What kind of career am I looking at?

[69BluDevil]

I'm thinking about what career path I want to take right now, and it's a very hard decision. I KNOW I want to do something related to cars, and I have for many years. Right now I'm thinking about going to Universal Technical Institute. (exactly where at depends on who I pick for a company I want to work for) If I take one of the training programs for, say, Ford, BMW, Porsche, or one of the many others, what kind of pay am I looking at? I don't want to be super rich or anything, and I know this won't get me there anyways, I just want to be able to support my future family, and have enough money to do the things I like. (build cars) Is this going to allow that, or is this more of a low-paying job? Also, Is the pay going to differ extraordinarily from say Ford to Mercedes or Porsche? ANY kind of suggestions, help, etc would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

 

[69BluDevil]

Also, mechanical engineering has been suggested to me a few times. Here is what my response was on another forum...

"I'm glad you brought that up. My school counselor also recommended that to me. This may sound stupid, but I have to find out sometime and I can't find a good description on the internet. What kind of work does a mechanical engineer do? Would I go to work for a car company? (obviously higher up than working in a dealership...) I was going to ask earlier, but it was kind of embarassing that I don't know what one of my potential careers even was."

Hehe. So, if someone could explain mechanical engineering to me, that would be great. Thanks!

 

[MeanBuicks]

Here's some good information for you: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos033.htm

 

[turboscott]

I would say if you did one of the German car programs you are looking at more money than the American cars.

 

[oehm]

A friend of mine knows a guy who went through the program and is now the BMW tech at a local dealership. Yes he does make more money than the domestic guys, and yes it is enough to have a family and play with. Another one of my friends went to WYO TECH and is now at an audi school in KC. As for mechanical engeering.... i took some classes in that at the university of nebraska, and boy did it kick my ass. It is at least a 6 year program for a bachelor degree, and you really really really have to me into mathematics. Go to UTI

 

[Jonasterg]

I'm in Mechanical Engineering now at Penn State. My academic advisor told me something like 70% of all ME students here graduate in 5 years or more. ME is a very long and rigorous program, and there's a ton of calculus and physics involved. On the plus side, I think the starting salary for ME grads at Penn Stats is something like $50k, and if you have good connections, it can be much more than that.