Demon, thats pretty much what I'm planning on doing. I'm not gonna kill myself and wear my body out trying to do this kinda work forever. More and more of my job is working off of a laptop or setting infront of an electronics panel with a schematic terminating wires. I do WAY more thought provoking troubleshooting and very little parts changing. I used to work harder doing top-ends and engine R&I's but i've been fortunate to move up the food chain and let the guys with less experience to the "grunt" work. Nothing against them, but thats how the progression goes. The more you know, the less physical work you actually have to do.

 

This is the route my son took and is now making around $130k a year with a ton of benifits working on Ingersoll-Rand gensets worldwide. Most work is on US military bases where a security clearance is required.

 

Well I Work as a Driller ona Service Rig and our equipment is always breaking down and of course we the crew have to fix it and if we can't we get a mechanic out... But to me I believe that I am kind of a mechanic with no schooling because of the hands on... and I'm makin 31.70 an hour I think and 23 years old.. I think I'm doin alright.. but I am thinkin of goin for my heavy duty mechanics just for somehting to do... just my $.02

 

X 2 - Go Navy!

 

i work for detroit diesel in new jersey.our union salary starts at $27.00 and goes up to $34.00,both rates also get $6.97 per hour annunity plus full benefits.its not a bad living.we work on all models of detroit,cat,cummins and mtu.

 

I'm not a diesel tech but my education came from the Navy working with Gas Turbines. It was the best thing I ever did. I tripled my annual income the first year out of the Navy in 1992 and have just about tripled it since then.

 

X 3 - Go Navy!

 

Kalifornia, We pay a heavy equipment mechanic union scale is some like 38.95, then add his benifits 48.00 to 50 an hour

 

On another note, I'm 44yrs. old, and have been an aircraft mech.,a GM mechanic, and had my own shop, and don't want to even look at another wrench unless it's my truck. I went back to school for IT, but landed a job as a bank manager threw connections, and I love it, A/C all day, great salary,bonuses , M-Friday, only 40hours, and lots of women around. Only regret was not throwing down the wrenches earlier.

And growing up I was one of those guys that pulled all nighters working on vehicles, just couldn't get enough, guess people change.

 

It takes all types to make the world go around.........do what you love and the money will follow.

 

Nice Saying

Yea I've wanted to work on Diesel trucks for quite some time now. Now I probably wont be doing it my entire life(but maybe I will??) But I think for starting off, and at 18 years old, my body SHOULD be able to handle the money