Auto board. Hit me with some knowledge about a career as a mechanic.

The kid (15 yo) is into high performance and all that. Mostly imports or drift cars right now, but I am trying to turn him on to American muscle since I have family in the Charlotte area who are loosely related to Nascar and Nascar wannabes.

What is the best route to go for this? Do the guys working as certified mechanics at the dealership make a good living? Do guys in a race shop do better? All the mechanics I know either own their own shop (wealthy or going bankrupt) or are journeymen who seem to be working somewhere else every other year doing brake jobs and breaking their backs on rust buckets. Is there a good, stable living to be had in between those extremes?

How about diesel mechanic as another option?

I imagine SAM in Houston would be a good route to get into working as mechanic on a legitimate race team or shop. Or doing his own thing if he can handle the marketing aspect.

However, at 15, I was thinking I was going to be flying planes lol

I know 2 guys that went the NASCAR route and both didn't last 2 years. Low pay and grueling schedule sounds like.

Another thing you might check into is going to TSTC or somewhere for A&P, aircraft mechanic. There's a strong demand for that job, and I know quite a few that do well running their own shop. Getting good on Pratt & Whitney PT-6 turbines would be a great way to become independent.

I would suggest the military. My son is a flying crew chief on a C-135 (refueling tanker) based at Fairchild AFB in Spokane. He has been in the Air Force for 17 years and is certified to work on what are called all the heavies. He started out on the C130, then the C5 and C9. He got a $50,000 bonus when he joined because there was such a shortage in the aircraft maintenance field. He is A and P certified and got his college degree from the University of Hawaii via being stationed at Hickman thanks to Uncle Sam. There are many avenues open in the military that will open a whole new world to him. My son never looked back and will have a retirement and endless job openings when it is time for him to get out. Also he has seen the world.

I think a lot of race team guys in NASCAR and the like have mechanical engineering degrees too

SAM

My father-in-law went the Air Force route. Was a plane mechanic, saw the world, then started working/drive races.

That turned into a long Hollywood career where he was in charge of cars and transportation on all kinds of movies from Charlie's Angels to Dukes of Hazzard to Fastlane and lots more.

I would definitely recommend him going the military route.

You must've got going quick if you have a 15 yo based on my math...

I had dreams of being an import mechanic when I was in high school and college too. I have a couple friends that are brothers that own a mechanic/body shop in Alief and not sure of their financials but they both have nice lexuses and date hot womens. They do say that the body shop pays the bills.

I find the real estate aspect interesting as it seems most of these businesses rent the shops so if you can buy up fitted out shops you'll always have tenants.

What is your math based on?
Yeah, I got started early.

We were interns together til 02 (whoop) 16 years ago. This is Erik H.

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nice lexuses and date hot womens

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Sounds like the classic 'low maintenance' vs. 'high maintenance' situation. ;-)

Seriously, TSTC Waco has some great auto training technology programs. At one time (and perhaps currently) they were in partnership with Toyota and turning out certified guys with jobs on graduation.

They've also got an auto collision repair program. And although body shops may generate good money, I've got to say, as a guy who had charge of spray painting operations in the industrial plant I managed, that I wouldn't wish spray painting headaches on my worst enemy!

After that experience, which lasted over 30 years, I am convinced, that in Hell, Satan's worst offenders are assigned to the paint shop for eternity.

Get four year degree. Get great job that pays well.

Make lots of money and mess with cars as a hobby.

In my opinion, that would be ideal, and it could still happen, but it doesn't look like that path is likely for this one.

I used to play soccer with a guy who was a mechanic at Sewell Cadillac in Dallas. He made good money. Dealerships are now charging $100-$125 per hour, and that works out to about $200k-$250k per year. I don't know what % they give to their employees for salary and benefits.

EDIT: just checked monster.com for the salary range for an "Automotive Service Technician / Mechanic" in Dallas: $32k-$50k with an average of $40k. Diesel Mechanic is $38k-$46k.

Guys are all responsible for their own tools and what not right?

This is NOT meant to discourage anyone from doing what they want or love. Quite the opposite. However, I know 2 guys who, while in their mid to late 30's and having worked as a mechanic their entire career, were no longer physically able to keep up with the job. Yes, I've seen many mechanics over 40 and perhaps this is a limited issue, but it is one to think about. With little education outside of automotive technology, a house payment, maybe a boat, kids, etc., a career change or going to college later isn't a good option.

Also working full time when you're 19 or 20 kind of sucks. Its one thing if you need to and perhaps going to college at the same time but set in a career at that age with 40+ years of manual labor ahead of you can be a bit daunting.

91AggieLawyer said:

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This is NOT meant to discourage anyone from doing what they want or love. Quite the opposite. However, I know 2 guys who, while in their mid to late 30's and having worked as a mechanic their entire career, were no longer physically able to keep up with the job. Yes, I've seen many mechanics over 40 and perhaps this is a limited issue, but it is one to think about. With little education outside of automotive technology, a house payment, maybe a boat, kids, etc., a career change or going to college later isn't a good option.

Also working full time when you're 19 or 20 kind of sucks. Its one thing if you need to and perhaps going to college at the same time but set in a career at that age with 40+ years of manual labor ahead of you can be a bit daunting.

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The other thing is the body will break down. My FIL's hands, knees, and back all kill him. Luckily for him, when he got involved with movies, he was unionized and has great support from the Teamsters in health care and pension now that he is retired.

If you go work for some local mechanic shop, you are not going to have that. You are going to work yourself until your hands and body are beaten, then have 30 more years of life, but be physically worn out.

There's a middle ground, college isn't for everyone and there will always be a need for mechanics in certain fields. It's one reason many others and I have emphasized aviation mechanics. The work is cleaner, less physical, and many jobs with benefits. You could work in a turbine shop and wear your church clothes every day, in a controlled climate if that's your thing. You could climb the ladder at the airlines and get a lucrative retirement package. You could work out of a van on crop dusters, charging a handsome premium for being able to come to the planes location in a moments notice for repairs.

The military route could set him up well in the future.

He'd get educated in the field he is interested in for free, make money, and have a leg up on most candidates after he got out.

Military would be a good decision

I can't speak to the training to get there but you can make a good living as a mechanic. My buddy owns a chain of auto repair places in Houston and Dallas. The good mechanics (especially one with specific/ special certifications) can make good money. He pays his master mechanics around 100k and some get signing bonuses. It's a far cry from his oil and lube guys making $15 / hr.

As others have mentioned they are responsible for their own tools and some of those tool collections get extremely valuable over time.

Wyotech

Get him thinking of the future and what auto technology is going to look like in 20 years. Electric, fuel cell and self driving...going to reshape the market. He needs to be ready to compete in that arena. Going to require math, science and electrical education.

My neighbor did the military route. Ended up being an avionics mechanic in the Navy. He is now a mechanic instructor for United with pretty sweet hours.

My brother did the mechanic route. Paint and body at Wyotech and is a technician at 4WP now.

OnlyForNow said:

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The military route could set him up well in the future.

He'd get educated in the field he is interested in for free, make money, and have a leg up on most candidates after he got out.

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With today's education benefits and the positive public perception of military service, I honestly can't think of path I wouldnt want my kid (smart or dumb, rich or poor, boy or girl) to do a stint in the military.

Local junior college that has automotive program. The education is inexpensive, and the instructors should have ties with the local businesses where the kid could get hooked up for an internship.

To excell in the automotive service industry, a tech needs some understanding of theory and science, as well as turning wrenches.

Don't let him do the Hennessey Tuning School.

https://jalopnik.com/redditor-says-hennessey-s-tuning-school-is-a-joke-henn-1741782736

I enjoy light mechanic work as a hobby, but I hate working under a dirty vehicle.

If I wanted to be a professional mechanic, I would go the aviation route. Planes are very clean compared to cars. Especially the turbine variety. Also, the turbine engines on even the smallest jets are $400,000+ and the jets are $1 million+. The owners of those don't argue with you over a few hours of labor.

Millwright or mechanic working in a chemical plant or refinery is a good option, pays well.

I like the idea of shade tree / on the side mechanic but also have another career. It's not a bad route to follow your passion and be an entrepreneur. Is that likely with your son? That might be the most successful or lucrative long term.

Uncle went the Uncle Sam route as an airplane mechanic. Put in 20 years with Uncle Sam and another 20 at McDonnell Douglas, retired at 58 with two pensions and tinkered with his project cars for another 3 decades.

In my limited experience working on cars, it's back breaking.

Would've love to done the military pilot route and then commercial airline. NY to Rome route would've been sweet.

buddybee said:

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I would suggest the military. My son is a flying crew chief on a C-135 (refueling tanker) based at Fairchild AFB in Spokane. He has been in the Air Force for 17 years and is certified to work on what are called all the heavies. He started out on the C130, then the C5 and C9. He got a $50,000 bonus when he joined because there was such a shortage in the aircraft maintenance field. He is A and P certified and got his college degree from the University of Hawaii via being stationed at Hickman thanks to Uncle Sam. There are many avenues open in the military that will open a whole new world to him. My son never looked back and will have a retirement and endless job openings when it is time for him to get out. Also he has seen the world.

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Not bad advice. Being in the aviation world, I can attest to the demand for good A&Ps

If he were to get a 4 year degree (from any school really), then go into the military....once he's out, he'd be in high demand. When he's older, and not wanting to 'be on his back' as much, that degree might open a few more doors for him. He could go the quality/audit route, which pays great, and still be around the mechanical side of things.

AgGrad99 said:

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buddybee said:

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I would suggest the military. My son is a flying crew chief on a C-135 (refueling tanker) based at Fairchild AFB in Spokane. He has been in the Air Force for 17 years and is certified to work on what are called all the heavies. He started out on the C130, then the C5 and C9. He got a $50,000 bonus when he joined because there was such a shortage in the aircraft maintenance field. He is A and P certified and got his college degree from the University of Hawaii via being stationed at Hickman thanks to Uncle Sam. There are many avenues open in the military that will open a whole new world to him. My son never looked back and will have a retirement and endless job openings when it is time for him to get out. Also he has seen the world.

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Not bad advice. Being in the aviation world, I can attest to the demand for good A&Ps

If he were to get a 4 year degree (from any school really), then go into the military....once he's out, he'd be in high demand. When he's older, and not wanting to 'be on his back' as much, that degree might open a few more doors for him. He could go the quality/audit route, which pays great, and still be around the mechanical side of things.

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+1

Ronnie said:

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Millwright or mechanic working in a chemical plant or refinery is a good option, pays well.

I like the idea of shade tree / on the side mechanic but also have another career. It's not a bad route to follow your passion and be an entrepreneur. Is that likely with your son? That might be the most successful or lucrative long term.

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This

Because $$$

Most of them do auto mexhanic stuff on the side as a paying hobby for friends and family