How much does a Harley Davidson Tech get paid?
phoenixuse asked:
I am a soon to be Harley mechanic. I’ve been to school for it and did not do PHD’s but did have perfect attendance and good efficiency. I was wondering what the pay for this position might be. (from what to what) I was looking into mainly central midwest positions. Also just out of curiousity, I’m a pretty short person and some of the big ape hangers might make it difficult for me to test ride some bikes, what would I need to do in the field in this situation? Thanks
I am a soon to be Harley mechanic. I’ve been to school for it and did not do PHD’s but did have perfect attendance and good efficiency. I was wondering what the pay for this position might be. (from what to what) I was looking into mainly central midwest positions. Also just out of curiousity, I’m a pretty short person and some of the big ape hangers might make it difficult for me to test ride some bikes, what would I need to do in the field in this situation? Thanks
August 21st, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Dude-seriously-do you think you could possibly,ever ,ever ever,get a PHD in harley repair? they reserve those for studying the “impact of Laverne and Shirley on mating habits of guppies” and “The music of menudo,the arrest of noriega ,and the pope-a trilogy of terror”.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
PHD to wrench? What school did you attend? lol…
You get paid flat rate normally. If you’re sharp & efficient you could do OK. Flat rate of $20hr might sound good but it is only good if you are.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Unlike the people who answered before me I do know what a Harley PHD is. I too graduated from MMI in Phoenix. I highly recommend you finish them before you graduate, any dealer will want those done. Depending on which dealer you go to you may not even test ride. Some have a test rider. If you have an issue they can work around it. You should start calling around to some dealers in the areas you want to live and ask what they pay. You must remember that even with MMI behind you you are still a new mechanic and you will be paid accordingly. My first job out of school paid $10 per hour. Good luck and get those PHDs done!
August 25th, 2008 at 4:35 am
I totally agree with Squeaky and I also know what a PHD is from Harley school…So listen to the people who know and you will do fine…Good luck with your career
August 25th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I dunno about Harleys, but the dealers in Chicago charge customers about 75 dollars an hour for motorcycle repair work. If you only get 10 dollars an hour, that’s pretty sad.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
The Harley Techs at the local Harley store where I live do not make much money. They are right about the ten bucks an hour. That is why most of them work on bikes as a second job in their back yard.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:53 am
without your phd’s done, you only have about a 10% chance of getting hired at a dealership. Dude didn’t you listen to your instructors in school?
Figure about $10 to $15 an hour flat rate. The first 2 years are going to suck because of the pay and the amount of tools you are going to have to buy.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:39 am
i would go back and do your PHD. with what u have your looking at 10-15/ hour. depends on how your evaluated from your employer.oh ya, and the whole too short for the apes thing i really wouldn’t worry about that. there’s always someone taller..
August 29th, 2008 at 6:06 am
good job with mmi, one major thing you need to know, there is a stigma at alot of shops that mmi grads come to work thinking they are super techs. not all but some. you have gone along way to get to what you wanted obviously so dont stop now. get your foot in the door at a shop, after that you can do you phd’s if you have to start washing bikes do it. that will give you more knowledge than you know now too. befriend a good mechanic at the shop you choose and he will guide you to what you need to do, but do your phds and in a short time you will be making great money. i didnt get to got to mmi, i walked in needing a job 5 years ago, was a lot tech for 6 months and got all my phds done and now im a master tech over 25 an hour. there will be lots of bs but what ever you do dont jump from shop to shop. good luck and remember you will have to start at the bottom. being vertically challenged shouldnt be an issue, youll have better balance with the bikes and if you cant ride a big bike someonelse will do it for you. im 63 260 and limber as a redwood. i dont ride sportsters and if i do i ride on the back seat.