what do bike mechanics make as a general rule. I figure it can’t be much but…they’re the life line of a bike shop…they put together bikes, make adjustments, repairs, change flats…etc…etc… just curious.
$8 - $15 per hour, six years ago…
unless they own the shop, generally very, very low pay.
well, I was thinking about one of the local mechanics at my LBs and when he trues a wheel or changes something on my bike (I get free adjustments/tuneups for life from buying from there) he just seemed really appreciative when I threw him 10 bucks. he acted like it was a weeks worth of food and you could tell he just appreciated it. if theya re that underpaid, why do that job? Love of the work? I love to play poker but if I only made 10 an hour doing it, I would probley find something else to do and do it for fun…(which is actually pretty much what goes on anyway)
I know that bike shops are not getting rich for the most part but considering all these guys do, why such a low pay?
if they are that underpaid, why do that job? Love of the work? I love to play poker but if I only made 10 an hour doing it, I would probley find something else to do and do it for fun…(which is actually pretty much what goes on anyway). I know that bike shops are not getting rich for the most part but considering all these guys do, why such a low pay?
not a bad question, but you are asking a philosophy question. why does anyone do anything for low pay? because it is better than stocking shelves at wal-mart? or better than another higher-paying job?
the reason for the low pay? supply and demand. enough folks want to do this that shops can get away with such low pay.
i note the low pay of most bike shop employees, but i also not the truly stunning lack of knowledge and expertise of many shop employees. experts always cost money. and nearly nobody wants to pay it. not shop owners, not customers.
In my town, there are two bike shops. One has great wrenches and a great staff, the other, not so much. A couple years back both shops ended up moving, one to a larger building, the “other” to a much smaller one. I talked to the owner of the “other” shop about it, and he seemed genuinely baffled that his competition was expanding while his business was contracting… Go figure.
Being a tech at an LBS myself I do this not to get rich but because I love it…and there is a lot of “talent” that walks through the door and its like tasting forbiden fruit when you get to fit some guys girlfriend on a bike and have to check all her positions
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Being a tech at an LBS myself I do this not to get rich but because I love it…and there is a lot of “talent” that walks through the door and its like tasting forbiden fruit when you get to fit some guys girlfriend on a bike and have to check all her positions
I KNEW that breast massage was an unnecessary part of the bike fitting process. I’m not even going to ask how you came up with that procedure for recommending the perfect lady’s saddle. Sick man!
and if the “techs” at my LBS are paid a dime over minimum, they are getting much more than their skill set warrants. You know you’re in trouble when you ask for a valve extender and they try selling you a stem.
“why such a low pay?”
“I get free adjustments/tuneups for life from buying from there”
I bet there’s a connection but I just can’t put my finger on it.
I have known quite a few that take repair jobs on the side. In fact I can’t say I’ve had my bike in a bike shop since moving to AZ in 1996. I just drop it off at his house and pick it up on my way home from work.
When I was in Tampa as a high school teacher I did a few bike mechanic jobs on the side at my home bike shop. Actually, I don’t think I ever charged anyone : (
No one except me has touched my bikes in…oh…14 years?
This is a difficult question to answer. Like any other job out there, there is a huge range in ability levels and pay scales.
I am a full time “pro” mechanic and do rather well for myself. I’m certainly not getting rich, but by wife and I both drive newish cars and we just bought a house. (My wife is a school teacher… we both make about the same amount of money a year.) I have had jobs where I made more money, but not one that I have enjoyed as much, or gained as much. What I may be losing in strict income, I gain in things like… sweet deals, great discounts, flexible schedule, time off to race, the ability to ride to work and leave my bike anywhere, working in a laid-back enviroment, etc… This certainly isn’t the career I thought I would end up in, nor one that I think would be easy to break into (I just kind of fell into my job) but I am very happy with where I am and what I make.
I know that I am more the exception than the norm when it comes to mechanics as far as pay is concerned and I would not be surprised if I am the highest paid bike mechanic in my area, but it is not unheard of to make a descent living.