Auto Industry Advice

Question

Hi Scotty,

I've enjoyed listening to your videos for the last year or so. I'm 38 and have a work from home computer job that pays a little under six figures however I am feeling bored and want to get out of the house and work with my hands so i'm considering going back to auto. tech. school. I have very little automotive experience but I am eager to learn. Do you think in a few years I could work my way back up to my current salary? Are there certain paths you would recommend that pay better? Happy Thanksgiving!

MountainManJoe · Accepted Answer

[quote data-userid="180218961" data-postid="322565"] Do you think in a few years  I could work my way back up to my current salary? [/quote] No.   UNLESS ... you jumped over into high tech automotive. With your experience you might be able to do control module programming and such. Most small shops farm this kind of work out.   You're not going to match your salary doing grunt work changing oil and brake pads. It's going to be a huge step down.

BobTheHatKing · Answer

Idk how long it would take to get to a similar salary as I’m no expert, just an automotive student still school learning now, but you could keep your current job for now, go to school at night, and get a start in the industry now as a lube tech, tire guy, or lot porter working on weekends and/or nights that you don’t have class. Then as you learn more and move up in the industry and you feel the time is right, then quit your current job or move to a similar computer job with less hours before quitting completely. That way when you switch over to automotive full time, you’re not taking a massive pay cut starting from scratch and making minimum wage. It’ll still be a pay cut for quite some time, but it’ll be less steep. Of course if you think that’s too much stress and you can afford it, then by all means just switch over. But I would say this. If you don’t already, start doing basic maintenance on your own car. Maybe pick up a project car. Some people might watch his videos and think it’s fun until they start doing it and hate it.