Starting wages for Apprentices?

god9 · Post by **god9** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:30 pm

Hey guys, I was on here about 6 months back posting in the flight section because I was interested in becoming a pilot. Now, I've realised its not suitable for me and I've decided to pursue Maintenance.

I'm going to take the AME Technician program at Con College next year, and I'll be done that in 2010, hopefully.

Anyways, I'm just interested to see mainly what the starting wage would be for 1st year apprentices in various locations.

I know a couple apprentices (3rd year) who are making around $17/hr here in Thunder Bay. I know the wages get better the further west you go (I'm talking mainly Calgary here), but its also quite expensive to live.

If I could get a couple different replies from people in different areas of the country that would be great anyway. Thanks

Cat19 · Post by **Cat19** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:53 pm

Hi god9.

When I started as an apprentice back in 1996, I was making about $13/hr. After 4 years, it went up to about $21 or $22/hr.

Currently, I am making around $32/hr.

Kandoo · Post by **Kandoo** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:24 pm

I think you’ll find by the time you graduate they will be higher than they are today due to ongoing industry shortages.

Meecka · Post by **Meecka** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:16 pm

When I started as an apprentice in 2001 I was making 10.50 an hour.

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:16 pm

When I started in 2001 I was making 10.50 plus free accomidations (camp style) but the groceries in Norman Wells are rather expensive.

ybp · Post by **ybp** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:21 pm

Geez, Tiny and Mecka, how did you survive? Tiny, I know that your clothes are not THAT big but they still cost the same as full sized ones

(Sorry, tiny, I just had to!)

When I started as an apprentice in 2003, they were paying 17/hr. As far as I know, they are still paying that. Now, supposedly, we are on a set pay scale showing how much you will get paid per hour, at a minimum, each year you are with the company.

Meecka · Post by **Meecka** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 3:13 am

hey.. president's chioce alfabit macaroni and cheese sauce for 49 cents a box is a great thing!

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:54 am

Coca Cola is cheaper than beer.... though it was still $13 for 12.

Fox 3 · Post by **Fox 3** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:31 pm

Our pay scale for apprentice AME's:

1st year: $15.00/hour
2nd year: $16.00/hour
3rd year: $18.00/hour
4th year: $19.00/hour

I work for Integra Air, we are located in Lethbridge Alberta.

http://www.integraair.com

Hope that helped.

~FOX~

ourkid2000 · Post by **ourkid2000** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:20 pm

Not dissing your company or anything.........

But in comparison to many places in Alberta you could make that kind of money working in the fast food industry.

I figured out West you'd have to pay double that to keep workers from the oil industry. Do you have trouble getting and keeping people?

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:55 pm

I'd say Fox's numbers are pretty standerd if not a little higher than average

flygurl · Post by **flygurl** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:39 pm

I started in 2003 at $8.75/ hr but it was my first job out of high school and I was pre-apprent (no formal schooling) and had no idea i was getting screwed
after school started at $14.60 then moved up and am noe around $19

as for the fast food industry out here in the west, they will always make more. you have to love this job or move on.

Fox 3 · Post by **Fox 3** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:41 am

ourkid2000 wrote:Not dissing your company or anything.........

But in comparison to many places in Alberta you could make that kind of money working in the fast food industry.

I figured out West you'd have to pay double that to keep workers from the oil industry. Do you have trouble getting and keeping people?

We do have some trouble finding people. I think there are two reasons for it.
One reason is I really think there is just a shortage across the board, people who are currently employed at a good place don't want to leave (I don't blame them), and people who are currently not employed either don't want to be, or maybe no one wants to hire them.

The second reason is because we are a "one horse town" and (in my experience) people are more willing to move to YYC then here because they can just push their toolbox across the ramp if they don't like it.

I think the pay scale we have for an apprentice is pretty decent, I know when I first got my job here it was about a $4.00 increase in wage.
I think if someone is going to work in the oil industry you can't stop them anyways, you would never be able to pay an apprentice what they could make in the oil field, it really comes down to a career choice.

~FOX~