Average wage?

wreckitrandy
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wreckitrandy
Edited Date/Time 1/19/2012 9:54pm
What do mechanics make per year?
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wreckitrandy
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wreckitrandy 1/29/2010 12:02pm
1/29/2010 12:02pm
Is it a secret or something?
TerryK
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TerryK 1/29/2010 12:03pm
1/29/2010 12:03pm
It's all over the board but I bet the average is less than 25k.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/29/2010 12:09pm
1/29/2010 12:09pm
It's peanuts when you consider that most of them could make more workin' at a good dealership.

The vast majority of them are out there because they like being a part of something that they love.

Those Mechanics are the same thing as a Chief in the Navy: They make the Show happen.

I'm jus' knowin'...
wreckitrandy
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wreckitrandy 1/29/2010 12:12pm
1/29/2010 12:12pm
Thanks man. A friend of mine's son thinks that's what he wants to do.

The Shop

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TerryK
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TerryK 1/29/2010 12:13pm
1/29/2010 12:13pm
wreckitrandy wrote:
Thanks man. A friend of mine's son thinks that's what he wants to do.
It's a tough life. Long hours, low pay, crazy travel.
ASH510
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ASH510 1/29/2010 12:17pm
1/29/2010 12:17pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 8:26pm
i knew a guy that wrenched for a racer #33 or close to that at the time $300 a week
is what he got that was the last part of the 90's.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/29/2010 12:20pm
1/29/2010 12:20pm
wreckitrandy wrote:
Thanks man. A friend of mine's son thinks that's what he wants to do.
TerryK wrote:
It's a tough life. Long hours, low pay, crazy travel.
But, it can be a youngman's dream, too.

There are a few success stories...

J-Bone.

Goose.

Hell, Berluti hasn't done too bad, either. He's a good example of someone making a pretty good living for quite a while.

You CAN make a few bucks; but, as Terry points out: Crazy schedule...
suzukiSteve162 1/29/2010 12:25pm
1/29/2010 12:25pm
What about the transport driver (truck drives) now that would be the dream job.
Cygnus
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Cygnus 1/29/2010 12:31pm
1/29/2010 12:31pm
Do you mean at a shop or for a rider ?
My best year was just over 30k when I had my own shop.
indy_maico
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indy_maico 1/29/2010 12:32pm
1/29/2010 12:32pm
The money for mechanics is in professional car racing.

Even a 2nd tier series like GrandAm pays well for the full-on pro teams like Ganassi, SunTrust, Brumos, etc. A mechanic will make $50-60K there, just a little under an IndyCar mechanic, plus a cut of the prize money.

NeckCar mechanics get big money, and the race week-end guys only do races, they don't work in the shop. There are stay-at-home mechanics that do all the car build, prep, etc.

TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/29/2010 12:43pm
1/29/2010 12:43pm
indy_maico wrote:
The money for mechanics is in professional car racing. Even a 2nd tier series like GrandAm pays well for the full-on pro teams like Ganassi, SunTrust...
The money for mechanics is in professional car racing.

Even a 2nd tier series like GrandAm pays well for the full-on pro teams like Ganassi, SunTrust, Brumos, etc. A mechanic will make $50-60K there, just a little under an IndyCar mechanic, plus a cut of the prize money.

NeckCar mechanics get big money, and the race week-end guys only do races, they don't work in the shop. There are stay-at-home mechanics that do all the car build, prep, etc.

Are youtalkin' about the Over-the-Wall guys? (NASCAR)
mxer146
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mxer146 1/29/2010 1:30pm
1/29/2010 1:30pm
I did it for the last couple years. I absolutely loved it and wouldn't change a thing. In 2007 I made a percent of what the rider made. Didn't make peanuts but I got the experience. In 2008 I was on a little known team and made 400 a week in the shop and 300 at the races. Expenses paid. Last year I got on with a family doing amateur stuff and made about 30k. Count in expenses and rent covered and it was definitely a good gig.

Like I said, I loved it. BUT...Good luck finding a job in these times. Unfortunately, the mechanic didn't make a lot to begin with and now it is worse.
VEGAS711
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VEGAS711 1/29/2010 7:56pm
1/29/2010 7:56pm
You could use it as a stepping stone to being rich and famous like Matthes. I remember when he at least said hi to me. Now he has his own site and show he is all cool guy, won't even say hi.
SH_105
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SH_105 1/29/2010 8:17pm
1/29/2010 8:17pm
Depends oh who you work for and what team... My last year at Suzuki I gave my mechanic a pretty good amount of bonuses and also helped him buy his first house along with a season ending Rolex!! Dont hear much from him anymore!!
slider
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slider 1/29/2010 9:24pm
1/29/2010 9:24pm
I know of a mech that is making around 80k for SX only.
Now, before any of you put your $ down at MMI... only a few make this. Most do it for the love of the sport...

Rick
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MXTRAINER1 1/29/2010 10:35pm
1/29/2010 10:35pm
IMO, every rider hired on a team should have to spend at least one complete week with their mechanic from morning till he goes home. It would allow the rider to understand just how much time and work go into thier bikes and the appreciation factor just might be raised.

These guys work 60 hours a week and their weekends start with waiting in an airport, flying to the race, setting up the pits, making sure the race bike is ready, pitting for the rider then once the race is over they have to tear down the bikes and the pits, go to the hotel (try to get a little sleep) wake up and fly home.

For a young mechanic it does have a fun factor but if you have a family it can be tough.
If you are lucky enough to have a top rider then you may or may not receive a bonus from him (as Sean touched on) as some riders are generous and others are not.
circus
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circus 1/29/2010 10:40pm
1/29/2010 10:40pm
SH_105 wrote:
Depends oh who you work for and what team... My last year at Suzuki I gave my mechanic a pretty good amount of bonuses and also...
Depends oh who you work for and what team... My last year at Suzuki I gave my mechanic a pretty good amount of bonuses and also helped him buy his first house along with a season ending Rolex!! Dont hear much from him anymore!!
I know who that is!!
RMZ819
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RMZ819 1/30/2010 4:50am
1/30/2010 4:50am Edited Date/Time 1/30/2010 4:51am
SH_105 wrote:
Depends oh who you work for and what team... My last year at Suzuki I gave my mechanic a pretty good amount of bonuses and also...
Depends oh who you work for and what team... My last year at Suzuki I gave my mechanic a pretty good amount of bonuses and also helped him buy his first house along with a season ending Rolex!! Dont hear much from him anymore!!
Kinda like a old girl friend!!!!

Pit Row

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indy_maico
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indy_maico 1/30/2010 6:49am
1/30/2010 6:49am
TeamGreen wrote:
Are youtalkin' about the Over-the-Wall guys? (NASCAR)
Some NASCAR teams have the week-end mechanics plus a crew of guys that come in just to do pit stops.

Not sure how that will work in 2010 though as they have put a cap of 15 team personnel at a race including the driver! Maybe they can send some guys home when they fly in the pit stop guys, but I am sure that would go against what they are trying to achieve with the new rule (cost cutting)
sbarrington314 1/30/2010 6:54am
1/30/2010 6:54am
wreckitrandy wrote:
Thanks man. A friend of mine's son thinks that's what he wants to do.
i have a friend that did it for a privateer. made like 20k for supercross lites and motocross. so about 3/4 of a year.
your friends son isnt going to be able to just go sign up to be a factory team mechanic right out of MMI or whatever. best bet is going to be volunteer his time at wonder worthog team or something to get some more experience.
JustPuttinAround 1/30/2010 7:42am
1/30/2010 7:42am
SH_105 wrote:
Depends oh who you work for and what team... My last year at Suzuki I gave my mechanic a pretty good amount of bonuses and also...
Depends oh who you work for and what team... My last year at Suzuki I gave my mechanic a pretty good amount of bonuses and also helped him buy his first house along with a season ending Rolex!! Dont hear much from him anymore!!
Yeah, that makes sense....I have a hard time believing Goose works for 30K or made 30K all those years with RC...I'd bet he is in the 6 figures with bonuses, etc...same thing with a guy like Bones....
I would think that if you work for a top 10 rider/factory you probably make good money, while a low level team or privateer mechanic works for peanuts relatively speaking

Kind of similar to lawyers...get in with the right firm or practice and you make really good money, while there are plenty of them running around chasing ambulances and doing DUI cases to scratch out a living

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