Service Tech $40/hr

Essvar · 11-16-2021, 12:43 PM

Drove past our local RV dealer in Junction City Oregon... they are advertising for service techs at $40/hr

I'm not sure about elsewhere in the country, but in the local economy of Junction City that's an astounding hourly wage! Too bad $40 can't even buy you a Dutch Bros coffee anymore

German Shepherd Guy · 11-16-2021, 01:28 PM

And as Dustin Hoffman said in the movie "Little Big Man" when asked if he could drive the wagon. "You Bet!"

Even though he had grown up with the Cheyenne and had never driven a wagon.

"Yes sir, I am a hell of a service tech!"

Javi · 11-16-2021, 01:44 PM

$40 and hour won't buy much of a tech nowadays.... that's more like journeyman level pay

$65... gets you experienced folks

Essvar · 11-16-2021, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javi

$40 and hour won't buy much of a tech nowadays.... that's more like journeyman level pay

$65... gets you experienced folks

I just don't see how the dealers can be making any money when they are only charging $120/hr for service.

mikec557 · 11-21-2021, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javi

$40 and hour won't buy much of a tech nowadays.... that's more like journeyman level pay

$65... gets you experienced folks

Wait, $40/hr is $83,000/yr. Are you saying that's not enough to get a knowledgeable employee?

...

That it takes $65/hr, $135,000/year to get just a good knowledgeable employee?

Maybe you were speaking tongue in cheek.

DieselMike · 11-21-2021, 07:20 PM

$40.00 an hour is not enough for an experienced tech today IMHO.
$83,200 is not going to cut it for someone who can weld, perform diagnostics, complete competant repairs with first pass yield results, electrical, plumbing, engineering up-grades to poor designs form the manufacture nand the list goes on.

I’m a contractor with plumbing, welding, electrical, hydraulics, concrete, carpentry, auto mechanics, designing and i’m getting tired at age 53...When you find someone who can do 3-4 of those trades, they will make 135K per year period. The baby boomers retired, and the new kids on the block dont have experience. I would gladly pay $150 per hour if the tech was competent, can fix the problem the first time in a reasonable amount of time verse paying $100 per hour and taking 2 weeks due to zero experience and it still not get fixed right. I know there are a lot of people who have a tool box and can fix things, but in many cases they are limited. On this site, there is a lot of great people with lots of experience and support hands down.

**chuckster57** · 11-21-2021, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselMike

$40.00 an hour is not enough for an experienced tech today IMHO.
$83,200 is not going to cut it for someone who can weld, perform diagnostics, complete competant repairs with first pass yield results, electrical, plumbing, engineering up-grades to poor designs form the manufacture nand the list goes on.

I’m a contractor with plumbing, welding, electrical, hydraulics, concrete, carpentry, auto mechanics, designing and i’m getting tired at age 53...When you find someone who can do 3-4 of those trades, they will make 135K per year period. The baby boomers retired, and the new kids on the block dont have experience. I would gladly pay $150 per hour if the tech was competent, can fix the problem the first time in a reasonable amount of time verse paying $100 per hour and taking 2 weeks due to zero experience and it still not get fixed right. I know there are a lot of people who have a tool box and can fix things, but in many cases they are limited. On this site, there is a lot of great people with lots of experience and support hands down.

Where can I apply? I can do all the above.

DieselMike · 11-21-2021, 07:37 PM

There are so many openings in the US if you have the right skill set.....This is not a joke!

Lindyn · 11-16-2021, 01:53 PM

Very hard to find a Good Tech, Camping is over whelmed, there is no way Camping World can repair the RV's they are selling. We have returned 3 times on the 4 door fridge, still beeps. NOT worth the time to keep retuning. We now have to use a truck bed brace to hold pressure. Sad to say but a RV they list for over a $100,000 dollars never have had these many issues, on a 5th wheel.

pdaniel · 11-21-2021, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindyn

Very hard to find a Good Tech, Camping is over whelmed, there is no way Camping World can repair the RV's they are selling. We have returned 3 times on the 4 door fridge, still beeps. NOT worth the time to keep retuning. We now have to use a truck bed brace to hold pressure. Sad to say but a RV they list for over a $100,000 dollars never have had these many issues, on a 5th wheel.

Went to the local CW to purchase a washer/dryer combo for the rig. When asked if they would install and what the cost would be to install I was told to basically forget about installation until after the first of the year.

So I will have the washer/dryer on hand to install myself (rig is prepped for laundry). Saves me some money also.

gearhead · 11-16-2021, 04:39 PM

Do RV Mechanics work off a "book" job time? Like.....the time to do a brake job is 3 hours in the book; but if the mechanic can do it in 2 hours he gets paid for 3 and can go on to another job.
40 an hour ain't bad money if it's paid punch to punch.. start time to leave for home time.
Around here pay at the refineries and chem plants is approaching $50. That's top money for craftsmen. That includes a substantial amount of time sitting on your rear. I'll bet much better benefits too. Most hired in the last 10 years were required to have a 2 year degree or at least a certificate or a union apprenticeship.

jasin1 · 11-16-2021, 04:47 PM

It could be $40 an hour for 20 hours a week ….or. $40 an hour until they catch up with work that is stacking up

If you look up zip recruiter the average pay is around $20 an hour with Hawaii having the highest at $23

And the advertised $40 may include benefits to add up to $40 an hour

**chuckster57** · 11-16-2021, 05:19 PM

Pay rate and shop rates vary ALOT, depending on what area of the country your in.

If you can get $120.00/hr shop rate, your lucky. $150.00- $175.00 is the range in my area…I’m not here to disclose my pay rate, and last time I checked flat rate was no longer legal here.

There is a sign on the highway in Lodi for $50.00/hr.

jasin1 · 11-16-2021, 05:26 PM

A good employee is worth his or her weight in gold…to have someone show up everyday..on time .. with a good attitude and is teachable is worth $20 an hour for me….with little to no experience…someone with experience and able to work independently is worth a whole lot more.

I’m sure qualified rv service techs can make a very good living as well..didn’t mean to try and dissect salary’s…hope no offense

**chuckster57** · 11-16-2021, 05:50 PM

None taken here.

Essvar · 11-16-2021, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Pay rate and shop rates vary ALOT, depending on what area of the country your in.

If you can get $120.00/hr shop rate, your lucky. $150.00- $175.00 is the range in my area…I’m not here to disclose my pay rate, and last time I checked flat rate was no longer legal here.

There is a sign on the highway in Lodi for $50.00/hr.

It’s very relative to the local market, sadly I’m sure at this point they will settle for anyone who shows up mostly sober and not too high.

Sadly wages in Oregon (not Portland) are typically well under where they should be based on our cost of living.

DieselMike · 11-21-2021, 05:37 PM

I would say that is great money for a newbie, but not for an experienced person. Experienced blue color workers in the right field are easliy making 100K PLUS per year now.

**chuckster57** · 11-21-2021, 06:27 PM

In my years, I’ve come to realize the RV service industry is a low paying field. Today’s tech has to know “a whole bunch” of technical stuff, and training is sorely lacking, and we won’t talk about all the tools

I am forever grateful that I had a long successful career before starting in this field. I have told new techs in the past that this is a “job” you have while looking for a “career”.

gearhead · 11-17-2021, 04:41 AM

Here is something that I don't quite understand...why don't repair shops work overtime, or maybe they do and I just don't know? Of course my opinions are based on my experiences. It was common in my past work life that if a job was needed to be finished, someone stayed and worked it. It was common for a job to be worked 24 hours for several days. No way I could count the number of times I was forced to work 12 hour shifts for several weeks. Some guys would volunteer for it and some wouldn't. Didn't matter if you were "on your tools" or a supervisor. I worked more hours as a supervisor than I did on my tools. Wasn't uncommon for a manger to show up on a Sunday afternoon.

**chuckster57** · 11-17-2021, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead

Here is something that I don't quite understand...why don't repair shops work overtime, or maybe they do and I just don't know? Of course my opinions are based on my experiences. It was common in my past work life that if a job was needed to be finished, someone stayed and worked it. It was common for a job to be worked 24 hours for several days. No way I could count the number of times I was forced to work 12 hour shifts for several weeks. Some guys would volunteer for it and some wouldn't. Didn't matter if you were "on your tools" or a supervisor. I worked more hours as a supervisor than I did on my tools. Wasn't uncommon for a manger to show up on a Sunday afternoon.

Overtime has been a part of my working life since even when I started in Law enforcement. Biggest problem right now is finding ANYBODY that even wants to work, And getting parts hasent gotten any better either.

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