Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
#31
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,404
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
We've just moved from Edmonton after three years. We're a family of 4 (two kids, 4 & 5), dont smoke, dont really drink, and like to eat out once or twice a week. We had one car, and a regular 3 bed house.
We struggled month to month on my salary (approx $70k).
If it's just going to be you working, with a salary of $55k in Calgary, I would say things would be very tight for you.
As an FYI, my brother came to visit us last year and was offered up to $40 an hour by Nissan and Land Rover as a mechanic/auto tech. He chose to stay in the UK though.
We struggled month to month on my salary (approx $70k).
If it's just going to be you working, with a salary of $55k in Calgary, I would say things would be very tight for you.
As an FYI, my brother came to visit us last year and was offered up to $40 an hour by Nissan and Land Rover as a mechanic/auto tech. He chose to stay in the UK though.
#32
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
We've just moved from Edmonton after three years. We're a family of 4 (two kids, 4 & 5), dont smoke, dont really drink, and like to eat out once or twice a week. We had one car, and a regular 3 bed house.
We struggled month to month on my salary (approx $70k).
If it's just going to be you working, with a salary of $55k in Calgary, I would say things would be very tight for you.
As an FYI, my brother came to visit us last year and was offered up to $40 an hour by Nissan and Land Rover as a mechanic/auto tech. He chose to stay in the UK though.
We struggled month to month on my salary (approx $70k).
If it's just going to be you working, with a salary of $55k in Calgary, I would say things would be very tight for you.
As an FYI, my brother came to visit us last year and was offered up to $40 an hour by Nissan and Land Rover as a mechanic/auto tech. He chose to stay in the UK though.
How did you brother get the offer did he just apply or was it through someone you know?
We are literally just dipping our toe in the water and my OH got this offer pretty quick so we are wondering wether to take it but dont want to miss an opportunity in case another doesnt come up.
#33
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
Hi there.
I have just returned from visiting my brother in-law in Okotoks. He said that $60k is ok to start on but to be comfortable $80k is the ceiling to aim for.
He Currently rents a 3 bed house in Okotoks which is $1200. They get paid every 2 weeks so one pay check goes towards the rent. The tax is 5% in Alberta.
If you have any questions about Okotoks then feel free to PM me.
I have just returned from visiting my brother in-law in Okotoks. He said that $60k is ok to start on but to be comfortable $80k is the ceiling to aim for.
He Currently rents a 3 bed house in Okotoks which is $1200. They get paid every 2 weeks so one pay check goes towards the rent. The tax is 5% in Alberta.
If you have any questions about Okotoks then feel free to PM me.
#34
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,404
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
My husband is a car mechanic has worked for a peugeot/citroen dealership for 20 odd years with a brief stint at a company making airplane tugs in between.
How did you brother get the offer did he just apply or was it through someone you know?
We are literally just dipping our toe in the water and my OH got this offer pretty quick so we are wondering wether to take it but dont want to miss an opportunity in case another doesnt come up.
How did you brother get the offer did he just apply or was it through someone you know?
We are literally just dipping our toe in the water and my OH got this offer pretty quick so we are wondering wether to take it but dont want to miss an opportunity in case another doesnt come up.
#36
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
Of course but as much info as you can get helps.
Also, they have close family that live there so any help given would not be purely based on a one time visitors opinion would it.
#37
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
My husband is a car mechanic has worked for a peugeot/citroen dealership for 20 odd years with a brief stint at a company making airplane tugs in between.
How did you brother get the offer did he just apply or was it through someone you know?
We are literally just dipping our toe in the water and my OH got this offer pretty quick so we are wondering wether to take it but dont want to miss an opportunity in case another doesnt come up.
How did you brother get the offer did he just apply or was it through someone you know?
We are literally just dipping our toe in the water and my OH got this offer pretty quick so we are wondering wether to take it but dont want to miss an opportunity in case another doesnt come up.
#38
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada - Darwin NT - Newcastle NSW - Toronto - Townsville QLD - Brisbane - Toronto
Posts: 201
#39
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Okotoks
Posts: 23
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
I live in Okotoks and my husband is currently on a similar rate to this. We have two young kids. It is safe to say that we do have to be careful about what we are spending but it can be done. The only thing I would say is you need to make sure you bring over a decent amount of money to put away as a safety net as this doesnt really allow for any big emergencies cropping up! If you wanted to have a chat about the costs of things here etc drop me a message
Last edited by nikkistothard; Jul 13th 2011 at 1:44 am.
#41
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Okotoks
Posts: 23
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
oops - sorry!
#42
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
no worries - just didn't want to you be bombarded with unwanted crappy/spammy emails
#43
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 46
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
I have always thought these posts are impossible to answer. There are far too many variables so maybe give us more information, if you are mortgage free, have no car payments and do little to no commuting ie living walking distance to work and you spend your free time with your children riding on bicycles/kicking a football/hillwalking and have little desire for for the latest new technology on $28/hr you are very comfy.
There is a Dr of some sort where I sail and a bit of a wanker, I'm pretty sure he makes well over £100K looking where he lives and the newish 7 series bimmer/private school for kids but listening to him blither about how hard done by he is/poorly paid etc you would think he was a skint refugee from somalia.
When my wife and I work it out, with 2 kids, if we exclude mortgage payments we really need to spend £1200/mos to live to cover the basics. Food, gas, electric, petrol, life ins, car payment, insurances, some maintenance on house/cars, pension contribution when we put it on a spread sheet over 6-mos.
My suggestion is keep a spread sheet of everything you spend over 3mos and break it down under different headings, you will be shocked where your money goes then you can decide if $28/hr is enough.
There is a Dr of some sort where I sail and a bit of a wanker, I'm pretty sure he makes well over £100K looking where he lives and the newish 7 series bimmer/private school for kids but listening to him blither about how hard done by he is/poorly paid etc you would think he was a skint refugee from somalia.
When my wife and I work it out, with 2 kids, if we exclude mortgage payments we really need to spend £1200/mos to live to cover the basics. Food, gas, electric, petrol, life ins, car payment, insurances, some maintenance on house/cars, pension contribution when we put it on a spread sheet over 6-mos.
My suggestion is keep a spread sheet of everything you spend over 3mos and break it down under different headings, you will be shocked where your money goes then you can decide if $28/hr is enough.
#44
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
Apparently there are a few dealerships in the Calgary area that are paying Journeyman Mechanics around $34 per hour. OH's dealership has fallen behind...
#45
Re: Is $28 an hour a decent wage for Calgary?
Just a thought is that the starting wage? only I did 3 months and got another couple of dollars an hour more... also watch because I found if i did more than 8 hours overtime the dreaded tax man hit me so anything more than that i banked and had time off and saved child care when I could, like PD days (teacher training) and there is lots of those...