job recommendations

[rallystyle]

Well i have gotten to a point that i have been thinking about changing jobs. i am a mechanic now and have been for the last 16 years. both military and professionally. was a dealer tech and now a independent tech. i would like to stay in the auto industry but not sure what way to go. any suggestions ?

[ErikLS2]

I was in a similar boat, had enough of the auto repair world though. Started looking for automotive technology jobs, landed one with Cruise, the self driving car company. Been with them 3 years now, the environment, benefits, etc. is worlds above anything in the regular auto repair world. We need techs, but only in San Francisco at the moment.

[ironworks]

Lots of hot rods shops looking for good talent. A well ran shop you can make pretty good money with the worker shortage of the industry right now. But you have to produce results in the right shop.

I have alot of guys making 70-90k per year.

[Build-It-Break-it]

I was a heavy equipment mechanic for years and in the mechanical field for 18 years total. I honestly got tired of working on equipment, it wasn't rewarding.

My wife found out I could be a high school teacher with only 1 year of easy schooling. I make just over $82k and it's only my 2nd year teaching and there's auto teachers making 6 figures for the same county I work for here in california.

I only work 185 days a year and honestly work less then that with the paid trainings, personal days, business days etc etc. all paid.

I get paid to work on my own cars while teaching students. Right now I'm building a 70 camaro in my after school auto club and they pay me an additional $5k a year (185 day school year) to have the auto club. Next year I'll bring in my 68 camaro to finish.

I love doing fabrication and now I'm getting paid to do it on my own cars, can't beat it.

All the time off is worth it alone. I make more then most of my mechanic buddies and only work the 185 days a year. You can always make more money but you can never get back your time. All the time I have off with my family now is so worth the switch in careers.

Forgot to mention I get into SEMA every year as a teacher. Bonus!!

Ahmad

[rallystyle]

Thanks everyone for the feed back. I would say i make decent money now. its just the very long hours and being on your feet all day. also smelling like chemicals does not help. i can say it has slowed me down on my own projects because of it.

[Build-It-Break-it]

One thing you'll never hear anyone ever say when it's time to meet their maker is "man I wish I would of spent more time at work" .

18 years of smelling diesel, gasoline, old gear oil, hydraulic fluid, fumes from vehicles and the steel mill I get cha.

Tomorrow I head to NHRA in a coach bus (paid) with students, oh man life's tough...

look into teaching....