcycle and recreational property are all paid for...by me...from my 20+ years of making over $50K in this industry.

What's the damn problem?

[hoptwoit]

Off topic and a tad threatening.
Bandaid

[NeverBlue]

Comments removed, back on topic please
Bandaid

[brownbear]

I get it, many are happy with their career and don't want others pissing on it, Blue is one of them.

But I agree with Troubleshot. You don't go to college to not get ahead.

As much as I loved working on planes, a person should always look out for themselves and keep searching for the job that is fun and makes them an acceptable amount of money. An acceptable amount of money is what you accept.

There is a fundamental thinking, college means owning a house and car and living a good life. If you have to live in an apartment and take the bus it's not following the plan of getting a higher education to get ahead. Aviation is not following the plan anymore. So we have to move along and pick things that are.

[DonutHole]

I left aviation for the marine industry.

Working in a nice city on a beautiful lake I took a ten, TEN, dollar an hour increase to show up at the marina instead of the hangar, I now make more than anybody on the payscales posted here.

What's up with that? I bought a plane project and now can afford to do aviation for fun.

The only thing is, It did take an adjustment, it's hard to believe I untittingly became ego-invested in aviation, and living life as not an aircraft maintenance engineer, but rather a boat mechanic was a bit of a mental step down... but then I went out and bought an airplane and that went away.