How does electronics pay scales compare to other technical job skills like machinist or car dealer mechanic (not a tire shop mechanic)
or HVAC tech or electrician etc.

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems that unless you are an EE with a BS degree you are not going to make much.

Electronic Technician seems to be too broad a category to nail down for pay as you can have a low level tech up to a junior EE working as a Tech.

It seems like electronics at the blue collar level, demands an awful lot of technical knowledge (higher math, physics, many types of circuit analysis,
software etc) compared to other skill sets for lower pay.
For comparison, a competant machinist can make $30-40 an hour and it ain't rocket science to read dial indicators, micrometers or height gages.
About as hard as it gets is a little basic Trig oncassionally to measure angles. The machines do all the work, especially the newer CNC machines.
Just inputting "codes" from a list, tells the CNC what to do and you have actual physical material to monitor and check rather than an invisible
force of electron flow, defined by really atomic scale laws of physics that you cannot see, and can only be dealt with by the use of a menagerie of math formulas extending into higher math understanding.

The point is the level of science and physics (and math) skill required to make not as much money as a blue collar auto mechanic or average high school level on the job educated machinist. I know as I have worked in machine shops.

Maybe it is the over supply and glut of electronics student enthusiasts out there (some work at Best Buy in the "Geek Squad") or the throwaway and
easily replaced black box boards and devices, I don't know. Probably someone here understands the situation of electronics jobs and pay scenario
and have an in depth understanding of what I'm talking about which would be helpful to anyone who wants to pursue electronics as a career or job.

Thanks

 

Electronic Technician

Average salary is 72K.

 

Experienced (15 years +) Electronic Technicians in the semiconductor field can easily make over 100K. There is an insane demand for people with deep electronic manufacturing experience (can hit the floor running) now with so many FABS starting up.

 

Electronic Technician

Average salary is 72K.

More than I thought. Probably takes quite a bit of education and experience.

 

Experienced (15 years +) Electronic Technicians in the semiconductor field can easily make over 100K. There is an insane demand for people with deep electronic manufacturing experience (can hit the floor running) now with so many FABS starting up.

That is pretty amazing. I thought only EEs would get that much. However, the experience factor is pretty high, 15 years with
instant results expected from the employers. Not what a beginner with 1 or 2 years of trade school edu. would get though.

 

That is pretty amazing. I thought only EEs would get that much. However, the experience factor is pretty high, 15 years with
instant results expected from the employers. Not what a beginner with 1 or 2 years of trade school edu. would get though.

We hire former navy nuclear electronic techs for a pretty good starting wage but that's with at least 2 years (with one deployment cycle) of reactor experience on a boat or ship. They can't hit the floor running but most are quick learners.
https://www.navy.com/careers/electronics-technician-nuclear

If math and science make your heart race, you might have the makings of an Electronics Technician Nuclear. As an ETN, you operate and perform maintenance on the electronic systems that make the reactor on Navy ships run. You must have a superior work ethic, and an intense curiosity for all things in the world of physics. But out here, it pays to be smart. Not only will you get hands-on experience that nuclear techs in the civilian world can only dream about, you’ll be eligible to receive up to a $50,000 bonus for first-time enlistment. Re-enlistment bonuses are also available. As an ETN, you’ll have the power of a nuclear reactor in your hands.

 

We hire former navy nuclear electronic techs for a pretty good starting wage but that's with at least 2 years (with one deployment cycle) of reactor experience on a boat or ship. They can't hit the floor running but most are quick learners.
https://www.navy.com/careers/electronics-technician-nuclear

Are you a Navy recruiter?

 

Are you a Navy recruiter?

Clearly, from his name, he is a spy working for the National Security Agency.

 

Clearly, from his name, he is a spy working for the National Security Agency.

Just to be clear again.
I was never a spy. I worked for a US Military branch, in a group, with NSA operational control.

 

Are you a Navy recruiter?

No, only former Navy. That means the guys we hire with Navy backgrounds can't BS me as I know and have done most of the BS tricks they could pull.

 

Just to be clear again.
I was never a spy. I worked for a US Military branch, in a group, with NSA operational control.

Yeah, that’s what any real spy would say!

My dad was CIA (in finance.) When we were posted to Germany in 1964, he had cover as an army sergeant (because officers would be questioned more thoroughly), and, in case of invasion from the Evil Empire to the East, we (the family) would have been evacuated, but his orders were to assume his cover identity and keep the station open until he was captured. My siblings and I were not told he was CIA because, well, I think that is obvious. My brother pursued a career in the Stare Dept. He would not reveal to me whether that was cover, even on his death bed.

 

No, only former Navy. That means the guys we hire with Navy backgrounds can't BS me as I know and have done most of the BS tricks they could pull.

Regarding what you said, actually I am interested in Physics. If I had to do it all over again, I would pursue studying the atomic nature
of matter and physics, maybe work towards a PhD in my youth. Instead I am too old for that now and am on a forum asking others
about what it takes to get a job or other activities in any aspect of electronics. I think most people don't realize that when
they turn on a light or computer or stereo or use their phone they are actually dabbling with the atomic nature of matter
that was used to create nuclear power (and bombs unfortunately). People just take it for granted without knowing what
they are dealing with. Obviously, not the atomic nucleus but in the same neighborhood being the electron is part of
an atom. Atomic force is what glues matter together, and electrons just have weaker glue within the atom. Also the tight and
repeatable stable mathematical laws that govern the whole nature of electrical and electronic force is fascinating.

All that being said, back to looking at how much money that can be made with electronics & electricity now that it has been relegated
to the ho hum everyday marketplace and utility that the average person sees much like water for your garden or natural gas
for your stove. Just another modern convenience rather than the amazng force that it is that springs from the very atomic
nature of all the matter we see.

 

Yeah, that’s what any real spy would say!

My dad was CIA (in finance.) When we were posted to Germany in 1964, he had cover as an army sergeant (because officers would be questioned more thoroughly), and, in case of invasion from the Evil Empire to the East, we (the family) would have been evacuated, but his orders were to assume his cover identity and keep the station open until he was captured. My siblings and I were not told he was CIA because, well, I think that is obvious. My brother pursued a career in the Stare Dept. He would not reveal to me whether that was cover, even on his death bed.

This is close to the truth of one of my old jobs. The keepers of the codes to destroy the world.

In our official duties, the CO was not in the chain of command.

 

@RUSTYWIRE I think you are undervaluing the skill of a CNC machinist and/or confusing a CNC machinist with a CNC machine operator. Operators sit in front of a machine all day while it makes 1000 identical hose fittings, eating pretzels and waiting for the machine to crash so they can press the big red button. Occasionally they get up to feed it more raw material. The program that the operator is running was written by a machinist. The machinist wrote the program to optimize production efficiency, leveraging his knowledge of the properties of the material being machined and of the available tooling and of the capabilities of the machine. He has to plan the machining operations in a logical order. He designs fixtures to hold parts during the intermediate steps of multi-step operations. This requires quite a bit of intellect, knowledge, and experience. It's not a "drone" job that any 'ol blue collar Joe can do.

I'm not trying to nit-pick your example, because it is after all just an example, but just to point out that any skilled trade job that pays well, probably pays (primarily) based on the level of skill, knowledge, and experience required. Any example you might have otherwise cited, someone who has inside knowledge of it could probably tell you how "it ain't as easy as you think." There aren't many "get rich (less poor) quick" jobs unless you're willing to do something risky (like oil rig floor hand) and/or overwhelmingly unappealing (like septic tank cleaner).

That said, some jobs do pay better than others for a given amount of experience due to supply & demand and other factors.

 

@RUSTYWIRE I think you are undervaluing the skill of a CNC machinist and/or confusing a CNC machinist with a CNC machine operator. Operators sit in front of a machine all day while it makes 1000 identical hose fittings, eating pretzels and waiting for the machine to crash so they can press the big red button. Occasionally they get up to feed it more raw material. The program that the operator is running was written by a machinist. The machinist wrote the program to optimize production efficiency, leveraging his knowledge of the properties of the material being machined and of the available tooling and of the capabilities of the machine. He has to plan the machining operations in a logical order. He designs fixtures to hold parts during the intermediate steps of multi-step operations. This requires quite a bit of intellect, knowledge, and experience. It's not a "drone" job that any 'ol blue collar Joe can do.

I'm not trying to nit-pick your example, because it is after all just an example, but just to point out that any skilled trade job that pays well, probably pays (primarily) based on the level of skill, knowledge, and experience required. Any example you might have otherwise cited, someone who has inside knowledge of it could probably tell you how "it ain't as easy as you think." There aren't many "get rich (less poor) quick" jobs unless you're willing to do something risky (like oil rig floor hand) and/or overwhelmingly unappealing (like septic tank cleaner).

That said, some jobs do pay better than others for a given amount of experience due to supply & demand and other factors.

In the several shops I've worked at, the person who does all those tasks (not the operator) is usually a CNC programmer who
is the master machinist & may or may not be the manager/supervisor and they use CAD to program the machines.
At most they are using basic Trig sometimes as the CAD program does the calculations automatically.
I was just trying to make a comparison to what an electronics engineering tech does, which seems to require more math
and physics for the same (or less ) money. I think the electronics eng. tech is at a higher technical skill level than the
machinist, but correct me if you think I'm wrong. I don't think the 2 skills are exact skill parallels.

 

Pay, while important is not everything. I wouldn't work as a master machinist for more money with less school when I was younger because I found my passion in another field. Work for me is not 'work', it's fun that I get paid very well for.

 

In the several shops I've worked at, the person who does all those tasks (not the operator) is usually a CNC programmer who
is the master machinist & may or may not be the manager/supervisor and they use CAD to program the machines.
At most they are using basic Trig sometimes as the CAD program does the calculations automatically.
I was just trying to make a comparison to what an electronics engineering tech does, which seems to require more math
and physics for the same (or less ) money. I think the electronics eng. tech is at a higher technical skill level than the
machinist, but correct me if you think I'm wrong. I don't think the 2 skills are exact skill parallels.

As you mentioned "Electronics Technician" is pretty broad, and for some of the positions I am in agreement that the knowledge required is higher than that of a CNC machinist. On the other end of the spectrum is my friend who is an "Electronics Technician" for the school district where he lives. His job is to maintain clocks, PA systems, and phone networks. He doesn't know the difference between a BJT and a FET.

 

Pay, while important is not everything. I wouldn't work as a master machinist for more money with less school when I was younger because I found my passion in another field. Work for me is not 'work', it's fun that I get paid very well for.

When you find your work fun, it is not as hard to end up being paid very well for it.

 

The only thing that's not fun anymore is the physical activity, getting old sucks.

 

Pay, while important is not everything. I wouldn't work as a master machinist for more money with less school when I was younger because I found my passion in another field. Work for me is not 'work', it's fun that I get paid very well for.

I agree.
Actually the master machinists are as fanatical about what they do as many people are about electronics who work at it.
I suppose it comes down to what your "cup of tea" is for you.

I'm just trying to gage the electronics jobs available, even though I probably don't qualify for them, except maybe
at a lower level.
Actually Astronomers have an even worse situation. They have to know all the highest math and physics have a PhD
to actually work at real astronomy (not as a teacher or tour guide), yet have a hard time finding jobs due to supply and demand.
I see a lot of ads for machinists but hardly any for electronics. I do see that there is a thriving electronics job pool in India however
probably because they are paid less for high skills....(just guessing)