Harley-Davidson is one of the leading names in American motorcycle manufacturing. Learning work on Harleys is a highly specialized segment of the overall motorcycle mechanic profession, with the Motor Company's Twin Cam, Evolution, Revolution and other V-twin engine configurations being proprietary and iconic. For those with a passion for classic American iron, becoming a Harley-Davidson mechanic is a way to work intimately with the big bikes.
Wages
Harley-Davidson mechanics are among the highest-paid motorcycle mechanics. These specialist mechanics have the potential to make as much as $50,000 per year as of 2008. This works out to approximately $25 per hour. Mechanics who work overtime can make even more, based on overtime rates of time and a half.
Experience
What you make as a Harley mechanic depends a lot on your level of experience. Many mechanics will start out as helpers. Entry-level wages for a mechanic tend to fall between $25,000 and $35,000 per year depending on geography and demand. Wages increase as experience increases; supervisory and management positions within a service facility are necessarily paid more than assistant positions; these are natural positions to wind up in if you have a long Harley-Davidson mechanic career within one organization.
Job Prospects
Because Harley-Davidson repair is a highly specialized field, having the right training will open doors. The Automotive-Schools.us website reports that the field was expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent in the year 2010. Further, the field of automotive repair generally is insulated to some degree from fluctuations in the broader job market -- when vehicles break they need to be repaired.
Geographical Differences
What Harley-Davidson mechanics make is also a function of where they work. The five states with the highest-paying jobs for motorcycle repairmen are California, Hawaii, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Louisiana. The metro areas with the highest wages for bike mechanics are Houston, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Chicago and Atlanta. Some flexibility in where a mechanic is willing to work can greatly impact his salary.
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