Apprentice Mechanics rate of pay

msg11

I was at an interview during the week, when I asked about pay I was told the weekly pay for a 1st year is 150euro a week. Is this right ?

It works out at 3.85 an hour x 39 Hours = 150 Euro..

Very low if it is correct.

Jemmy

msg11 wrote: »

I was at an interview during the week, when I asked about pay I was told the weekly pay for a 1st year is 150euro a week. Is this right ?

It works out at 3.85 an hour x 39 Hours = 150 Euro..

Very low if it is correct.

Yep it's very low, had been looking for one myself. Its all on the FAS site but don't think it's been update in awhile

Motor Industry Effective: 01 May 2008

Year Gross Wage Norm
Phase 2 €195.25
Phase 4 €293.17
Phase 6 €439.75
4th Year €527.70

Includes:

Agricultural Mechanics
Vehicle Body Repairs
Motor Mechanics
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
Construction Plant Fitting

Might be worth giving them a call & checking what the rates are.

msg11

I was looking at that site and going by what the pay rate is for phase 2, 150euro seems right for the 1st phase. Also that list is an average of the levels paid. I don't think there is a set amount that has to be paid, so it could be just ball park in around them figures?

150euro is well a let down, I rather say in my current job. For 20 hours I get nearly 250euro. This country is nuts, you get more sitting around than getting an apprenticeship..

él statutorio

Be thankful the system has changed. The way it used to work was that you paid for the privilege of doing an apprenticeship.

Jimmy Bottlehead

msg11 wrote: »

I was looking at that site and going by what the pay rate is for phase 2, 150euro seems right for the 1st phase. Also that list is an average of the levels paid. I don't think there is a set amount that has to be paid, so it could be just ball park in around them figures?

150euro is well a let down, I rather say in my current job. For 20 hours I get nearly 250euro. This country is nuts, you get more sitting around than getting an apprenticeship..

Question is, in 10 years time will you be happy in your current job? Or will you be kicking yourself for not following what you really want to do?

I don't know how bad you want to be a mechanic - if it's just a job or if you feel passionate about it, but I know I'd prefer (and I'm getting prepared) to take a financial hit now so I can be happy in my future career.

Decent enough rates really, you must remember that in most cases a first year apprentice mechanic will be just out of school
Admittedly the first year rates aren't great, the 4th year rates are decent though, it is a trade after all and you do need to serve your time so to speak.

Jemmy

msg11 wrote: »

I was looking at that site and going by what the pay rate is for phase 2, 150euro seems right for the 1st phase. Also that list is an average of the levels paid. I don't think there is a set amount that has to be paid, so it could be just ball park in around them figures?

150euro is well a let down, I rather say in my current job. For 20 hours I get nearly 250euro. This country is nuts, you get more sitting around than getting an apprenticeship..

Yea they are the rates FAS pays while you are in studying with them but the employer pay usually reflected on whatever the year ahead with FAS is afaik.

There is no point going for it unless you really want it, it's a 4yr commitment really and plenty out there dying for an apprenticeship.
Personally I was all up for taking the hit & accepting I'd be 31 finishing it but it hasn't been easy finding one (being female & 26 hasn't helped despite having an engineering course). I've pretty much decided to keep it as a hobby & just stay as I am for now, I've still dropped in a few hoping something might come up but it's tough business to get into atm.

msg11

él statutorio wrote: »

Be thankful the system has changed. The way it used to work was that you paid for the privilege of doing an apprenticeship.

I'm not saying the way the system works is bad, just the pay. How do I know if the company just wants cheap labour for a year then, yeah sorry we have no more work for you ? Also I didn't know you had to pay before. Suppose it's like going to college, it's just the fact someone is making a profit from your work an not a small profit quite a large one at that.

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Question is, in 10 years time will you be happy in your current job? Or will you be kicking yourself for not following what you really want to do?

I don't know how bad you want to be a mechanic - if it's just a job or if you feel passionate about it, but I know I'd prefer (and I'm getting prepared) to take a financial hit now so I can be happy in my future career.

I Have though about this, I love working with cars, I would take the financial hit now if I could see 10 years on I was happily working away getting a decent wage and doing what I like. There's just to many companies chancing there arm cause of the problems in the economy at the moment.

I don't want to be posting here in a year, saying anyone looking for a 2nd year mechanic or looking for advise on how to find a job.

I do like my job at the moment, just I am stuck at 20 hours a week I can't go up too full time work. Even if I transfer I can't get out of band. And I know the exact reason I can't get out of band is because of that Job Bridge non sense.

There is progression into management, but it looks very stressful and the hours are extremely long 45 basic and an expected to stay late if asked. I don't think I would last long.

RoverJames wrote: »

Decent enough rates really, you must remember that in most cases a first year apprentice mechanic will be just out of school
Admittedly the first year rates aren't great, the 4th year rates are decent though, it is a trade after all and you do need to serve your time so to speak.

I understand, I am not asking to be paid 400 a week, I understand I am not skilled at all and learning. But 150 a week is risky as this company is large has garages all over Ireland, I just don't want to be doing car services for 39 hours a week.

I would work 20 hours for the 150 not sure about 39 ! I dunno, maybe if I was on job seekers I wouldn't mind so much.

mickey mac

él statutorio wrote: »

Be thankful the system has changed. The way it used to work was that you paid for the privilege of doing an apprenticeship.

When was this?

Big Nasty

Do you really, really want to be a mechanic?

If so - take it - end of.

You could double job in a Spar shop some evenings / weekends to bring in some more cash.

él statutorio

mickey mac wrote: »

When was this?

Not all that long ago, I think the system went over to the one run by fás in the late 80's / early 90's.

I remember my dad taking on an apprentice carpenter around that time and he was one of the last batch who paid to take an apprenticeship. I don't remember the exact year but I think it was around 91/92.

mickey mac

él statutorio wrote: »

Not all that long ago, I think the system went over to the one run by fás in the late 80's / early 90's.

I remember my dad taking on an apprentice carpenter around that time and he was one of the last batch who paid to take an apprenticeship. I don't remember the exact year but I think it was around 91/92.

That's amazing! I was guessing the 50's, I'd never had thought the 90's.

msg11

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Do you really, really want to be a mechanic?

If so - take it - end of.

You could double job in a Spar shop some evenings / weekends to bring in some more cash.

Is this allowed? I could keep my current job along side the apprenticeship ..

msg11

msg11 wrote: »

Is this allowed? I could keep my current job along side the apprenticeship ..

If your part time job won't interfere with the apprenticeship there should be no issue, might be tough though as 39 hour/weeks in a garage environment would be a decent weeks work.

No reason why it shouldn't be allowed though.

Chimaera

I can't see why not as long as the job doesn't interfere with your studies.

Nissan doctor

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Do you really, really want to be a mechanic?

If so - take it - end of.

You could double job in a Spar shop some evenings / weekends to bring in some more cash.

I you really want it, the initial pay should be a problem IMO. Especially if you are not currently in any career or just out of school/collage.

When I was an apprentice I was 40 hours a week in the garage/collage and another 20odd hours a week working evenings and weekends in a cinema!

Apprenticeships are about thinking ahead, a recognised qualification makes it much easier to move abroad too if you wanted to.

Danbo!

If you treat it as a course rather than a job it isnt too bad. I spent 3 years in college and had to pay for it, working about 20 hours on top of the 42 college hours. It was a pain in the ass but I now have a qualification. (which actually is worthless now, thank you recession!) If you can afford it just look at as going to college and being paid 600 a month to go.

Big Nasty

RoverJames wrote: »

If your part time job won't interfere with the apprenticeship there should be no issue, might be tough though as 39 hour/weeks in a garage environment would be a decent weeks work.

No reason why it shouldn't be allowed though.

Exactly, and keep your TFA with where you currently work too.

MCMLXXV

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Exactly, and keep your TFA with where you currently work too.

You can split your tax credits as appropriate though between income streams

Big Nasty

RoverJames wrote: »

You can split your tax credits as appropriate though between income streams

I know yeah but if I was earning €8.50 an hour in a shop and €3.85 an hour elsewhere I know where I would be chanelling mine.

Flesh Gorden

msg11 wrote: »

It works out at 3.85 an hour x 39 Hours = 150 Euro..

considering the dole for under 25's is €144 it's a no brainer,
once you've minimal outgoings and are good at budgeting it is possible to live off it and not feel the pinch



I knew of one guy doing an apprenticeship for Ford and working in Halfords at the weekends

assuming he's on €9/h there, working 16 hours and including a sunday premium of time and a half,
for two days work he'd come out with €180 on top of his apprentice wages

plus you'd be bound to get foxers if you did get a job in a place like there



The only thing I'd look into is why they have an opening for an apprenticeship

When I was 19 I was offered a cabinet making apprenticeship,
but after asking around I found out that they known for not keeping people after they were entitled to 2nd year pay

Big Nasty

Flesh Gorden wrote: »

When I was 19 I was offered a cabinet making apprenticeship, but after asking around I found out that they known for not keeping people after they were entitled to 2nd year pay

Worst case scenario the OP would then be a second year apprentice as opposed to a beginner.

Flesh Gorden

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Worst case scenario the OP would then be a second year apprentice as opposed to a beginner.

True, but in my case with the cabinet making there were only a handful of companies around Cork doing it,
and the one I had who offered it to me were the only ones to use hardwoods and proper joints

the other companies were pretty much putting ikea style flat packs together and had even worse reputations

L-M

msg11 wrote: »

I was at an interview during the week, when I asked about pay I was told the weekly pay for a 1st year is 150euro a week. Is this right ?

It works out at 3.85 an hour x 39 Hours = 150 Euro..

Very low if it is correct.

I've loads of friends in college and they aren't getting paid for it...

Plug

Take the job cause they are very hard to get. Sh!t money yes but then when you go you FAS you'll start getting better money. I was pulling €520 net from phase 6. Look at it this way even if you do a year or two out of that place you can move to another garage if you want as it will be easier f you have a few years experience. Also can you do weekend work in your current place to raise the funds? Then when your qualified get out of the country if your not happy. Plenty of work abroad.

vectra

Plug wrote: »

Take the job cause they are very hard to get. Sh!t money yes but then when you go you FAS you'll start getting better money. I was pulling €520 net from phase 6. Look at it this way even if you do a year or two out of that place you can move to another garage if you want as it will be easier f you have a few years experience. Also can you do weekend work in your current place to raise the funds? Then when your qualified get out of the country if your not happy. Plenty of work abroad.

Decent money for a young lad and also good advice there

Otis Driftwood

It will be a matter of taking the hit now for the greater good.

On the surface it is crappy money starting off but think about it when you get a few months experience under your belt.You could potentially do mini services for friends and family,checking plugs and points etc,at a nominal fee.You earn a few extra bucks as well as getting experience doing what you are training for.

As others have said,if its something you really want to do and can actually get an apprenticeship then in my humble opinion you would be terribly foolish to turn it down for the sake of 100 quid a week.

Otis Driftwood

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

..............checking plugs and points etc...................

I wonder would they teach them about points these days

pajo1981

Go cry.. Most students pay for the privilege of education.

mickdw

Sounds reasonable to me. Pretty decent rates after a year or two.