Ride Maintenance Question

Hi, I'm brand new to this site. (rookie). I have browsed it numerous times, however. Just now getting on board. I'm interested in changing careers. I'm currently an aircraft mechanic and I want to use my skills to be a ride maintainer.

Does anyone know(approximately) what the pay is for this? I'll be moving back to the northeast and want to look at SFNE and NJ among others. Please, someone, throw me a bone. I can't find info on this anywhere(at least salary-wise).

Thanks, Kenny B. San Diego (age: 30)

We have at least one ride tech on here, you just have to bribe him to post. ;) Welcome.

Well welcome to the boards, sounds cool you want to persue ride maintinence. But I don't have any info for you, sorry, im only 19. :p

It's you JEFF!! I know it's you. :) I'm not looking for a job quote or anything right now. I really just want to get a ballpark figure. For all I know it could be $6/hr or $26/hr. Thanks again to anyone who responds.

By the way.... I'm willing to bribe, ain't too proud to beg. Open for offers...Future free passes if I do get hired?? Late night private rides!?? :)

Its about 15 dollars an hour. Actually im totally bsing you. I have no clue i was just goin for the free passes.

Isn't Coasterpunk a tech? I guess you could always PM him.

Best of luck with a change. I made a career change at 37, and enjoy the hell out of it. :)

CPunk is my hero because he builds my favoritest trains in the universe. He doesn't get bribed to post (that I know of), he just does it out of the kindness of his heart... and to laugh at us when he tells us how neat it is to bulid Millennium Flyers.

Actually kpjb is the only one that I know about.

From what I hear, the good ride mechanics make something along the lines of what a good, well-trained auto tech makes. I don't know how much that is, but I gotta think it's well over $20/hr.

I remember at Coasterpalooza once they said that all their mechanics were former aircraft mechanics except for the carpenters. I don't have much else to add, just wanted to say, good luck. :)

Be good and certified at Pnuematics, Electrical and Photo-eye expereience. Some hydraulic and other fields. You'll have no problem getting a job.

Chuck

PLC's got to know them or they won't talk to you, guarenteed. The pay scale on the Left Coast right now is about $17.00 to $19.00 /hr. I've heard that it's about two dollars an hour less in the Middle Atlantic and New England region. I see you're in my stomping grounds. All three amusement operations In San Diego were hiring last year. From what I saw they were all hiring people straight out of trade schools. Most of the places the average age of the crews was 22-25. I have thirty years experience in the business and I was lucky to get a "thank you for applying" letter. *** Edited 8/6/2005 3:45:13 AM UTC by Dutchman***

Dutchman, I see you're finding out there is an unusual and deffinately unspoken prejudice against older people when companies go to hire. This is especially true in IT at this time. Seems people like to hire young for various reasons, including salary requirements. Goodluck to all looking for a job.

I found employment, after a year of searching, thank you. I took a fairly major hit on salary, but my new employer has one heck of a benefit package. I'm no longer working in the amusement industry, at least full time. I'm still servicing band organs for a few people on my time, and a little consulting as well.

i'll ask the maintnence guys at my park, i speak to them pretty much every day.... whether or not they will tell me is another story.

At a lot of operations it is a terminating offense to discuss what each others salary is, so bear that in mind.

But you don't have to ask specifics about salaries (i.e. "Hey, what do you make a year?"). Asking what it starts out at is usually okay by those policies (i.e. "I'm looking to get in the field, what would someone like me start out at making?).

Why didn't I think of this in the first place? Just go to HR and ask what the positions start at. *** Edited 8/7/2005 2:18:13 PM UTC by Dutchman***

There are actually a few of them on here Jeff. :) but your best bet is exactly what they person above me said. Give the park in question a call and talk to HR. They'll generally put you in contact with manager you need to speak to.

Most companies don't want people blurting out pay rates. *** Edited 8/7/2005 5:16:26 PM UTC by Red Garter Rob***

Thank you all for the useful comments. I did, in fact, try to squeeze the HR people at Six Flags for some salary info....to no avail. That's why I posted my inquiry here. Despite the wide range of responses....I gathered some useful info. Thanks again.

Kenny B. (Beesh)