I was wondering if anyone knew what the average hourly wage for a motorcycle mechanic is in Toronto? Is it higher for car mechanics? I understand that being a car mechanic is more secure as there isn't the danger of being seasonally laid off. The time commitment to qualify for either is fairly similar, is it better to pursue a career as a car mechanic vs motorcycle?
What's the average wage for a licensed motorcycle mechanic in Toronto vs car mechanic
- Thread starter kawiking
- Start date
Good luck.
If you want to be a mechanic go with deisel, tractor trailer, locomotive or ship. More money and much easier to work on. Unless you like having no skin on your knuckles.
starboy869
Well-known member
consider the army vehicle tech regular force program.
first year while training would be around $30k.. and 5 years in you'd be around $55+k
BTW at $21/hr a cashier 5 years in at Costco would make more $$.
first year while training would be around $30k.. and 5 years in you'd be around $55+k
BTW at $21/hr a cashier 5 years in at Costco would make more $$.
How easy is it to find a job after graduation? How easy is it to get placement?
If you want to be a mechanic go with deisel, tractor trailer, locomotive or ship. More money and much easier to work on. Unless you like having no skin on your knuckles.
Best advice in thread
Drennan57
Well-known member
Honestly it's not worth it to be a motorcycle mechanic in Canada. If you lived down south where the season is year round then it's a fine career but not here.
You're better off getting into the Offroad side of things, ATV,Snowmobiles, Dirtbikes etc. That way you can sustain income through all seasons.
You're better off getting into the Offroad side of things, ATV,Snowmobiles, Dirtbikes etc. That way you can sustain income through all seasons.
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Yes I worked as a bike mechanic trust me look at another field. Yes seasonal not secure I, m back as a small engine mechanic a little more secure can be seasonal too. Pay is very close and alot more job opportunities but I, m not telling you take this path . Car mechanics is a better choice but is getting very difficult because of cars getting so advanced. But I worn you I have yet to meet a car mechanic that likes what he is doing
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If you work as a mechanic at a dealer, you generally have work all year round as they dont just sell and service motorcycles only. When the season changes your also working on ATV, Snow mobiles, Lawn equipment, etc etc
Im not a mechanic by profession, but I do work on the side for people I know, and actually a lot of people that message me off this site. I also do powder coating, and for me I get the most people coming to me in the winter. The ride the bikes in the summer season, and have work done in the winter when they cant ride...So it can go both ways, a lot of shops are crazy busy right not prepping race and track bikes for the upcoming season also...
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-Maverick-
Well-known member
This is good advice. Try and get into Caterpillar (Cruthers). Heavy equipment mechanics are the only ones who make a really good living. They get paid by the hour vs flat rate. Dealership mechanics get paid flat rate... it's a brutal way to make a living. You'll get paid straight time (by the hour) till the beginning of your fourth year as an apprentice. Then they release you to the hounds and you are now competing with the mechanic in the bay next to you. If you F up, the tower operator (the guy that hands out the work) will give you **** jobs...oil leaks especially. You'll go broke fast. If you do well, they'll give you good jobs such as brake jobs. There is no better sound to a mechanic than the squeeler hitting a rotor as he drives the car in...gravy. High tech is good as well. All you do all day is diagnose electrical problems. Most dealers have two high tech mechanics on hand. One or two front end mechanics. The rest are generals. As for motorcycle mechanic they fix snowmobiles, ATVs, and jet skis as well. It's the lowest paying job in the totem of mechanics. The payscale kind of goes like this:If you want to be a mechanic go with deisel, tractor trailer, locomotive or ship. More money and much easier to work on. Unless you like having no skin on your knuckles.
1) Heavy equipment (construction)
2) Heavy equipment fleet ie. buses
2) Auto mechanic fleet ie. police cars
3) Auto mechanic
4) Else, motorcycle, snowmobile, small engine
You have to buy all your own tools ($30,000) as well. Kind of like you're an independent contractor and the dealership supplies the air, hoist and bay. From my experience, the government wouldn't allow mechanics to claim their tools on income tax. Which is criminal. Most mechanics last ten years or so (the smart ones) and realize there are much easier ways to make money.
Get your red seal and head south if that's something you're open to - Canadian licenced mechanics are like rocket scientists in many parts of the southern USA and are treated accordingly. Down there the typical training is "ASE Certified", which when compared to up here equates to "Glorified grease monkey with a piece of paper". Our red seal system up here is so vastly superior it's not even funny.
If you can find a dealership or large company to sponsor you (and that's likely not that hard based on what I know) you'll get your green card easily, particularly as a skilled tradesperson.
I have a relative who is a red seal mechanic and now lives in Mississippi, comfortably supporting a family of 5 on his income alone.
If you can find a dealership or large company to sponsor you (and that's likely not that hard based on what I know) you'll get your green card easily, particularly as a skilled tradesperson.
I have a relative who is a red seal mechanic and now lives in Mississippi, comfortably supporting a family of 5 on his income alone.
Supernam
Well-known member
I work for Toromont Cat(formerly Crothers) as a Heavy Equipment Technician. I would suggest going to school at Centennial College or Sir Sanford Fleming for the best chance to work there. Being a Heavy Equipment Technician or Truck and Coach Technician pays about the same.
And yet there are motorcycle mechanics around. What a negative outlook that's not supported by anything factual. There are just as many shops opening as there are closing. People want things yesterday in any kind of business.
It is true, however, that there are more lucrative mechanic positions, as others have mentioned.
However, if your passion lies with motorcycles it's not impossible to make a living.
zeniceguy
Well-known member
I used to be a ford senior tech. Made about 63,000 a year average. Switched to heavy equipment and now im making a lot more! I will never go back to auto mechanics again. Look into what flat rate is. Its the only way to make money in automotive, and if the shop is slow you make nothing.
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something nobody is pointing out is motorcycles come to you for repair, diesels breakdown out in the middle of a cold field in February. Trust me on this, standing on the side of the 401 at 3am under the hood of a freightliner sucks.
My dad at one point was a large diesel tech, those 6cyl engines you could stand in the cylinders on ships, he said the pay was good, but it better be in the bowels of a ship rocking 30deg and bobbing in the ocean, switched to construction equipment, said the same thing, never saw a dozer stop running in the service bay.
My good friend is a motorcycle/ sled/ atv mech now working in Kelowna, it pays well, he has very steady yr round work and loves that he can get a job pretty easy anywhere in Canada, if you want/need to make large money this may not be the trade.
My dad at one point was a large diesel tech, those 6cyl engines you could stand in the cylinders on ships, he said the pay was good, but it better be in the bowels of a ship rocking 30deg and bobbing in the ocean, switched to construction equipment, said the same thing, never saw a dozer stop running in the service bay.
My good friend is a motorcycle/ sled/ atv mech now working in Kelowna, it pays well, he has very steady yr round work and loves that he can get a job pretty easy anywhere in Canada, if you want/need to make large money this may not be the trade.
