those who paint for a living, or work in body shops

This is for those who paint for a living at a collision shop, or people who work at shops who know what they pay your painters. I'm thinking of quitting my current shop in search of more cash. I'm a painter at a body shop and I think I should be getting more than I am making now. I started off at the shop a year ago as a helper, now I'm a fulltime painter, the only painter they have. I started off making 13 an hour as A HELPER and now that I'm a painter I'm STILL at 13 an hour.

I always thought painter's made much more than that. Either by the hour, or do you guys work flat rate? Only problem with flat rate is when it get's slow you are broke.

If your flat rate 13 an hr is good but if your hourly id look elsewhere.

im a helper and i get 11 50 an hour, the painter gets 15 bucks an hour commision, it all depends where u live, i live in ventura county and painters get about 14- 16 bucks and hour, i have a friend that paints in santa barbara and he get get 20 bucks and hour commission, it all depends

Painters in my area start anywere from $13-21 an hour depending on were you go. But sometimes the higher paying positions are under alot more stress, and worse working conditions. You just gotta think about are you happy were you are? Dont't go somewere for more you dont want to go just because its more pay. Painters helpers usually start around anywere from $8-12 generally around here...but again its all were you go. I know a kid working at a dealership painting and he makes $23 an hour, and his helpers make $18 an hour so...there are higher paying jobs out there. But he says the stress and demand he is under, and the working conditions suck, he would rather be making $15 an hour at a place he liked.

Yea the shop I work at is really nice and I like it there and all. It wouldn't be bad if I was making a little more money. The helper actually takes home more than I do a week but that's another story all together. I was a helper making the same wage as I am now painting. Doesn't sit well with me. I may have to look elsewhere. Especially after I was promised a raise, and it didn't happen.

Did you talk to them about a possible raise?

I teach high school kids autobody at the local career center..I make 32500 a year..pretty good for my area..

Yea my boss actually came to me and send at that starting next week I'd have a raise. That was three weeks ago. I think I'll start looking elsewhere this week.

tha painter where i work is gettin 24 per labor hour.

It my shop my painter makes $28/hr flat rate, thats CDN $$$, I make $13.50 CDN/hr, as a prepper, and Ive only been there 6/mo. Id like to be making a bit more, because Im used to gettting more from a previous employer, but Im getting a trade, so I dont complain.