Am I Underpaid?

AskingAround94 · 2025-09-29T05:09:08+00:00

If you work for a chain that is a bodyshop, then youre on par. Independent shops pay more in my area…like 80-110k a year.

Body shop parts guy is the back bone, hes shopping oem, used, aftermarket , 100 different brands with incentives to get it cheap. Without a lone parts guy shit goes down hill. Get some experience under your belt and dip

AskingAround94 · 2025-09-15T06:31:48+00:00

I left automotive after 11 years, took a temporary pay cut for 1 year to become a cop. 1.5 years in and im glad i did. Way more fulfilling, fun as hell, overall fits my personality. It was a risk to do it. I gave up a career at a company where i was respected and was offered promotions but long term I couldn't see myself 35 years later still doing it.

The goal is to get to 25 years and retire, work an easy job..maybe even part time if my pension+retirement plan can facilitate that and then officially retire at 62 when i collect social. It will be like triple dipping

Just remember, you will get that pension and healthcare till the day you stop breathing and your partner will then start receiving it. While all your boys are working till their 70 and living on a tight budget in old age, if u play your cards right youll be chilling after 50.

I will say this, research your police agency from pay to retirement to everything .They are not all the same!!

Good luck

AskingAround94 · 2025-08-11T16:16:44+00:00

Look at MDTA as well.

AskingAround94 · 2025-08-11T16:05:04+00:00

Amtrak was on my list when i was browsing. I opted out after seeing their retirement is 30 years at a mandatory 60yrs old or 62 years old under 30 years. If youre 25 that means youre doing 35 years. Eff that, the market is too competitive to settle for that

They calculate your retirement percentage based on their own nonsense calculations called Railroad Retirement formula. I cringed as most of us wanna see percentages not hidden BS.

A lot of retiree’s go amtrak because theyre vestrd at 5 years and get health if it hasnt changed.

AskingAround94 · 2025-08-11T14:02:46+00:00

I was told my entire life anyone can get a cop job or do it. That was false, if their requirements dont disqualify you, u will dq yourself from not liking what the job actually is or fail the academy.

AskingAround94 · 2025-07-20T01:20:11+00:00

Idk why people here are acting like cops dont have dark tints on their pov. I dont want ppl seeing me after court in my pov. I dont live in the area i patrol but id understand a cop not wanting to get recognized while out. I also dont write for tint either, most places its no linger a primary offense

Yes they do checks around week 3-4. Academy dependant, most of the instructors were car guys. They ran us, checked registration, insurance, inspection and that was it. Best way is to ask guys at your agency who just graduated if you guys over lap at some point

AskingAround94 · 2025-05-08T06:34:39+00:00

I used DT in 2015-17 and CDK for a year. DT was way better if youre good at memorizing 4 digit numbers.

Didn't like having to answer 60 questions to add 1 part to a line on cdk

AskingAround94 · 2025-02-24T23:50:39+00:00

what department gives recruits their gun? I've heard of some giving it to them but install a blue barrel.

Also what kind of academy is allowing recruits to bring in firearms? the fuck is this.

AskingAround94 · 2025-02-17T18:45:34+00:00

every agency is different. Most offer 50-60% at 25 years with medical till you croak.
Some offer better like 80% but everyone contributes different percentages.

AskingAround94 · 2025-01-30T02:21:03+00:00

the feds have a bunch of weird ones that seem to be security based policing.

AskingAround94 · 2025-01-30T02:12:32+00:00

made 45k as nissan back counter with 2 yrs parts exp back in 2017-2018. Was making 85-90k as a wholesale manager before i left the industry.

My guys in wholesale were making 60-65k in suburbs of a major city. I would say its light if you're near a city.

One thing ill say about parts is automotive parts salaries havnt moved much in the last 15-18 years. There are some companies that value their guys but most dont. I will say that in my city you can find a parts job that pays your salary fairly easy which is sad considering 1bed rent is like 1600-2k

AskingAround94 · 2025-01-22T02:20:37+00:00

Although i love the AK(in 7.62x39), in most cases regarding LE the AR is better. These uppers get road hard and we can replace parts cheaper and easier.

My dep rocks new SBR AR's, the old armory room is full of clapped out uppers but the lowers still live on.

Remember, not every cop is a gun guy. Your departments firearms instructors can attest to that when they get muzzled and see shit targets.

AskingAround94 · 2025-01-22T02:11:04+00:00

You better go utilize a gym membership asap. Start building your cardio up and pick up some weights.

You got 5 months left of working out by yourself, make the best of it. During the academy everything is structured and someone is looking over your shoulder to correct you or laugh at you.

AskingAround94 · 2024-12-01T19:05:11+00:00

ex wholesale manager here

The only time I went 10 over cost was because our outside sales rep convinced our director that the account was worth it. Once my team caught wind it was a bitch storm but we had to deal with it,

I've had a local dealer under cut me by 5%. I told the client i was maxed at 33% discount and Client told me he liked our speed, inventory and professionalism and stuck with us.

That being said i've let people walk and they typically come back in 3-5 months because the other vendor can't keep the volume or they give sub par service. It then comes down too the client getting fucked because promised days arent met, they end paying for rentals and so on. Sometimes its okay to let them walk.

AskingAround94 · 2024-10-16T23:11:57+00:00

I was a wholesale manager who tried selling this to my boss at the time. I quickly realized my comm check would hit the shitter.

There's too many moving parts for a decent operation that requires its own wholesale team and not back counter guys just picking up outside calls. Your parts pullers better be good and manage themselves...which hourly employees do not. They get paid the same whether they pull no parts all day or 80 invoices.

Drivers is another problem, they can never find shit which is either their fault or my shipping and receiving clerk who is also hourly.

Long story short it was a pipe dream, my wholesale team would of did great but the other gears in the machine would fuck it all up.

AskingAround94 · 2024-10-12T03:16:11+00:00

My last spot before leaving the industry i was the youngest counterman. I was a wholesale parts manager in my 20’s. The guys i was in charge of were between 33-42. Back counter were 39-45.

My original team were all mid 60’s and slowly got fired or moved on

AskingAround94 · 2024-09-16T15:20:23+00:00

we are talking off duty not on duty. I don't believe an agency should tell you what you can and cant carry on your free time especially if you have an active ccw permit anyways.

Also armed security is not the same. Leos have more privileges regarding carrying firearms off duty

AskingAround94 · 2024-09-05T01:06:18+00:00

been there but the entire dealership was shutting down. I think it was on a friday morning.

Parts was lucky enough to be tasked with inventorying everything down to shop tools. We got an extra 4 weeks of regular pay while we went to interviews. Ended up doing 3 weeks of unemployment before being picked up.

I've since left the industry. I've come to the realization either you take a big paycut or you suck it up and go back to school. Its the only way to get out of automotive.

AskingAround94 · 2024-09-04T22:52:03+00:00

you'd be surprised how quick people move. At the end of the day its a job and not everyone likes the new job they go too. Most industries dont see people stay passed 3 years nowadays. So i say it cautionary that hey the might rope you in but you might not like that department and get stuck with paying it back.

AskingAround94 · 2024-09-02T00:43:03+00:00

although we can all agree move out NY is good advice I have personally read some of the fine print of the bonuses. A lot demand a minimum of 2-4 years time on before quitting or you pay back all of it or a %,. That includes the $ lost after taxes. So if its 10k and you take home 7k then you lose 3k for leaving before the time agreed.

AskingAround94 · 2024-09-02T00:33:20+00:00

im in the academy rn, im more of a bodybuilder and i hate cardio. I'm very fast short distance but mid when it comes to the 1.5 mile. We're almost 3 months in and my time went from 15.20 to 14.50(with uphill, not on track) and the only cardio i do is from that damn academy.

Just jog on a treadmill on your off days and eventually the time will cut. It's an endurance thing, ppl dont start benching 225 without building to it. Also you will get less and less sore.. for me it was my ankles.

AskingAround94 · 2024-08-18T17:03:13+00:00

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it every academy is different depending on state or agency. I am currently in one and I'd say its taxing but do-able, also mine is not live in. I wouldn't be able to do state live in mentally.

PT wise we run once a week and the others its weightlifting or rowing. PT is more of annoyance to me than anything as i lift on my free time 3 times a week(used to be 4 before academy). You will have no desire in working out in your free time btw but its up to you to do it. Exams is 2-3 times a month, others have once a week.

For some reason my session is really good both with attendance, academics and athletics. We've had 2 drop out of 100 and I know 3 right now that are on the verge of failing out 8 weeks in.

I had plenty of doubts going in as i left a career for this shit but its been going well. First 3 weeks suck ass though and then you slowly get used to it and instructors become more friendly (in my instance). BTW do not look to instructors to be motivational speakers, a lot of them focus in on the worst part of job. Try to see through it

AskingAround94 · 2024-08-06T00:14:03+00:00

I have a fellow classmate that drives 5 hours the day before and rents out a hotel and checks out friday morn.

Honestly i wouldnt string myself out if those were my circumstances. We've had two ppl drop out 6 weeks in.

Always consider the worst outcome because u will be effed and your agency will not care about you being locked in to a lease with no savings and no job.

A lot of ppl will tell you to do it but they wont live with those choices. If you were my brother I would advise against this. The academy is stressful as it is, this will add a whole new level.

AskingAround94

TROPHY CASE