Auto Electrician Apprenticeship

[RichoVZ]

Hey everyone, currently i work as a box refurbisher, not the most glam job, but a job at least and it pays well. however, its not something i would look at as a career, however i would like to go about being an auto electrician. my questions are,

1/ is anyone an auto electrician here? if so, what work do you do on cars?

2/ as an apprentice, what kind of pay would i be looking at through each year (need to know so that way i know i can still be paying of my loan without a hitch)

3/ is there any other way to get into the business without being an apprentice? like any courses or anything?

that is it for now, no doubt more questions would pop up, but i love the electrical aspect of cars, and it is something which has popped into my mind during work at times.

thanks, reps for good replies mates, cheers

[azzfox]

Im glad this came up.. Iv been thinking about looking into an auto elec apprenticeship for next year. I love cars, both mechanical and electrical aspects and do the odd lighting or audio install if someone I know needs it done so thought why not make it into a career. I know that it would involve more then cosmetics but I think it would be interesting.

[tri501]

i've been an auto elec for 8 years now. very shortly after finishing my trade i left to specialise in a/c on earthmoving and trucks. the money even after qualified wasn't that good. could of been cause i was in a smaller coastal town as opposed to a capital city.
depends what age you are to what you will get paid. i remember being 17 and a first year apprentice taking home $160 a week for 40 hrs work.
the variety of work all depends on what sort of shop you work for and your location. if possible try and learn as much as you can about everything you can whether it be efi, a/c or general fault finding. it really helps. nothing worse in my books than an auto elec that only knows how to wire driving lights and radios.
not to deter you guys at all but it's better to have a good idea about whats involved before you look too hard into it. the work mcan get very repetitive sometimes. sorry to sound as if i don't enjoy being an auto elec just haven't had the best experiences thus far.

[Joey_21]

my mate is a qualified auto electrician gets 25$ an hour

[PRH]

Well
I finished my apprenticeship in 1976,i dont believe the apprentices of today are taught as much "basic" stuff as i was back then todays auto electrician is more of a parts fitter and computer whizz,i'm not not knocking them,I started out getting $16-00 a week LOL.
I am no longer employed as a full time auto electrician,mainly because of low wages,i now work for a firm who sell forklifts and do hydraulic hoses,i still do some auto elec work,but all in all its not a bad trade but it can be very frustrating.
Regards Phillip

[V85000i]

i started one but left 6 month later, all i can say is don't think it is all audio installs and accessory fitting, it can be hard dirty work, running wiring under cars and in oily engine bays, removing and rebuilding alternators/starter motors or other electrical things, it really is a brain busting trade, one problem can have so many causes with the modern day cars, but if you have the trade and run your own business $$$$$cha ching$$$$. also if you love working on cars and think it would be cool to do it for a job, think twice, most people hate their jobs, if you take one of you passions and turn it into a job, be prepared to lose 1 passion.

[tri501]

if you take one of you passions and turn it into a job, be prepared to lose 1 passion.

so true i still enjoy it just not as much as i used to.

[RichoVZ]

i started one but left 6 month later, all i can say is don't think it is all audio installs and accessory fitting, it can be hard dirty work, running wiring under cars and in oily engine bays, removing and rebuilding alternators/starter motors or other electrical things, it really is a brain busting trade, one problem can have so many causes with the modern day cars, but if you have the trade and run your own business $$$$$cha ching$$$$. also if you love working on cars and think it would be cool to do it for a job, think twice, most people hate their jobs, if you take one of you passions and turn it into a job, be prepared to lose 1 passion.

good post, very good post. i agree with you, one thing i dont want to do is lose a passion... then again, why not follow a passion? i knew it wasnt audio installs, i had a idea on alternators and windows n wipers n everything electrical.

ok, question, is it possible to do a course to be qualified without having to do the apprenticeship? i assume no but hoping yes... also, what are apprenticeship wages each year like? average that is... if it is too low i will have to reconsider for a little while (car loan)

[V85000i]

i was getting $6.40 an hour for 1st year. also i think you can do tafe courses to become trades assistances, eg, paint shop assistant. i dunno about auto electrical though, i suppose you could do a few tafe courses on auto electrical stuff and accessory fitting, then when a job comes up put your resume in and see what goes, you don't have to be qualified to work in an automotive reapair shop.

[RichoVZ]

i was getting $6.40 an hour for 1st year. also i think you can do tafe courses to become trades assistances, eg, paint shop assistant. i dunno about auto electrical though, i suppose you could do a few tafe courses on auto electrical stuff and accessory fitting, then when a job comes up put your resume in and see what goes, you don't have to be qualified to work in an automotive reapair shop.

i saw one course nearby and it said you needed to be in an apprenticeship to do it to be honest, i dont want to go from a $17.00 an hr job to a $6.40 an hr job.

[Hillerus]

i dont want to go from a $17.00 an hr job to a $6.40 an hr job.

Unless you are mature age, you really don't have a choice. If you want the trade, you have to start at the bottom like everyone else has. I did my Diesel Mechanics apprenticeship on a huge $5.85 an hour. I got less then $200 a week after tax.

Im now on quite good money, so if you really want the trade, the rewards can be there for you at the end of it all

[bradvt98]

i really wanted an apprenticeship in auto elec but i'm glad now that no business in my area had any room because i'd imagine it would pretty technical at times. i ended up getting an apprenticeship in refridgeration and air conditioning instead.

[hippo17]

i am a 4th year auto elec and im only on about 420 a week, it is really hard to keep afloat
i love the job but the pay is shit i earn the same as a 1st year locksmith.
the only way to earn big $ is to own your own shop or go to the mines.

[axemurderer101]

nice thread dig lol i wonder what the OP is doing now, how old are you hippo17? i have 4 months left on my auto elec apprenticeship and im making $484 a week so $420 seems a bit low

[BMComm]

I guess I'm quite lucky, or not. I live in the Kimberley and making $600-$800 during my 3rd year (often 50+hr weeks so take overtime in to account). Very interesting trade but can depend where you work and who you work for.