Top mechanic pay

WTaylor7
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WTaylor7
Any idea on what a guy like Webb's or Dungey's mechanic makes a year?
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motoxxx599 9/8/2016 12:53pm
9/8/2016 12:53pm
Ive heard Matthes say that those guys can make 90-100k a year with bonuses.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 9/8/2016 1:14pm
9/8/2016 1:14pm
motoxxx599 wrote:
Ive heard Matthes say that those guys can make 90-100k a year with bonuses.
In some cases....

A really good mechanic for a really good rider can make that amount in "bonuses".
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 9/8/2016 1:17pm
9/8/2016 1:17pm
This isn't a knock against mechanics, but I do find it kind of interesting that some of the mechanics might make more than some of the riders
F150Motocrosser 9/8/2016 1:34pm
9/8/2016 1:34pm
I believe I read on here that Pourcel has been known to not payout a bonus to former mechanic(s) even after winning his titles. I believe his mechanic right now is still Daniel Castloo, Josh Hansen's old wrench

The Shop

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MXD
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MXD 9/8/2016 1:36pm
9/8/2016 1:36pm
hvaughn88 wrote:
This isn't a knock against mechanics, but I do find it kind of interesting that some of the mechanics might make more than some of the...
This isn't a knock against mechanics, but I do find it kind of interesting that some of the mechanics might make more than some of the riders
The other side of that coin is that for every mechanic making more than most riders, there are probably 10 mechanics who barely make enough to feed themselves and probably crash in their riders garage.
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 9/8/2016 1:39pm
9/8/2016 1:39pm
hvaughn88 wrote:
This isn't a knock against mechanics, but I do find it kind of interesting that some of the mechanics might make more than some of the...
This isn't a knock against mechanics, but I do find it kind of interesting that some of the mechanics might make more than some of the riders
MXD wrote:
The other side of that coin is that for every mechanic making more than most riders, there are probably 10 mechanics who barely make enough to...
The other side of that coin is that for every mechanic making more than most riders, there are probably 10 mechanics who barely make enough to feed themselves and probably crash in their riders garage.
Yup. Wouldn't doubt it
UpTiTe 9/8/2016 1:39pm
9/8/2016 1:39pm Edited Date/Time 9/8/2016 1:43pm
Depending on the team 60- 100 k

A guy like Goose 100k easy.
3rdgearpinned
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3rdgearpinned 9/8/2016 1:48pm
9/8/2016 1:48pm
the lower teams, 40-50k per matthes. Heck, he wrenched, he would probably know.
mx196
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mx196 9/8/2016 1:49pm
9/8/2016 1:49pm
When Deano won his outdoor championship he supposedly gave Paul about a $25k bonus, whether or not that was gross or not wasn't mentioned.
Source: Pulpmx
nascarnate326 9/8/2016 2:48pm
9/8/2016 2:48pm
Is 60-100k really that much money living in california?

I assume they don't have to pay for food, travel, etc most of the time but that still like an awful lot of work for the salary.
Boarddesign
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Boarddesign 9/8/2016 2:54pm
9/8/2016 2:54pm
I was offered $500 per week for a fairly well known team, all travel related fees paid. Lol!
newmann
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newmann 9/8/2016 3:07pm
9/8/2016 3:07pm
All that time away from home, on the road, and sitting in airports....fugg that. Now, to work with DeCoster? I'd probably work for free.
Tracktor
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Tracktor 9/8/2016 4:20pm
9/8/2016 4:20pm
newmann wrote:
All that time away from home, on the road, and sitting in airports....fugg that. Now, to work with DeCoster? I'd probably work for free.
Just don't bring your wife or GF around if you want to keep her!.....................
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 9/8/2016 4:29pm
9/8/2016 4:29pm
nascarnate326 wrote:
Is 60-100k really that much money living in california? I assume they don't have to pay for food, travel, etc most of the time but that...
Is 60-100k really that much money living in california?

I assume they don't have to pay for food, travel, etc most of the time but that still like an awful lot of work for the salary.
If you live in the I.E. (Inland Empire) Corona, Temecula, Murrieta area, $75k would go a long ways. You can buy a house all day for $300k.

But are we talking supporting a family of 4? Know what I mean, many variables in that question.
mx216
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mx216 9/8/2016 4:34pm
9/8/2016 4:34pm
UpTiTe wrote:
Depending on the team 60- 100 k

A guy like Goose 100k easy.
60-100k is on the high side, I would say most teams are the 40-60k range with some of the good good mechanics with top riders making more.
FIREfish148
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FIREfish148 9/8/2016 5:10pm
9/8/2016 5:10pm
You actually have to pay to be a mechanic now a days. Shits done changed.
kzizok
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kzizok 9/8/2016 5:17pm
9/8/2016 5:17pm Edited Date/Time 9/8/2016 5:18pm
Even at 100K, a lot of sacrifices and life issues one would have to deal with would still make it a job for people in very unique situations. Personally, I think it has to be one of, if not the, most difficult job in the industry.
MR. X
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MR. X 9/8/2016 6:36pm
9/8/2016 6:36pm
Even 100k doesn't seem worth it if you figure the amount of hours they put in . I can totally understand doing something for the love of it and not the money . In the grand scheme , loving your job doesnt put food on the table.

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benj uk
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benj uk 9/9/2016 4:46am
9/9/2016 4:46am
Is it expensive to live in cali? over in the uk being payed 70/80k (Gbp) goes along way and loving your job even if the hours where long id of pushed like mad to become involved.
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PJRAUS 9/9/2016 4:56am
9/9/2016 4:56am
Boarddesign wrote:
I was offered $500 per week for a fairly well known team, all travel related fees paid. Lol!
Just wondering how it all relates from a taxation perspective when a rider pays his mechanic a bonus if they win a race or even a championship? Does the rider just get paid and pays his mechic , thereby enduring paying his own, plus his mechanics tax? Boring subject I know, but I'm interested nonetheless
agn5009
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agn5009 9/9/2016 6:31am
9/9/2016 6:31am
nascarnate326 wrote:
Is 60-100k really that much money living in california? I assume they don't have to pay for food, travel, etc most of the time but that...
Is 60-100k really that much money living in california?

I assume they don't have to pay for food, travel, etc most of the time but that still like an awful lot of work for the salary.
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
If you live in the I.E. (Inland Empire) Corona, Temecula, Murrieta area, $75k would go a long ways. You can buy a house all day for...
If you live in the I.E. (Inland Empire) Corona, Temecula, Murrieta area, $75k would go a long ways. You can buy a house all day for $300k.

But are we talking supporting a family of 4? Know what I mean, many variables in that question.
How the hell would someone making 75k per year afford a 300k house?
mxb2
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mxb2 9/9/2016 6:36am
9/9/2016 6:36am
If they couldn't afford to survive they wdnt be doing it.
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 9/9/2016 6:47am
9/9/2016 6:47am
nascarnate326 wrote:
Is 60-100k really that much money living in california? I assume they don't have to pay for food, travel, etc most of the time but that...
Is 60-100k really that much money living in california?

I assume they don't have to pay for food, travel, etc most of the time but that still like an awful lot of work for the salary.
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
If you live in the I.E. (Inland Empire) Corona, Temecula, Murrieta area, $75k would go a long ways. You can buy a house all day for...
If you live in the I.E. (Inland Empire) Corona, Temecula, Murrieta area, $75k would go a long ways. You can buy a house all day for $300k.

But are we talking supporting a family of 4? Know what I mean, many variables in that question.
agn5009 wrote:
How the hell would someone making 75k per year afford a 300k house?
I was kinda wondering the same thing
Panic_Rev
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Panic_Rev 9/9/2016 7:19am
9/9/2016 7:19am Edited Date/Time 9/9/2016 7:26am
PJRAUS wrote:
Just wondering how it all relates from a taxation perspective when a rider pays his mechanic a bonus if they win a race or even a...
Just wondering how it all relates from a taxation perspective when a rider pays his mechanic a bonus if they win a race or even a championship? Does the rider just get paid and pays his mechic , thereby enduring paying his own, plus his mechanics tax? Boring subject I know, but I'm interested nonetheless
This is a CPA question, but I will take a stab at it.

If the rider received that bonus as 1099 income they would owe Federal and State income tax along with FICA (15.3%). As a 1099 person you have to pay both the employer's side and the employee's side. If you are W-2 income your employer pays half of the 15.3% and you pay the other half. When the rider pays the mechanic they would then get a tax deduction for the amount they payed in bonus'. The mechanic would then pay fed/state/FICA.

Where CPA's and financial advisers come into play is minimizing the impact of taxes. Independent contractors could set up a LLC and pay themselves a reasonable salary (w-2 income) and take the rest in distributions. These distributions avoid FICA thus saving you 15.3%. Note, FICA is only paid on the first $118k. So for this strategy to benefit someone they would need to take a salary less than $118k and take the rest in distributions.

To minimize taxes even more. The LLC could set up a 401k and individual could put $18k away coming from the w-2 income. This would reduce their federal taxable income by the amount they put in. So if you are in a 39% tax bracket on $18k that is about a $7k tax savings now.
huck
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huck 9/9/2016 7:20am
9/9/2016 7:20am
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
If you live in the I.E. (Inland Empire) Corona, Temecula, Murrieta area, $75k would go a long ways. You can buy a house all day for...
If you live in the I.E. (Inland Empire) Corona, Temecula, Murrieta area, $75k would go a long ways. You can buy a house all day for $300k.

But are we talking supporting a family of 4? Know what I mean, many variables in that question.
agn5009 wrote:
How the hell would someone making 75k per year afford a 300k house?
hvaughn88 wrote:
I was kinda wondering the same thing
Let's assume they take a 30 year mortgage....

Payment will be around $1400 a month. I'm sure taxes on that house are close to $1000 a month for California...

So we're at $2400 a month...not including utilities or any other bills.


$75,000 will bring you around $50,000 take home. So that is around $4100 a month in income. $1700 for everything else doesn't seem too doable.
agn5009
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agn5009 9/9/2016 7:48am
9/9/2016 7:48am
agn5009 wrote:
How the hell would someone making 75k per year afford a 300k house?
hvaughn88 wrote:
I was kinda wondering the same thing
huck wrote:
Let's assume they take a 30 year mortgage.... Payment will be around $1400 a month. I'm sure taxes on that house are close to $1000 a...
Let's assume they take a 30 year mortgage....

Payment will be around $1400 a month. I'm sure taxes on that house are close to $1000 a month for California...

So we're at $2400 a month...not including utilities or any other bills.


$75,000 will bring you around $50,000 take home. So that is around $4100 a month in income. $1700 for everything else doesn't seem too doable.
Yeah, definitely not possible. I make 75k in central PA where the cost of living is significantly less. I could never afford a 300k house.
mxb2
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mxb2 9/9/2016 7:50am
9/9/2016 7:50am
Maybe they married into $$ or the spouse makes more
mxtech1
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mxtech1 9/9/2016 7:55am
9/9/2016 7:55am
agn5009 wrote:
How the hell would someone making 75k per year afford a 300k house?
hvaughn88 wrote:
I was kinda wondering the same thing
huck wrote:
Let's assume they take a 30 year mortgage.... Payment will be around $1400 a month. I'm sure taxes on that house are close to $1000 a...
Let's assume they take a 30 year mortgage....

Payment will be around $1400 a month. I'm sure taxes on that house are close to $1000 a month for California...

So we're at $2400 a month...not including utilities or any other bills.


$75,000 will bring you around $50,000 take home. So that is around $4100 a month in income. $1700 for everything else doesn't seem too doable.
Wishful thinking. Do you actually own a house?

I make more than your given scenario, and live in a house worth less than $100K. All those "everything else" costs you conveniently left add up more significantly than you elude to. Some months we are money ahead, some months were are tight. We live fairly frugally. Granted, I invest alot into my 401k and savings. I couldn't even fathom mortgaging a $300k house on that salary.

The scenario you describe would for sure leave a guy house poor.
mxtech1
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mxtech1 9/9/2016 8:00am
9/9/2016 8:00am
I did a stint working as a privateer mechanic who payed $450 per week. When I sat down and did the math based on the hours I put in every week, it was significantly less than minimum wage, something to the tune of $6 per hour.

The same is going to hold true for most of the team mechanics. They are probably salaried and don't make alot in terms of the hours put in working and traveling.

There is an element of love and knowing you have a badass job. some guys will thrive in it and make a career but I would say most do 5-10 years and then are ready to be back in a regular job to get off the road.
Moto_Geek
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Moto_Geek 9/9/2016 8:09am
9/9/2016 8:09am
Even at 100k these guys are working their asses off, away from their family on the road, traveling all the time, meeting the riders on their schedules for testing, and at the race from dawn to dusk My guess is some of these guys are working 60+ hour weeks during race season..

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