Kris_Rocks

Hi
husband has a job offer on the table for a mechanic $28 an hour plus good benefits health and dental etc. in Calgary.
Is this a good enough wage and could 2 adults with a 4 year old live on it initially?

Thanks

Almost Canadian

Depends upon how many hours a week are guaranteed.

40 hours a week would equate to approx $55,000 a year.

$28 is an OK hourly wage, whether you will be able to live on it in Calgary is dependent upon many variables.

Kris_Rocks

Its a full time job 40 hours a week - so that is guaranteed.
Was looking at Okotoks area

Steve_P

At that rate and those hours you pull in approx $58,450 per year plus benefits and of course any overtime.

It's doable but you're not going to be living high of the hog.

Are you going to be buying or renting? How big a mortgage do you anticipate having if you do buy?

Aviator

It seems it may be a typical wage for mechanic. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/em...schedule.shtml Whether it is decent or not is subjective. You can only get what a trade will pay for the level of job. Whether you can live off it, I would say yes, but not, as Steve says live the high life, but you'd get by with modest needs, which is where pretty much all of us were/are at one point or another.

If this is a typical wage, then the only way to get more is to advance into management, dealerships would likely be the best route for that. Start off with what you can get and move up as you get settled and more accustomed to how things work here.

Before getting into too much debt, also be sure how secure the job is. The Canadian work culture is that if work is slow, they cut back hours or lay off at a whim. So long as you find a busy shop then you would likely be fine.

GavinR

Is it salaried or piece work though?

neolight90

Does it cost so much more in Canada then here then as that translate into over £3k a month and that would allow you to live quite nice outside of London and averageish in London

Steve_

Yes probably, with rent though you're not going to be living in luxury for sure.

christmasoompa

How does it translate to £3k a month? Are you forgetting that pesky thing called tax maybe?

neolight90

Well yes I did lol but still £3.1k before tax isnt bad.

What is the tax in Alberta?

Piff Poff

It would depend on whether it's salaried or piece work. Many dealerships (most) not sure about independent garages will only pay you if you are physically working on a job, so if your not working your not getting paid ANYTHING. That said if your OH is a good mechanic and not afraid to do the crap work as well as the good stuff then he could earn almost 30-40% more than what the other posters are quoting

My OH WILL take the crap jobs just so he's not standing around doing nothing BUT he will also fight for the decent ones and fight to get paid for the crap jobs. If he's seeing the other techs getting service after service and he's getting electrical probs after electrical he will complain.

We live very comfortably with one house and a mortgage and bills, two adults and a teen, OH buys whatever cars he fancy's, we have weekends away and are able to save a bit too. Fancy holidays are a luxury we haven't yet mastered, maybe next year, we've been here 6 years, OH is earning far more than he used to in the UK. One thing to consider is the stuff is bigger, therefore heavier, therefore it takes more of a toll, my OH does not want to be doing this until retirement, it's too hard. He would consider going somewhere where there are not too many trucks and UPS vans though

GavinR

That's what I said but nobody listened

GavinR

I'd agree with this too, getting older doesn't help either!

Piff Poff

I heard ya! Just highlighted the missed question

Completely agree, not much fun watching a guy seize up after a days work and not being able to do the things he wants to do

Also wanted to mention if the OP's OH is going to be a diesel tech he should be earning a few more bucks per hour than the regular techs!

scrubbedexpat091

Its certainly not a poor wage. I'd be in hog heaven making 28/hr...lol but then again I make a mere 9.50/hr...