Installer Pay

in my opinion, your never going to make "alot" of money working for someone else. after all, your employed so the company your working for can make money based on your experience and expertise. the best thing i ever did was quit, and starting working for myself. i went from taking home $5oo a week busting my ass, working for someone else. and now i can manage to make that same amount in a 7 hour work day.

Dont goto Wisconsin man.....nothin but cows..corn..and SNOW

KarTuneMan wrote: Dont goto Wisconsin man.....nothin but cows..corn..and SNOW

We've got more then just that. I just haven't figured out what it is yet. And I have been here 28 years.

i ve noticed most members on this site either work for circuit city or best buy. i do understand that these stores are reponsible for employing thousands of installers, but most people never mention the independent stores. the pay scale is much different there, and personal relationships do play a factor as well. independent stores appreciate loyaly and after some time, the raises come. based on experience and time there, you dont have to work all year to get a whopping 25 cent raise, the same one the dumb cashier up front got for working a year, ya know. your raise at a private shop could easily be a dollar, 2 dollars, 3 ,4 whatever you deserve, plus they usually start higher as well. its not all about certification, even though i am certified and agree with what standards its trying to set, the piece of paper doesnt necessarily mean someone can install fast, neat and most important correctly. only experience can do that. so dont complain if you only been installing for 4 months professionally and only make $11 an hour. im sure the manager at that shop (west coast customs competion guy) doesnt get paid $11. its all about experience and skill, the ability to solve problems, trouble shoot the hairiest wiring situations, and generally being a solid stand alone installer that other people dont have to look over. they just put you on a job, and it gets done quickly and correctly. thats how to get the $$$$

Hey everyone, Since first posting this thread I have had 4 jobs ranging from Circuit City installer, to high-end custom installer, to high-end shop lead tech and now I have found myself in the tech department of one of top ten electronics companies in our 12volt industry. I answer tech questions over the phone, help develop new products, quality check our inventory, and lots more. Is it more fulfilling than being a regular installer...no   Does it pay more..... more than a regular hourly tech. I don't know if my road stops here. I kind of hope so because I want to grow with this company and have a future for myself. Spending hours behind a desk and hours in the lab; I still miss installing. But I guess I'm here for the money huh? Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

Humm, i started at $7.50/h, and worked my way up to $25/h within a year by just showing quality work, and speedy installation.  I also get commission on sales. Its a common fact that the installer sells more because customers trust them more than the dressed up salesmen who probably don't have a clue.  Working for an independant shop thats doing well is your best bet for respect and high pay.  I can't drive 5 min in my town without getting a honk and a wave from old customers,, it just too dam kool.2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.