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What do diesel techs make?

Posted on 6/26/17 at 8:44 pm
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19625 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 8:44 pm
So my younger brother is about to graduate from diesel school and I am helping with looking for jobs. He was telling me that starting out if you work for one of the bigger companies like John Deere or Cummins they don't pay those guys more than 15 or $16 an hour which seems pretty low to me. Anyone have any recommendations for which companies we should look into? It's not helping that the marine and offshore stuff is completely dead right now.

TIA
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:46 pm
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
66763 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 8:46 pm to
The field guys make really good money with the OT. Shop guys not so much, but 15-16 sounds low. I would think more along the lines of 18 to start.

Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45820 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 8:46 pm to
I have no idea, but does he have his own tools?
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42574 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 8:46 pm to
I would go in the Air Force.

ETA:

Bls list median pay @44k. 15-17 starting out sounds about right.
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:51 pm
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19625 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 8:47 pm to
Yes he does have his own tools.
Posted by BUCKMSTR7399
Member since Jul 2009
2709 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 8:48 pm to
Tell him to visit the nearest Hyster/Yale forklift dealer. There is a huge shortage of young techs and the industry is in dire need of new blood. All the new technology has a lot of the older guys feeling defeated and retiring. Great industry with great pay. Good luck to him.
Posted by Kill Switch
Miamisburg, OH
Member since Sep 2010
2387 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 9:09 pm to
I know a mechanic that works for the local John Deere dealership and he is only making about $18/hour and he's been there for probably around 7 years now.
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
28138 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 9:39 pm to
Tell him to go to work at the nearest T/A truck stop repair shop. Settle for the low pay,learn all that he can,and start outfitting his own road service truck as fast as he can.
He can be rich very soon.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
56103 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 9:55 pm to
$15 per hour does seem a little low, but just like college grads, he won't really know shite when he starts.

I would say his best bet is to try to get on at a Caterpillar dealership, as they used to be the highest paying of the dealerships back when I was in the business.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20512 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 10:01 pm to
$15-16 an hour plus great benefits most likely and good hours with OT when needed. I don't see what's to complain about there? If you are used to O&G it's not great but for a tech school and fresh out, that's solid imo. He can probably work as much as he wants and move up in pay rapidly.
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
8772 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 10:08 pm to
Where does he live or plan on working ? What geographic area ... City, State

I can run some Bureau of Labor Statistics tomorrow for mean/median annual and hourly rates . Will post info mañana
Posted by WilsonPickett
St Amant, LA
Member since Oct 2009
1657 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 10:30 pm to
$15-16 sucks, small engine repair guys make more than that around here.
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19625 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 11:11 pm to
NewO, BR, north shore area.

Anyone know how the fire truck place off the interstate pays? I saw they were hiring.
Posted by weadjust
Member since Aug 2012
15152 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 11:12 pm to
I was talking to my sisters neighbor in Gulf Shores. The guy said he owned a large diesel shop in W. TX w 20 bays and mostly works on oilfield vehicles. I asked him how long did it take him to drive from W. TX to G Shores. He said it's about a 15 minute to drive to my plane

Sounded like he was printing money.
Posted by LSU Neil
Springfield
Member since Feb 2007
2515 posts
Posted on 6/26/17 at 11:27 pm to
I work for the local Caterpillar dealer and can get him started if interested. Start out in shop. Min 60/hrs a week. His interview process and HR would determine starting pay. Reserve/NOLA/Belle Chasse possibly locations.
Posted by weisertiger
Lake Charles, LA
Member since Sep 2007
2482 posts
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:12 am to
Tell him to move to lake charles and get a job with a rental company like united or sun belt. He will make very good money
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
8772 posts
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:07 pm to
just researched the Occupational Employment Statistics for most current data (May 2016)
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Diesel Engine Specialists
.....Limited exp/Entry level....... Hourly mean ... Annual mean
BR area........ 15.59....................23.25 ...............48,370
NOLA/ Met.... 14.40...................22.24 .............. 46,270
Houma/Thib.. 20.15...................28.74................61,870


Mobile Hvy Equipment Mechanics
.....Limited Exp/Entry level.........Hourly mean ... Annual mean
BR area........14.76...................20.86 ...............43,350
NOLA/ Met... 15.60..................22.16 .............. 46,210
Houma/Thib.. 16.95.................23.80................48,870


These numbers are an avg. from a large pool of wage data collected by the BLS.
The higher the $$ usually means that's where the industry and jobs are.
Houma/Thib is likely associated with the oilfield related industry.

best of luck to your little bro
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19625 posts
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:40 pm to
Appreciate it.
Posted by Pirate0714
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2016
431 posts
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:43 pm to
Tell him to look into maybe United Rentals or Sunbelt Rentals. Those guys are looking all the time for mechanics on all their equipment Can prolly get him the experience he is looking for.
Posted by LSU Neil
Springfield
Member since Feb 2007
2515 posts
Posted on 6/27/17 at 6:08 pm to
This guy above has close hourly figures. I know many field technicians top at close to 50/hr. But starting out his figures are real close. Annual income comes down to how many hours does he want to work. Obviously the money is after you reach 40 hours and hit OT. The rental side has a lot less stress. Less demand. Private companies and larger production companies (Deere, Cat, H&E); more hours, more demand.
I'd say the MAIN thing he needs to look at is base pay vs commission pay. (Like a car dealership) starting out I would stay away from the latter...he will be given all the crappy jobs and won't make any money
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