I work for a small size company as an inspector and having been programming CMM with PC-DMIS 2016 for about 1 year. The pay is not that good (under $20 per hr in Bay Area, CA) probably because I dont have too much experiences (i can make a program for inspecting complex parts tho). Is PC-DMIS programmer in high demand, especially in CA and does it pay well? Is this a good career to continue with?
Over here in Detroit town the pay is pretty sweet, got me a sweet house (just gotta get passed the bars on the windows) and 2 new trucks but the da*n rims keep getting stolen..
But in all seriousness Ive been at my employer for 11 years and they compensate very well.
5-6 years ago this summer I was a Laborer living in Inland Empire, life was simple and sweet. As a young family man I made my mind up that this is my life and I will try to live it to the fullest, with about $10 left over at the end of the month we would go down to In-n-Out and have us some burgers and share a fry. Felt like the richest man on earth sitting there with the fam.
Long story short I got in to a small machine shop as a laborer (gopher) with the opportunity to learn so I took it very serious and about 2mo. later I was a mechanical Inspector. Stayed at that company for a year learned a BUNCH and moved on. Then, boy did life get crazy! I switched jobs like it was in style, about 7 in that year alone! I doubled my salary but was tired of switching jobs and moving so something had to change. I stayed at the next company for 2 years. 2 more kids later I was finally content... This last Dec a friend of mine, whom I shared my interest in Robots and automation with, told a company he was doing work for about me! Then they called and I interviewed so yeah they offered something I just couldn't refuse...I know yet another JOB! The New job, it's the best company I've ever worked at! I enjoy working here and what I take home has more than tripled from when I was a laborer (didn't even know how to properly shut a PC down!). I get to work with ROBOTS and AUTOMATION finally! Gots to thank God for it all!
There's plenty more to learn for sure and this place has what it takes to help me get to the next level and who doesn't like SD it's like paradise! I strongly agree with what previous posts have to say. I say stick with it until the next door opens up for you, but you want to be content happy where you are currently or be a sour patch kid. My 2 pesos from a man with no college.
You get all those phone calls, because I keep giving your phone number, Telling them "This guy is the best in the business" frankly cause I'm tired of them calling me.
This is a tough one. I don't live in a major METRO area anymore but about 2 hrs from one. I can go back and start as a on the floor machine operator for about the same pay as I make now with 11 years CMM experience and 10 years prior machining. I know someone who just started at a Starbuks recently who started at $20 in that area.... So with all this responsibility and ....... **** no, If I could do it all over no way I would work in manufacturing. If you don't have an engineering degree you are considered an idiot for the most part. Dang, this is starting to sound kind of bitter... So for under $20 ?? Hell the min wage there is probably $15 ?
