All done after 8 weeks, got great marks and learned alot but still have lots to learn . Had alot of fun too . The course is run just like a job site after a few weeks. You get there in the morning, do the pre-op check, get on your assigned machine and run it all day loading trucks, digging trenches, spreading fill, etc.., etc... At the end of the day you do the greasing, cleaning tracks etc... Every few days you get a different machine and job duty. Now it's time to find some work. Talked to a few employers already but nobody wants to pay more then $12/hr:Banghead . Now I know I still have alot to learn, but it's hard to survive when your in your mid 30's with a mortgage, car payments and a family on a wage like that. There's some pretty cheap ( insert your own word here ) out there that will take advantage of you if your not carefull. A labourer should make that much or more ! Anyways, the search is on ! Time for a beer or 3 :drinkup !
congrads on finish course. Wish you best of luck. Different pay scale for diff areas. In our area $12 to $15 for an operator with just schooling and no experience would be good. General labor make $8 to $10. May have to tough it out for awhile to get the experience u need to move the pay scale as an operator.
Glad you made it! Out here, running a pine handle will score you $11-12 an hour and beginning operators start at $16-17. I'm still surprised how wages vary so much across the country.
agreed. out here, rookies start out at 25-30 an hr
Good luck, thats a pretty decent wage to start, imo around here. Most wont start you any higher then ditch digger. Be glad hes even starting you on a machine, many wont around here until you dig ditches for a few months and know you can be trusted, these machines are darn darn expensive. Take the 12 an hour, I know itll be hard, but say they are paying 22 for experienced guys, but if that guy never has to ask any questions is 1.5 to 2 times more productive then you (read so uses less fuel, less machines, less man hours etc) then paying 12 to you isnt too out of line. Im not trying to sound cocky or a jerk but take the job, prove to them your reliable, competent, will take care of their machine, are more then a lever puller and the wages will come.