Hi all.
I'm a noob to this forum and interested in a career change to AME Avionics.
Firstly, what is the pay difference between AME and LAME? The LAME pay seems to be pretty good, if you can get there. But what is the AME pay like and conditions?
I am based in Brissy and would like to stay here, have a young family and don't want to be doing night shift. I am currently on $75K in my present job but dissatisfied with the work. A small pay cut is acceptable in exchange for job satisfaction, but my goal would be to become licensed.
btw, I'm 35yo. Is that too late to be starting out?
Any comments welcomed.
Thanks.
G'day and welcome.
Never too late to start out, but there is a lot of stiff competition competing for training.
If your present job is paying $75k you will be hard-pressed to see that sort of money starting at the bottom as you would as an apprentice for 4 years, not to mention the rotating shift-work and night shifts.
The pay difference between a high-end AME and low-end LAME is not a great deal, but to become a high-end AME will take a number of years after your apprenticeship, and you may be a grandfather by the time you achieve that. To become a LAME will take a minimum of about 10 years, including your apprenticeship, doing your basics subjects and then getting a course and filling in a Schedule of Experience for the types of aeroplanes you will be working on.
Hope this gives you some insight into the mysteries of the aviation industry.