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Professional Bike Mechanic Pay

Old 02-24-05, 11:48 PM
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Professional Bike Mechanic Pay

these are the national incomes as found on salary.com


Bicycle Repairer 25th%ile Median 75th%ile
the United States $15,358 $19,093 $23,704
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Old 02-25-05, 12:32 AM
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Originally Posted by wpflem
these are the national incomes as found on salary.com


Bicycle Repairer.....25th%ile.....Median.....75th%ile
the United States...$15,358.....$19,093.....$23,704
Kinda makes you want to jump right on in doesn't it?
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Old 02-25-05, 12:40 AM
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Dang....those figures don't even meet minimum wage here in CA.
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Old 02-25-05, 12:53 AM
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The low end would just about cover my tab at the sushi bar. Well almost. I miss those days.
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Old 02-25-05, 01:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Expatriate
The low end would just about cover my tab at the sushi bar. Well almost. I miss those days.
Ahh Sushi
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Old 02-25-05, 01:14 AM
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Nobody wrenches for the money. They do it for the GLAMOUR.
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Old 02-25-05, 01:20 AM
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I miss good sushi. We don't have any good local sushi here. Or a good LBS for that matter. Hey Raiyn, why is my new BMX making a pinging sound from the front wheel when I torque it over hard? Is that the hub, or is it the forks being pinched because some knot-head took out some washers?
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Old 02-25-05, 01:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Expatriate
I miss good sushi. We don't have any good local sushi here. Or a good LBS for that matter. Hey Raiyn, why is my new BMX making a pinging sound from the front wheel when I torque it over hard? Is that the hub, or is it the forks being pinched because some knot-head took out some washers?
Pinging you say? Could be the front wheel spokes settling
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Old 02-25-05, 02:43 AM
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Would that be because they weren't properly tensioned?
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Old 02-25-05, 05:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Expatriate
Would that be because they weren't properly tensioned?
Many aren't relieved when they come from the factory because they are machine built. Most times it's OK to ride it for a bit then check the tension and true make the needed adjustments and enjoy. It's a really common thing
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Old 02-25-05, 05:45 AM
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Never had this happen before. Then again, I usually ended up with really good wheelsets. I'll give it a go. The tension doesn't seem very even.
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Old 02-25-05, 05:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Expatriate
Never had this happen before. Then again, I usually ended up with really good wheelsets. I'll give it a go. The tension doesn't seem very even.
By all means go ahead and check.
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Old 02-25-05, 05:52 AM
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Originally Posted by jim-bob
Nobody wrenches for the money. They do it for the GLAMOUR.
I thought they did it for the women...
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Old 02-25-05, 08:25 AM
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^
Exactly, that's what I'm in it for. Oh wait...
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Old 02-25-05, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by wpflem
these are the national incomes as found on salary.com


Bicycle Repairer 25th%ile Median 75th%ile
the United States $15,358 $19,093 $23,704
I assume these are averages based on a nationwide view....

I know out here in the northeast, if you have at least basic experience, you should be able to start in most shops for around $8 to $8.50 hr, or $16,640 to $17,680 a year. Most managers/assistant managers are making around $21,000, and it goes up from there. A person who is strictly a "bicycle repairer" for a number of years most likely shows no sign of moving up, which is paramount in ANY organization to acheiving higher pay scales.

And don't forget the main reason most people start working in shops...the discounts on bike and parts !

I know when I started in retail bike shops many years ago, I was making $12,000 a year as a wrench/sales person. Since then, I have moved up in my profession, and make more than twice the money quoted ($23,704) for the upper end of repairer. My assistant manager, who still wrenches and does sales a spart of his duties, is making about $30,000. Obviously, if your area is like ours here, experienced people are hard to find, and can get a higher wage than an area that may be flush with talent, but very few outlets to hire them.

And to answer Raiyn question as to why someone would want to "jump right in", I think I can shed some light...When I was growing up my old man had a good paying job with job security, pension, etc that he ended up staying with for over 30 years. He made a decent living, paid off his house, always had decent cars, took vacations every other year, etc. And for my entire childhood, I remember he was a bitter, nasty SOB who hated getting up and leaving the house every morning to go to the plant. He missed every sporting event and school function while me and my brothers were growing up. He always dreamed of doing something he enjoyed (carpentry, masonry, etc) but never pursued it, and regrets it to this day.

I swore at a very early age that I would not do that with my family....

So I found something I enjoyed, had a passion for, and wanted to do forever. I started early, paid my dues, and I have acheived those goals. I LOVE coming to work every day, and it offers me flexibility to be at my kids functions, and I make a decent (not extravegeant) wage. My wife likes that I come home less stressed (most of the time). To this day, I have customers who might make more than I do, but say "I always dreamed of working with bikes for a living...you guys are so lucky". My kids think its cool that thier dad works with bikes all day. In a nutshell....it's ALL good!

Sometimes it's not about the money....it's about a whole lot more.....
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Old 02-25-05, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Ahctogi
I assume these are averages based on a nationwide view....

I know out here in the northeast, if you have at least basic experience, you should be able to start in most shops for around $8 to $8.50 hr, or $16,640 to $17,680 a year. Most managers/assistant managers are making around $21,000, and it goes up from there. A person who is strictly a "bicycle repairer" for a number of years most likely shows no sign of moving up, which is paramount in ANY organization to acheiving higher pay scales.

And don't forget the main reason most people start working in shops...the discounts on bike and parts !

I know when I started in retail bike shops many years ago, I was making $12,000 a year as a wrench/sales person. Since then, I have moved up in my profession, and make more than twice the money quoted ($23,704) for the upper end of repairer. My assistant manager, who still wrenches and does sales a spart of his duties, is making about $30,000. Obviously, if your area is like ours here, experienced people are hard to find, and can get a higher wage than an area that may be flush with talent, but very few outlets to hire them.

And to answer Raiyn question as to why someone would want to "jump right in", I think I can shed some light...When I was growing up my old man had a good paying job with job security, pension, etc that he ended up staying with for over 30 years. He made a decent living, paid off his house, always had decent cars, took vacations every other year, etc. And for my entire childhood, I remember he was a bitter, nasty SOB who hated getting up and leaving the house every morning to go to the plant. He missed every sporting event and school function while me and my brothers were growing up. He always dreamed of doing something he enjoyed (carpentry, masonry, etc) but never pursued it, and regrets it to this day.

I swore at a very early age that I would not do that with my family....

So I found something I enjoyed, had a passion for, and wanted to do forever. I started early, paid my dues, and I have acheived those goals. I LOVE coming to work every day, and it offers me flexibility to be at my kids functions, and I make a decent (not extravegeant) wage. My wife likes that I come home less stressed (most of the time). To this day, I have customers who might make more than I do, but say "I always dreamed of working with bikes for a living...you guys are so lucky". My kids think its cool that thier dad works with bikes all day. In a nutshell....it's ALL good!

Sometimes it's not about the money....it's about a whole lot more.....

An excellent perspective and well stated!
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