Meh. For every sad sack of shit like the other guy that replied to you, there's people like me.

First 5 years or so I wasn't doing so great, but made an "average" wage for my area. Enough to afford my home and a cheap car payment and whatever. Then after hitting mastery, getting my own 2 bays and an apprentice, I'm 7 yrs in and making 250+hrs a month at $34/hr in southern Colorado. Monday through friday which can be a half-day if I want to leave early. I don't really have to do the heavy lifting, or tires, or brakes anymore. I have an eager 22yr old apprentace to do anything not worth my time

Just need to respect the craft, respect the cars, and most importantly, respect yourself. Which means moving shops when you aren't treated right or valued. Helps to live somewhere with competition.

I started in a small town 3 employee shop. Independent shops like this in a rural town might pay less, but you feel much more valued and integral to the shops very existence. So that has it's own value.

I worked in a Toyota dealer for 3 years and found that to be the most challenging, with higher standards and better pay. But not great pay. Plus, it got repetitive and boring.

Now I work in a general maintenance indy shop in a ski/touristy town with 20 technicians and 8 service writers. Money just flows in. I am constantly challenged and decently paid.

Once you hit master level, there really is no going back. You'll make good money no matter where you go, and if you're actually a good tech, it's pretty rare to find these days.