18 replies to this topic

[bigrob]

Hi guys

This is a funny sounding question, and i dont know who else to ask this to, and presuming theres a few people on here in the same business as i am, i'd thought i'd ask.

After some disagreements at my place of work over money, i would like to know how much people in my similar position are worth.

I am a panel beater with 2 years experience on the job, learning as i go. I can pull dents, good with a hammer and dolly, i can fill, prime, prep and polish. Everything except for paint basically.

I have a level 3 in vehicle repair and maintenance and am very mechanically minded.

I am 21 years old with a long history repairing and assisting restorations since i was about 14/15.


So how much am i worth to an employer?

I feel that as i was a trainee at this particular place, i might not be getting a fair end of the deal.

Any help is fantastic. Thankyou

Rob

[Mini 360]

It totally depends on the local economy and what competitors pay.  Like the bodyshop i take my car too is £30 per hour labour.  In Aberdeen (15 miles away) you are looking at £50 and the staff get paid accordingly.  Very hard to give an accurate estimate.  Either way.  You never earn enough money.

[bigrob]

I think we charge between 25 and 40 pound an hour, its more set prices to particular jobs. i-e, a bumper corner repair is 140 dependent on the size, and a full side repair and blend is around 600.

I have been told by someone i know who works around the corner from us that the lowest paid employee there, basically the trainee tea boy, is on about 1k a month

[racingbob]

I had some welding done at panel shop it was £50 an hour

[Tamworthbay]

I think we charge between 25 and 40 pound an hour, its more set prices to particular jobs. i-e, a bumper corner repair is 140 dependent on the size, and a full side repair and blend is around 600.
I have been told by someone i know who works around the corner from us that the lowest paid employee there, basically the trainee tea boy, is on about 1k a month

Depending on hours and age, minimum wage isn't far off 1k a month for a full time job.

[bigrob]

Yeah minimum wage take home is just under a grand.

[cradley-heathen]

Yeah minimum wage take home is just under a grand.

is it really? i didnt realise it was that much, but i never really thought about it.

 

when your self employed, there is no such thing as minimum wage unfotunately!

 

however, as regards the original question, it sounds like you are worthy of a good wage. the only thing i would say is that you may not get onto good numbers until your a little older. im not being age-ist or anything, its just how i would imagine potential employers would see you as a candidate.

 

i think as you get older you will be able to ask more and more money as basically you have gained allot of experience, and thats what i would think will make the difference in getting top dollar.

 

i was thinking of a guy i was talking to who was an apprentice at Morgan, he has been there for about 15 years already and still didnt get top money for another few years until they would class him as a "master" or whatever

[bigrob]

Yeah for a 21 year old its 6.31 an hour.

I appreciate that experience does count for everything these days, but when someone can do the job just as well as anyone else, why pay them less or ignore the fact that we younger people have things to pay for too.

[Bungle]

2 years in as a electrical apprentice i was on £50 a week

 

although that was 20 odd years ago, dam you kids are spoilt

[Shifty]

2 years in as a electrical apprentice i was on £50 a week

 

although that was 20 odd years ago, dam you kids are spoilt

 

Bleeding hell!!

 

As an apprentice I was on £70 a week, that was 23 years ago

[bigrob]

But when petrol costs 1.28 a litre and renting where i live, a studio flat will set you back 800 a month, minimum wage doesnt go far

[Black.Ghost]

800 a month?! Bloody hell I'm in Bournemouth which is an expensive place to live and me and the gf rent a 1 bed flat newly refurbished for 550 a month!

[ANON]

how much are you on now?

[bigrob]

Yeah thats st albans. Im on minimum wage. But thats only recent

[cradley-heathen]

Yeah for a 21 year old its 6.31 an hour.

I appreciate that experience does count for everything these days, but when someone can do the job just as well as anyone else, why pay them less or ignore the fact that we younger people have things to pay for too.

i totally appreciate what your saying mate i do honestly, but im speaking from experience here.....

 

i worked for a global engineering/testing company for about 5 years. when i started i was a machinist at the branch up the road from where i live, after 12 months a landed a job a few miles away, still in the same company, but as a radiographer. i did that for about 3 years, then my a guy from the first place contacted me. they wanted me to go back and do my old machining job again.

 

anyway, i went for an interview and i was told that depending on experience i could get between figure X and figure Y per year. i assumed that as i had done that exact job (what we did was pretty specialist) on those exact machines, in that building, with the same people, and the same customers, surely i would qualify for the top whack??? not a chance, i started in the middle of the two figures! and this is what im talking about!

 

as it happens i only stuck it for 12 months and then left, they now have 2 guys doing the job i used to do single handed!