randiculous
Member
Hey guys, so I've been working for a respectable theatre supply company in various capacities over the past ~10 months. I started out as overhire in the warehouse humping around cable and lights, doing minor repairs on broken gear, etc. Then I got trained in shipping and receiving for a few months as our online business was growing bigger than one shipping hand could keep up with (still as overhire on an as-needed basis), they were prepping me to take over that position working fulltime in shipping, when suddenly there was an opening in the technical services department. They knew I was interested, interviewed me for the position, and the next thing I know I'm an entry level repair technician. But, I'm still at my original pay rate I started at, $11/hr. During this time they increased warehouse pay to $13/hr, but kept me at the $11/hr saying that since I'm now considered full time and about to get health insurance it would even out. However, I'm approaching the end of my first 90 days as a repair tech, and I was told we could start talking raises at this point. I know I'm only a year out of school, and just getting started learning repairs, (kind of like an apprentice tech or junior tech I guess) but I was wondering what hourly rate you all thought I should be at?
I know it won't be a huge pay, I need experience first, but I feel like I should be making at least as much as the warehouse guys, I have a lot of added responsibilities since I first started here. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job, I'm just not able to make ends meet at my current rate - and it's not like I haven't cut my expenses... I've cut them down as far as surviveably possible (and have no money left over for fun or emergencies).
A little about my specific job, I feel like it may be slightly different from other repair tech type positions:
This job is partially administrative in nature as well - I log and track all hours worked by my senior tech, keep our customers informed of their repair statuses, and gather billing information from them, coordinate RMAs (repairs by manufacturer), order parts, etc.
I've learned troubleshooting techniques and repaired the following gear under the guidance of my senior tech in my first 90 days:
MAC 550s
Rosco Foggers (various models)
Telex headsets and beltpacks (or determine if they need RMA)
re-soldering mic cord connectors and XLR connectors on a variety of mic and cable types (Sennheiser, Shure, 3-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin - even made a 6-pin to two 3-pin adapter set so now we can test 6pin cable on our existing equipment!)
replace sockets and reflectors in ellipsoidals
convert NSI dimmers from microplex to DMX
troubleshoot and repair mic beltpacks (or determine if they need RMA)
I've also made a handful of customer repairs by myself with no guidance at all and I'm really proud of my work so far
I've also been asked to learn sewing machine repair (all self-taught) and am now held responsible for maintaining the two industrial machines in our drape shop. One machine has been out of service for a few months, but now I have parts arriving today to get it back up and running by next Monday.
I've received no formal training and have been doing a lot of hands-on learning in the shop, reading/researching on slow days, and doing a lot of reading on electrical components outside of work at home. I'm hopeful that this fall they will send me out for some manufacturer repair training sessions.
It also might be of note that the repairs department is making more profit since I've started, we're meeting our projections now - previously the department had not been keeping up on billing very well.
Any input from the community is helpful, thanks guys!
I know it won't be a huge pay, I need experience first, but I feel like I should be making at least as much as the warehouse guys, I have a lot of added responsibilities since I first started here. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job, I'm just not able to make ends meet at my current rate - and it's not like I haven't cut my expenses... I've cut them down as far as surviveably possible (and have no money left over for fun or emergencies).
A little about my specific job, I feel like it may be slightly different from other repair tech type positions:
This job is partially administrative in nature as well - I log and track all hours worked by my senior tech, keep our customers informed of their repair statuses, and gather billing information from them, coordinate RMAs (repairs by manufacturer), order parts, etc.
I've learned troubleshooting techniques and repaired the following gear under the guidance of my senior tech in my first 90 days:
MAC 550s
Rosco Foggers (various models)
Telex headsets and beltpacks (or determine if they need RMA)
re-soldering mic cord connectors and XLR connectors on a variety of mic and cable types (Sennheiser, Shure, 3-pin, 5-pin, 6-pin - even made a 6-pin to two 3-pin adapter set so now we can test 6pin cable on our existing equipment!)
replace sockets and reflectors in ellipsoidals
convert NSI dimmers from microplex to DMX
troubleshoot and repair mic beltpacks (or determine if they need RMA)
I've also made a handful of customer repairs by myself with no guidance at all and I'm really proud of my work so far
I've also been asked to learn sewing machine repair (all self-taught) and am now held responsible for maintaining the two industrial machines in our drape shop. One machine has been out of service for a few months, but now I have parts arriving today to get it back up and running by next Monday.
I've received no formal training and have been doing a lot of hands-on learning in the shop, reading/researching on slow days, and doing a lot of reading on electrical components outside of work at home. I'm hopeful that this fall they will send me out for some manufacturer repair training sessions.
It also might be of note that the repairs department is making more profit since I've started, we're meeting our projections now - previously the department had not been keeping up on billing very well.
Any input from the community is helpful, thanks guys!