wages in chicago?

[maxair]

I would like to here some input from other techs on
wages,jobs and living cost on chicago work seen.
I have 8 years in the last 4 all commercial.All info
would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

[2hot2coolme]

If your 8 yrs turned you into a seasoned tech, you could be in the range of 26-33/hr. I work for myself but am always checking to see the HVAC help wanted ads to find out how other CO's are doing, and I find a lot of Service Tech positions open. As far as cost of living...it varies. Apts range from 600- 1400 mo. Depending on if you live in the City or suburbs. (City seems to be skyrocketing)
Hope it helped.

[maxair]

I am in the nashville tn area the market here is
flooded with mom and pop shops. The wages are low part due
to all the comp and tn has the right to work law.
All summer things were slow and it seemed like
everyone in a pickup had freon gauges in the
back window.I would like to get involved with the
union.From all the techs I kwow and have been
around the opinion the better pay is with the
union.Any opinions on the union?

[2hot2coolme]

Summer here in the Windy City has been somewhat slow also, but i'm sure people were workin. I'm not sure how the process works with joining a union shop, but it does'nt necessarily mean you would be workin more hours than any other Co. I thought of going to a union shop some years back, but never did. I'm sure some of the Bennies can't be too bad. Ask around on other threads, there are others here that are Union. Can probably give you more info.

[dave82323]

I worked in a union shop when i lived in chicago. it was okay but remember most union shops dont pay you vacation or holidays. the benefits were good as was the retirement fund. I now work in a right to work state and do alright, I make about a buck less and my employer provides me with full insurance. Unions can be good but they are not for everyone.

[maxair]

Im not sure how big a difference the right to work
law makes but I think is causes a general lack of
respect for techs.Im in the commercial dept at our
shop during our weekly meeting one room beside another
with residential techs.We talk about units share info
while the residential techs get speeches like I could
hire a monkey to fix units it takes a real tech to
sell units.Our residential service manager is a total
a!!.They really treat those guys bad and our turn over
is 70 percent in residental with a top staring wage of
about 15.00 hour.Commercial is a different story.Our
service manager is a stand up guy him and the field
mangager both say they see a grim future for our trade.
I have also noticed that when we are busy they sub
alot of our new construction to mexicans leaving the
veteran sheet metal duct crews with little to no
overtime with hints that if they dont like it they will
call in the subs. Raises in that dept went from
50 to 75 cents a year to 30 cents this year.Our in
insurance is always being changed from company to company
each time(twice this year)it seems a little slimmer.I really dont like that unstable feelin and wont to get
involved with a solid company.I wonder aboout large hospital complexes.I have been seeing alot them in the
chicago area and elsewere.You have any thoughts about
those jobs?

[2hot2coolme]

You say you work on large chillers then Downtown Chicago is the place to be working. Plenty of those here. You would need to get a Stationary Engineers License or work for a big commercial outfit. from the sound of the Co. you work for, I would have left dodge a long time ago.
Come on up to great City of Chicago the water's warm(well not on the blistering cold winters) Try checking the employment ads in this paper http://www.dailyherald.com
but don't type in HVAC just look under the "Help Wanted" until you scroll up to HVAC and if you find something give them a call and tell them your situation that you are thinking of relocating. There might not be too many openings right now, but keep checking weekly ya never know.

[rookie79]

chicago is a good city to work for the wages are pretty good ($20-$30), but we have are slow times too, but there always work! either from the company or the good O side jobs. the union out here are hard to get into you have to take a test and go on a waiting list . i thought about it my self. another thing there a lot of hacks co out here!
good luck

[no8no3]

The union rate in Nashville for a centrifugal journeyman is currently 35 dollars and change per hour. There is a lot of chiller work in nashville. you should contact the local there, and get some more info.

[maxair]

Hello no8no3
Im not sure where your your talking about.I worked for
cox corp 15 guys the least had been in the trade for
25 years all of them from lee company ( nashville's biggest
commercial company in many miles some 60 to 70 techs in
there commercial division alone.)They all split because of
unreal working conditions.Marvin and Mike were offically
there best men of Lee senior chiller techs Neither of them
were any were near that.I heard about nashville machine
union shop was paying that kind of wage if you got the hours and played lots of politics nevermind pulling
wire playing electrician 7 months out of the year.I have
personaly worked for 6 companys in the nashville area
heard alot of rumors never found the paydirt.If you do
have some insight to the big money locally I know about
five techs sitting here that would like to know.Dont say
ac/services,reds,donelson,cc mechanical,jake marshall
thats all the big boys been there done that no better.

[warner hvac]

I find the industry as a whole is going down the whole ..
But the comm side is still at a level pace .. just do not go to work for southeastern building service in high point N/C .. they do not tell it like it is.. to put it very simple. if they tell you a chicken dips snoff you dang well better check under its wing or check its lips...

[tinner73]

Originally posted by warner hvac
I find the industry as a whole is going down the whole ..
But the comm side is still at a level pace .. just do not go to work for southeastern building service in high point N/C .. they do not tell it like it is.. to put it very simple. if they tell you a chicken dips snoff you dang well better check under its wing or check its lips...

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