Installer Pay

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flynntech

Copper - Posts: 275

Joined: April 15, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: September 19, 2004 at 3:45 AM / IP Logged

Unfortunatly, the mobile electronics industry as a whole, not everyone, banks on young people to basically work for free.

The pay may seem attractive, but considering you supply your own tools and skills which are equivelent to a mechanic, electrician, cabinet maker, product specialist...and so on, most people are really selling themselfs short. Not to mention, medical benifits, retirement and 401k are unheard of for most installers.

Now I agree that you shouldn't get payed the big $$$ just for popping in a few HUs, but if you show up for work and have a toolbox worth over $2000 and growing....shouldn't your employer be interested in training you? Most don't and you are stuck on your own earning min wages, learning what you can from senior installers.

I don't work in mobile electronics, I work with electronics. My company is training me on specific products which will take at least two years to learn. My work alone can bring in up to $750 an hour in revenue, even while I'm in training...so I really don't believe it's an inconvenience for shops to train installers if my company can train me. There is no school in the world that teaches specifically what I do, it's OJT only...mobile electronics is equally unique, shouldn't they follow the same protocol?

In mobile electronics or anywhere else you go, make yourself irreplacable.

911vehicle

Member - Posts: 1

Joined: July 03, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: October 11, 2004 at 6:07 PM / IP Logged

5150azn wrote:

Hey guys I'm new here and like to say hi.

I was just wondering your guys' take on my situation.

I've been installing for Circuit sh*ty for a little over 2 years. I was an installer at their #1 volume store in the company. I just relocated to Southern California. I am very unhappy installing there. I get $700 every two weeks not including bonus, which goes up to $300. Should I suck it up and stay there and ask for more money? Or can I make more money and deal with less B.S. at Good Guys, Best Buy, or a mom an pop shop?

roycjarrett

Copper - Posts: 3

Joined: December 21, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: October 13, 2004 at 8:01 PM / IP Logged

Iwould advocate a Mom & Pop if you like the owner and he works there, often times the reduced stress with the right situtation makes a heck of a compensation package! If you do that though be carefuk to find a place that stands a chance of being open next week, and has an attitude of not being left in the "techno dust". You will probly be held more acountable for you work though ( but there may be alittle more glory ).

If you want to know what the low down is though at any place ask the installers, and be aware that some of them may see you as a threat. Also consider OEM shops, often the work is profitable though in many ways different than retail. Some installers love doing OEM work and some hate it, and it is often a mobile ( on-site ) type of job.

Personally I would consider $500 a week after taxes a tolerable pay (5 day week), but for an experianced installer in today's market it should be more. The pay that the big box stores often offer has made installers under rate the potential our industry has. The whole "free install" bit has destroyed much of the profit for installers everywhere.

Roy C. Jarrett

I have been in doing this for this long because I enjoy it more than what I trainned for (comp prog/elec repair), and I am slightly nuts!

Hey 23 yrs and counting...

5150azn

Silver - Posts: 584

Joined: June 21, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: October 16, 2004 at 1:45 AM / IP Logged

Ok since starting this post... I've quit circuit city roadshop to work for an ultra high end custom shop in southern CA. Rich and Famous people cars only. I do some very crazy installations like flushing 10 to 15inch monitors into escalade dashes and stuff. I don't want to throw any numbers out because it's not polite to discuss pay. But damn I get $11hr! Whats up with that? If your familiar with MTV's Pimp My Ride; your familiar with West Coast Customs. We are competitors. If this is the top of the hill, whats left for my installation career. I remember in middle school I would dream about being a custom installer. Now I install for real famous people but I get paid crap. What am I doing wrong?

Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

audiomechanic

Silver - Posts: 388

Joined: November 09, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: October 17, 2004 at 10:29 AM / IP Logged

this is definatly NOT ht eindustry to be in if you want to be rich. it is one that even though you might be the most creative, fastest and most knowledgeable guy at the shop, it might go un appreciated.....until you leave, or tell them you are leaving. you have to prove yourself in many aspects of the job and show that you are willing to stick it out.

another thing that can help you make more money is if you bring in buying customers. this will show that you are there for the company.

also make as many contacts as possible. find suppliers, manufacturers, magazines, etc. this will give you a bit more room to bargin if your contacts will only deal with you. it will also give you more worth to a new employer if you are job hunting.

isus

Copper - Posts: 71

Joined: October 19, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: October 19, 2004 at 9:10 PM / IP Logged

$11/hr? Damn I started at circuit city at $10.50/hr. And it looks like I'll get my .50 raise in a week or two. I don't know about the west coast but on the east coast I heard that installers are getting $18/hr to work at best buy.

auex

Platinum - Posts: 5,041

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Joined: December 23, 2002

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: October 19, 2004 at 11:20 PM / IP Logged

If you guys want to make money you have to get out of the retail world completely. Doing this means you will loose alot of what you enjoy doing in retail world like working on different vehicles and custom work, but money is money. I know people that make 60K+ mostly installing/preloading alarms, some video, and an occasional radio.

Also, if you are relying on an hourly wage then you are in a f'ed up shop in the first place.

Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

lathan

Copper - Posts: 105

Joined: May 23, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: October 23, 2004 at 12:02 AM / IP Logged

Hey fellas,

just wanted to say that I feel what your going through. I work at best buy and am only at $10.00 hr. I have all my M.E.C.P. certifications except for my master installer certificate which I will have in 2 years. Not to mention I am a fishcamp graduate, and coming this march will be a certified judgd for Iasca. But remember location is everything! I know of many shops that will start a guy out around $14.00 an hour and go as high as $21.00. Its just where your willing to go and what skills you have. Don't get it twisted though. Knowing how to do something and being "efficient" at it are two entirely different things. You can talk all day about what you know how to do, but when its time to do that big job and your boss loses $ on labor cuz ur slackin, believe it- you'll be finding a new shop pretty quick. Another thing is that shops that do pay good- normally dont have any openings. If moneys your top goal ya might consider evaluating your love for the industry. I say this because for those of us who live and breath car audio- "yea moneys nice but feeling the envy and respect from the customers ride ya just hooked up makes ya feel like ya got 10 inches". LOL... Also, Im at best buy yea whatever we all know its nothing to sneaze at, but I work there for the discounts and benifits for my son. I do custom fabrication on the side and am booked up for the next few months to say the least. Once I leave Iowa hopefully I will get into a better bay, til then I love it too much to leave it! Peace!!!

Lathan Hites

"I'm sorry, without a credit card I'll be requiring a stool sample"

20Impala03

Member - Posts: 1

Joined: April 09, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: October 23, 2004 at 7:45 PM / IP Logged

How are the benifits at best buy?

lathan

Copper - Posts: 105

Joined: May 23, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: October 25, 2004 at 11:51 PM / IP Logged

benefits are decent. not bad, but not great. good for an installer... whatever that is. wish I was more help on the subject. sorry. peace

Lathan Hites

"I'm sorry, without a credit card I'll be requiring a stool sample"

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