USA v UK pay wise and training Etc
I’m curious about the rates of pay in the UK for A/C or Refrigeration guys and gals. Here in the USA, straight from school (That’s aprox 350 hours in class) you can expect between $8 and $10 per hour working for a A/C contractor, raising to perhaps $12 or $13 after a couple of years depending if your capable on your own to repair or install A/C systems. Most companies wont employ you unless you have proof of schooling and some certs to prove it. Obviously you need an EPA ticket which is simple enough. After 5 years working for someone else, in theory you can become a contractor (Self Employed) and earn some good money. If you can afford the schooling. Its expensive and very intense, and the schooling is on going and never ends. In refrigeration however the rewards are much better. I presume because the tolerences are so very small and therefore requires more accuracy and more patience than run of the mill A/C work. Perhaps its because a walk in cooler full of food need attention faster than a house wife? Even a tech repairing those flavored ice dispenser earns more than an A/C guy. I was offered $12 to start in Tampa doing those raising to $15 after a year. Seems good money to me.
A/C work here in the US is possibly the only industry where you can’t get by on Bull, (An American pass time, allegedly! ) you need to work at it, and work hard.
So, You UK Guys and Gals, spill the beans, what pay is there in the UK?
Nobby