How's the latest job report for Aerospace doing in Phoenix? (Tucson: employment, school)

[69Charger]

I'm a technician in Aerospace, and love Phoenix. (I'm more of an electronics, laser, digital, environmental testing sort of a tech.)

The going rate for tech's over here in L.A. is about $35/hr at the larger companies, but it's getting harder to secure employment as companies tighten up, move work to other states, etc. Newer smaller companies pay around $20ish an hour, not enough for L.A., even SpaceX doesn't pay much.

Are there good technician jobs over there in Phoenix, that pay around $25/hr or more? Besides Boeing (if they are even hiring and not laying off)

[Mr_Polymath]

Pay rates are a joke out here. I can't wait to leave.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Mr_Polymath

Pay rates are a joke out here. I can't wait to leave.

Well that was helpful, what valuable insight you've added here.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by Mr_Polymath

Pay rates are a joke out here. I can't wait to leave.

Good luck with that. The pay decreases in that sector are an industry wide thing. the market is becoming saturated. It is a combination of immigrants from the Asia and colleges touting tech as the only degree option for the last decade. $25-30 should still be easily attainable in the valley as long as you are experienced and cost of living is much lower than LA. Get a local Google Voice number for sending resumes out. A lot of companies don't like relocation because they think it will be more complicated.

[Dewey59]

Agreed, $25 to $30 is achievable if you have enough relevant experience. The biggest problem though is most of the aerospace companies here are laying off. I worked in the avionics field for about 20 years (retired this spring), and things are looking rather grim. There have been a few openings for various companies at Luke, but they usually have very tight requirements that are specifically related to the exact job they have open. I guess they can do that since so many experienced people are laid off right now.

I have also noticed that the generic electronics companies here do not pay squat. Agree with the reasons ajonesaz gave for that. Avionics is about the only field that pays half decent here, but again, those jobs are going away.

Lastly, let me just say that the '69 Charger is one of my favorite Mopars!

[cab591]

Look up MD Helicopters, in Mesa, AZ. Don't know the specifics of pay, but a buddy of mine was working with them over the summer (he didn't exactly quit -- his boss was cool with him shelving his job while he's in school). He does avionics, and had nothing but great things to say about the work culture.

While I don't know exactly what he was paid, it was enough for a decent cost of living in the greater Phoenix area (can't remember what he told me, but I think it was somewhere in the $20-25 range -- YMMV).

Boeing has always been the big aviation giant in Phoenix, but there's plenty of other companies. Check out Falcon Field Airport in east Mesa, and call every company that has a hangar at the airfield (it's not just Boeing). There's also been some development around Chandler Municipal, but I'm not sure if it's going to be aerospace companies, or just private-use hangars.

[ShampooBanana]

Aerospace employers in Phoenix/Tucson you should look into:
Raytheon
Honeywell International
General Dynamics C4 Systems
The Boeing Company
Northrop Grumman
Orbital Sciences Corporation
United Technologies
L3 Communications
Standard Aero (MRO)
Bombardier Inc.
Nammo Talley
MD Helicopters
Special Devices Inc.
Timken Alcor Aerospace Inc (recently bought out by Kaman but still based in Mesa)


Here's a list of companies in and around Mesa-Gateway airport:
Companies On Site - Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport

[Mr_Polymath]

Originally Posted by locolife

Well that was helpful, what valuable insight you've added here.

I'm talking about in general. I don't work in aerospace.