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I am gonna be gettin outa highschool here in about a year. I was wondering if someone could me an idea about what people make a year in this business. I know the salaries have a huge range, but just for an idea. I would love to be in this field, but I also don't want to be hurtin for cash. If someone doesn't mind telling me what the average salaries are, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance for those that help me out. Posts: 27 | From: Bowling Green, Ky | Registered: Feb 2003
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Well buddy,I just started a new job as an installer,I started at 9.00 bucks an hour and I thought I knew more than enough to make huge dolla's,fact is I have ALOT! to learn!Video and Glass,video and Glass!Once you start catching on your pay will increase along with your rep.That is if your going for install.
-------------------- Panasonic DF701U, RS6 comp.,6 Kicker S10D's, Two Kicker ZR600's,6 Trojan 12 volt Batts Posts: 165 | From: OKC OK | Registered: Jan 2003
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Don't come in this industry to get rich. Over time, you may make some good money, but it will take some time to get there.
You have to love car audio as a whole and be willing to accept the fact that you have to start at the bottom.
I started installing my stuff and friend's stuff 15 years ago, but only started as a professional about 4 years ago. I have always been into car audio and it took me until 27 years old to do it as a profession. I love it. Great people, fun job, but not high pay. I am comfortable though.
-------------------- '91 Caprice Wagon.... planning stages....Solo X sitting on the rack. Posts: 109 | From: North of some, South of most | Registered: Oct 2002
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Definately do not get into the car audio installation field for money, unless like they said you are prepared to start at the bottom. I installed for 6 years and I can honestly say that unless I am forced to do that for a living again I will never do it again.... to many headaches, with salesmen and what not... obviously it will be different at every place you work at. I attended Mobile Dynamics in Phoenix in 1997 and it wasnt until a year ago that my 6 years of installing and my training finally landed me a great job... and guess what? It isnt in the car audio field and I am making nearly $3 more on the hour than I ever did at any shop. I am a service technician for a cellular company. So I still work on cars and am in the 12volt field , but I can still go home at the end of the day and want to work on my own vehicle. Sorry this is so long but I just wanted to give you my take on it.
-------------------- Scott Van Riper Team Its Real http://www.kinetikpower.com http://www.180db.com 04' DB Drag finals Ex 3-4 169.2 3rd place 04' MECA World Finals 2nd place X2 170.9 04' IDBL World Finals 1st place Ultimate 3 173.4 05' DB Drag Finals ex 1 4th place 06' DB Drag Finals ex 2 2nd place 07' DB Drag Finals ex 2 3rd place 08' DB Drag Finals ex 2 3rd place (loudest losing score 177.3 db lol) Posts: 8955 | From: Morgantown WV | Registered: Apr 2001
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don't take this the wrong way guys for the people who didn't go to college but basssoloudithertz all I have to say in one word "COLLEGE". A college degree almost gaurantee's you more money. you don't need to go in there with what you want to do. go there and explore like I am doing right know. I am almost done with my first year. great experience and I don't really even like school. I want to do something with sports. I went there and talked to counselors and other students. and I found out what I want to do I found that I wanted to go for sports therapy. pretty good pay I must ask. after one year this girl makes $38 an hour. she has to pay for her room(rent for her own room) but still I say its like bringing home about $30 for herself. that equals a little over $60 grand with out taxes of course. to me that is pretty decent money. anyways you will find out through college. I did not mean to go on and on but I was going through the same thing you were in highschool. I am glad I went to college.
-------------------- 96' Bubble on 24s - 1 Autotek MX 3000 - 1 DD 9515 with E motor and soft F parts - 1 Batcap Battery - tons of double 0 guage wire - one 7 cuft 6th orderbandpass box all firing forward. Posts: 1590 | From: Columbus Ohio, 43228 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Do what you love & love what you do!! Money will come in time, but if yer not happy, money ain't gonna make it any easier to get up and go back to the grind, IMO.
I'm not in the car audio business other than as an enthusiast, former local competitor, and shade-tree/green-tree installer. But, the installers at the local shops I used to "hang-out" at always said the same thing, "I do it because I like working with the gear, my hands, people, etc. I grumble about the pay, but then I get to turn 'this' on and I smile because I can say, 'Yah - that's my install!'."
What I can recommend - what several of my friends did, and I did when I was in HS & college: Talk with the local shops and see if you can donate some time. It's hard to turn down free labour. Sweep the floors, pick up screws, re-load the pamphlets, turn on the walls, etc. Listen to the conversations, find out what new techniques are being used, etc. I used to help out the customers at a couple of my local shops if the sales staff were busy, I'd answer some of their questions and then flag down the Manager or one of the other sales reps and move on to the next person.
I also had the fun task of working in a theatre in college - performing arts theatre, not movie theatre. Ran 2 sound booths and 2 lighting boards + flies and stuff. Lots of fun, good cash for college - lots of experience. Got to use gear from just about every major Pro-Audio manufacturer, please forgive spelling: Shure, Crown, Cresque, RH, Community, EV, Noitrex, Peavey, QSC, MTX, JBL, Delta, Intelli-beam, Yamaha, etc. Not to mention all the conversations from the road crews - didn't talk much with the actors/performers. It might not be in the 12V world, but "audio is as audio does".
"Why aren't you in the audio field dude?" <-- Good question. Prolly because I was a moron and decided not to change my major to Technical Theatre. I go to theatre performances and don't pay attention to the show, I watch for how well the tech crew does their job....well, unless there's dancers - something about female dancers....*sigh*....
You may want to talk with your HS Guidance Counselor, your local shops, and even your local college/trade schools - especially if they havea performing arts theatre. See what kind of direction they can give you. I can try to dig up some of my old contacts from college, but I can't promise anything - been ~7 years since I saw anyone from the theatre.
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I went to Mobily Dynamics 2 summers ago, came home landed a job @ $9/hr doing 'retail' install's. Less than a year later Im @ $14, granted it isnt all that much, but Im young and still live with my mother, so Im more than comfortable.
Some advantages of working retail vs. smaller shops is benefits, time off (I currently have well over 4 weeks(been there almost 1.5 yrs now)) and pleanty of room to grow. I cant see my self instaling 10-15 from now. There are pleanty of peopleat my current employer that now have excellent in store jobs, district and corporate jobs.
Smaller shops allow for more custom and bigger $$$ jobs. I have yet to see a local store open on sundays as well. The hrs/time worked are probably a little better (Ive been stuck some days 8am-10pm) which Im sure wouldnt happen against your will in a non retail environment.
I wouldt mind getting into more custom stuff..but Ive also heard many head aches can stem from these jobs. The majority of my work is deck's, deck +2's deck +4's, deck + amp/subs etc. Oh, were stuck in the 'remote start season' now as well. Loads of fun there. Once in a while well get an over head tv in a SUV/mini van etc. It can get pretty repetitive, but youll learn your way around the vehicles quick and get good fast. Once in a while well get a full job, deck +4 2 amps/subs etc; but not very often.
Just my take on the whole biz...
Ron.
Posts: 518 | From: SW Chicago, IL | Registered: Oct 2000
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