Fire extinguisher engineer wages

[Graeme]

Nim


Dave and i are both fire alarm engineers. Now and again we find ourselves having to crawl under floors,in attics and generally unpleasant enviroments. You don't see many extinguisher engineers caked in dust.

I know blokes who are as thick as mince working for minimum wage in far more exhaustive work than yourself. Thse guys failed everyting at School (if they ever turned up) so i would feel somewhat cheated for all my cousres i have sat over the years to have the guy who humps about fish crates get paid more because his job is more physical than mine.

I may end up deaf with all the fault buzzers i have to listen to or alarm sounders amplified over the phone by an irate customer standing right next to one when trying to call me.I have dodgy knees for my few years as an electrician,kneeling down to wire socket after socket..


£50k  sorry but your having a laugh.

[AnthonyB]

I remember once many years ago (over 15 I think) I saw an an advert for Nu Swift Sales Engineers with an annual of £40k advertised. Easy to get the necessary sales for this based on their prices and servicing criteria

I though that several engineers pay was advertised as OTE, i.e. small basic with commission based top up, like Thorn Securities 'points' system - different service actions and component/equipment sales were worth different points which were converted to pay.

[Allen Higginson]

I remember once many years ago (over 15 I think) I saw an an advert for Nu Swift Sales Engineers with an annual of £40k advertised. Easy to get the necessary sales for this based on their prices and servicing criteria

I though that several engineers pay was advertised as OTE, i.e. small basic with commission based top up, like Thorn Securities 'points' system - different service actions and component/equipment sales were worth different points which were converted to pay.

I remember going for a job in portables around 10 - 12 years ago (Walker I think) and the base salary was around 12K but 22K was attainable by changing seals,triggers etc.Sounded too much like ripping customers off to me so stuck with the smokies!

[David Rooney]

I remember once many years ago (over 15 I think) I saw an an advert for Nu Swift Sales Engineers with an annual of £40k advertised. Easy to get the necessary sales for this based on their prices and servicing criteria

I though that several engineers pay was advertised as OTE, i.e. small basic with commission based top up, like Thorn Securities 'points' system - different service actions and component/equipment sales were worth different points which were converted to pay.

But didn't the most famous extinguisher national get pulled many years ago because their engineers were on a bonus scheme and some were allegedly claiming  to have serviced several hundred extinguishers in a day when it was proven that doing the job properly an engineer could only service so many (don't know the figure).....

[AnthonyB]

An engineer at the pre Kidde takeover FPS got caught out for this after an extinguisher he had recently serviced blew out when used - he'd supposedly serviced 88 over 4 sites on the day it was serviced.

Still several jobs in the industry seem to be based on OTE not inclusive pay

[Psuedonym]

Still several jobs in the industry seem to be based on OTE not inclusive pay

Unfortunately there are very few who aren't Anthony. There are few firms who pay a decent salary plus o/t and travel.
This provides the engineer with a satisfactory wage and provides the client with a fire firm who have no reason to rip them off and give impartial advice. Trust is earned and OTE's not a pressure.
It can and does work, but the ethics need to be in place from top to bottom. However, it only takes one bad apple to ruin the barrel and that leaves years' of trust and effort lost.

[Andy Cole]

Can't believe what I'm reading I'm only on a FF's salary!!!

Why don't they just buy a collapsible sack truck so you don't have to carry your extinguishers 'upto half a mile??'

[Thomas Brookes]

On extinguishers if you are doing well and at a reasonable company the most you will earn will be about £25-29k.
Quite a few companies I know pay around £12500 plus commission of around 8% to 15%.

I agree with the others here, I would love to be able to charge our customers a lot more so I could pay our engineers more, but with more and more Ex Firemen etc setting up and charging as little as £24.50 for a new extinguisher (this is happenng in my area, before anyone starts moaning at me) the arse is falling out of fire extinguishers.
I have recently seen a leaflet from a company called Lightning Fire from Doncaster offering to service upto 4 extinguishers including all spares and refills for £17. Charging that sort of money I think £50k is not going to happen

[AnthonyB]

I wonder if they actually fit any spares or carry out the correct service procedures beyond shine & sign. What if the customer had all powder extinguishers and used two (or they required extended service) - you're into a loss right there.

The way things are going there is little point having servicing done unless by a select few firms as a lot are just cutting corners, it's hard to make an honest living as even new equipment margins have plummeted and you can buy   some makes of extinguisher on the open retail market at the same price other manufacturers charge to the trade.

Buying British and kite marked to sell isn't cost effective these days and the Chinese CE marked (& also now kite marked stuff) rules.

I'm glad I took the route I did by staying in employed consultancy now and didn't take the chance I had many years ago to go full time into sales & servicing with my own company.

[Big T]

I literally just chocked on my Tea. 50K? 40K? even 30K seems like a chuffing lot to service and check extinguishers. Driving instructors only get about 30K. They have to get qualified. Hairdressers earn 15K they have to train for 2 - 3 years. Firefighters get sub 30K. They train constantly.

I used to service hundreds in the RAF. As did a few on this forum.

It isn't tough at all, dull, but not tough. Why should you get more money cos parking is hard work? I have to park a lot when I am surveying. MAybe I need a pay rise.

If you can get 50K give me a bell, i'm on my way. I'd Bin this stress in a heartbeat.