Fire extinguisher engineer wages

[carter1978]

I'm probably posting this in the wrong area so don't shoot me as I'm new to this forum.

I'm currently working as a Fire Extinguisher Engineer for reputable company in the Midlands which I have been doing for 2 years. I am BAFE qualified and I am currently due a pay rise.

My questions is what do users of this forum think is a reasonable wage for someone of my level of experience?

Cheers.

[nim]

My opinion for the stresses and strains that maintaining extinguishers produces on your body is that a service technician should be paid a minimum £30,000 a year. I don't think that £50,000 a year is too much but some here say they are being paid as little as £15,000. For me that is way too low.

[kurnal]

My opinion for the stresses and strains that maintaining extinguishers produces on your body is that a service technician should be paid a minimum £30,000 a year. I don't think that £50,000 a year is too much but some here say they are being paid as little as £15,000. For me that is way too low.

I agree but market forces are the bottom line. We mustn't overlook the economics from a business point of view in what is a highly competitive market. I dont know because its not my line but it all comes back down to
 
-How many extinguishers can a competent engineer service per day,
- How much you can charge per unit in the market place
-Cost of marketing- there has to be a salesperson as well as an engineer
-Provision of transport
-Provision of training and cost of employment
-Cost of accreditation
-overheads, spares and equipment, testing and maintenance of bulk co2 vessels
-environmental disposal of effluent

The only sure way to find out is to apply for a few jobs

[Graeme]

My opinion for the stresses and strains that maintaining extinguishers produces on your body is that a service technician should be paid a minimum £30,000 a year. I don't think that £50,000 a year is too much but some here say they are being paid as little as £15,000. For me that is way too low.

50K  are you being serious?

[David Rooney]

My opinion for the stresses and strains that maintaining extinguishers produces on your body is that a service technician should be paid a minimum £30,000 a year. I don't think that £50,000 a year is too much but some here say they are being paid as little as £15,000. For me that is way too low.

15k is low... especially if you live in  London .... don't know about the cost of living in the midlands.....

But 50k ?!!!!!

Think a tad of realism is required........!!

[carter1978]

I've tried looking for job adverts but they never seem to show the salary on offer so I can't really make any comparison.

I think if I were to ask for 50K I probably wouldn't get it, but who knows they might meet me somewhere in the middle (though I doubt it).

[David Rooney]

I've tried looking for job adverts but they never seem to show the salary on offer so I can't really make any comparison.

I think if I were to ask for 50K I probably wouldn't get it, but who knows they might meet me somewhere in the middle (though I doubt it).

They may also offer you a job entertaining children.......!!

Have you tried ringing the local job centres / agencies and see what they suggest??

[Graeme]

i think i should be paid £100k but i don't think i will ever get it.

[kurnal]

i think i should be paid £100k but i don't think i will ever get it.

I agree you should not have to take a pay cut.

[Graeme]

another grand is not too much to ask..

[Psuedonym]

Tell you what, ask for £100K, after turning down the measly offered £50K, then just before you get potted, ring me up and I will take up their measly offer. p.s. lets just keep that bit between ourselves though eh?

[nim]

But 50k ?!!!!!

Think a tad of realism is required........!!

50K  are you being serious?

Yes. I am being realistic and serious.
I am guessing that the pair of you are Alarm Technicians (just a guess by reading your posts).

I am sure that both of you are qualified and competent, so what do you get paid a year?

How physical is your job? When I have spoken to Alarm Technicians who are also competent to maintain fire extinguishers (only two mind you) they said they weren't interested in maintaining extinguishers. The last one I spoke to turned down maintaining the extinguishers on a job that he was maintaining the alarms on because as far as he was concerned it was "too much like hard work"

Physically the job is very demanding. Day in day out lifting, carrying 30 to 100 extinguishers each weighing 14 to 15 kgs. Parking is a pain for all of us but in Central London it is common to have to park half a mile plus away from the job. Then if you have to return to your vehicle with a couple of extinguishers, trust me you will end up with arms like a orangutang, dragging the ground. Bad back. Dodgy knees.

I would hazard a guess that there are more Alarm Technicians maintaining alarms for 20 years plus than there are Extinguisher Service Technicians maintaining extinguishers for 20 years plus.

In London there are plenty of Service Technicians being paid 50k or there abouts. Not enough in my opinion.

[Chris Houston]

In the UK I don't think there is a realationship between physical effort and high pay.  If anything, I would suggest it is jobs that have very little physical effort that are paid the best.

If you can get £50,000 as a fire extinguisher technician, well done, but I would suggest that most are paid much less.

As explained earlier, it tends to be market forces that drive pay up or down.

[David Rooney]

But 50k ?!!!!!

Think a tad of realism is required........!!

50K  are you being serious?

Yes. I am being realistic and serious.
I am guessing that the pair of you are Alarm Technicians (just a guess by reading your posts).

I am sure that both of you are qualified and competent, so what do you get paid a year?

Never enough for the tosh I have to put up with from elecricians, customers and the engineers that work for me !

How physical is your job?

Well when I was on the tools humping a reel of pyro on each shoulder or a bundle of tube up 11 stories of tower block each morning it was very physical... but if we followed your example to the extreme dustmen and road diggers would be driving to work in new Mercs...

Truth is we all think we deserve more... I know I'm worth it.... its just convincing the customer !

The extinguisher firms I know charge circa £30 to attend and around £1.50 ish per extinguisher to service.... then make their money up on selling the consumables. An engineer can only physically test "X" extinguishers a day if doing them properly.... therefore for an engineer to earn £50k the company needs to earn over £100k to pay the tax, employers NI, insurances, overheads, van, petrol, parking, congestion, secretary and make a small profit.... that's an awful lot of extinguisher services....

[kurnal]

Nim
has your employer carried out manual handling risk assessments and given you training in the safe handling of loads? From your posts it seems probably not.
The whole principal of H&S Legislation - yes this is Law- is that the employer has a duty to minimise the risk of you being made ill or injured through your work.
It is not possible for anyone to carry a load of 30kg as you describe on a regular basis without suffering long term harm. Fact.  It also is in breach of the Manual Handling Regulations.

Nobody should be paid extra money in compensation for ruining their health. Thats not how its supposed to work. Your 50K seems possible now. In a few years when you have wrecked your back you need to go and see a no win no fee solicitor.