oozenoz

I used to work for a company that installs and services phone systems, about 8 years ago. They charged (at that time) 85 an hour, it's since climbed to 105. Of course, techs aren't paid that much per hour, that's just what the company makes - and out of that they have to pay all the overhead such as trucks, office, lights, etc.

I would suggest you call one of the local dealers in your area and ask how much they charge based on T&M, then use that as an argument to bump your pay - after all, if they had to hire someone in to do it, that's what they'd be paying. Without being fully trained and certified you can't expect to make what seasoned techs make but they should at least bump your hourly up to a reasonable number... even on the low end of the scale, newbie techs are probably making close to double what you've quoted, and perhaps more depending on the cost of living in the area.

One other thing to consider, if you're interested in taking this on professionally, suggest that to your employer - maybe they'll send you for formal training. It would also make them think a little bit harder about that raise.

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- calvin